Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows
Chapter 10:
After Kazuya left, an uncomfortable silence lingered between the mysterious girl and Chizuru. They sat across from each other, unsure of how to break the ice. The girl took a deep breath, mustering the courage to address the situation.
"Why did you choose to talk to Kazuya now, after three months?" The girl asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. "He just told me what happened, so I'll know if you're lying."
Chizuru sighed; her gaze fixed on her clasped hands. "I didn't want to face Kazuya," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I set some rules for myself regarding clients, and I intended never to cross that line. But... things happened, and it became complicated."
"It certainly grew odd. Still, you don't have the right to ignore him for three months." The girl stated.
"I'm aware. After the trip, I just could not face him. then one day of ghosting grew into three months." Chizuru lamented.
"However, I have a question." If you did not happen to run into him earlier today. Would you still have ghosted him?" The girl inquired solemnly.
"I believe so. My first intention was to approach him after I had an answer ready. I still don't have an answer for him, so the plan was to simply ghost him." Chizuru expressed his regret.
"Have you apologised to him?" The girl inquired solemnly.
Chizuru began to contemplate, but she realized she had not apologized to him.
"No, I haven't." Chizuru remarked as she lowered her head.
The girl nodded. She then leaned forward; her gaze fixed on Chizuru's. "My name is Enomoto Akane," she explained. "And, before we continue, please address me as Enomoto."
Chizuru blinked, absorbing Akane's request. "Alright, Enomoto-san," she complied, realizing the importance of maintaining boundaries. "How did you meet him?"
"I met Kazuya-san at the gym just yesterday, and we hit it off right away." I enjoy spending time with him and want to help him in the gym." According to Enomoto.
"Do you... like him?" Chizuru inquired, her voice trembling with concern.
Akane thought about the question for a minute, carefully choosing her replies. "Right now, I'm fond of him," she said. "But I have no romantic feelings for him." That could change in the future if our relationship develops further."
Chizuru felt a mixture of relief and uncertainty. She is not sure about her feelings for Kazuya, but this offers her more time to think about his sentiments. Enomoto, at least for the time being, is not a potential competitor.
Akane rose up from her seat before the silence returned, disturbing the tension in the air. "I need to go," she replied, a small smile on her lips. "I'd like to get in a quick workout before heading home."
Chizuru stood there watching Akane gather her belongings, an unsaid understanding between them. Despite the fact that their relationship to Kazuya brought them together, they are now a part of Kazuya's life.
Chizuru could not help but feel a surge of determination as Akane exited the room. She was aware that her route would be fraught with difficulties, but she was prepared to face them. Whether for Kazuya's or her own sake, she would fight for the future she believed in, no matter how bleak it seemed.
"I really need to talk to him and apologise."
Akane entered the gym, her rage emanating from her like an unseen aura. Her thoughts were still racing from her chat with Chizuru, and her frustration drove her motions as she approached a sparring dummy. She put her pent-up emotions into the punches and kicks with each strike, releasing her rage and disappointment.
The dummy took the brunt of her rage, with a strong kick sending its head flying off. A random guy passing by could not help but say as she stood there panting heavily, "Well, the dummy didn't do anything wrong."
As she turned to face the man, Akane groaned and wiped her brow. "I know," she mumbled, her voice tinged with annoyance. "But it's not all about the dummy."
Her thoughts returned to Chizuru, and her rage revived. She could not believe Chizuru had not even apologized to Kazuya. It appeared harsh and heartless, and it only added to Akane's dissatisfaction with her.
"Kazuya deserves someone better than Chizuru," she reasoned, her gaze fixed on the defeated dummy. "Sure, she's attractive, but according to Kazuya, she's a terrible person."
Akane could not believe this deceit had been going on for a year and a half. It made no sense to her. She thought it was odd that Chizuru, as a rental girlfriend, would let someone rent her for such an extended amount of time. It made her wonder about Chizuru's genuine motives.
"Does she even want this relationship to come to an end?"
But then doubt crept in. After all, they were neighbours. If Chizuru genuinely liked Kazuya, wouldn't they have already started dating? Akane could not fathom why Chizuru would ghost him for three whole months if she had genuine feelings for him.
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in Akane's mind as she continued to spar with the dummy. She was not sure what to believe anymore, torn between her anger towards Chizuru and the lingering doubts that nagged at her.
The gym buzzed with activity around her, but Akane remained lost in her thoughts, grappling with her conflicting emotions. Deep down, she knew that Kazuya deserved happiness, and she could not help but wonder if he would find it with someone other than Chizuru. As she landed another powerful strike on the dummy, she hoped that someday, Kazuya would discover the truth and find the love he truly deserved.
"He's a really great guy." I'm confident he'll find someone better than her."
Akane's mind drifted to the other girls in Kazuya's stories, but in her opinion, none of them were worthy of dating him. As she weighed her options, she could not help but feel frustrated.
Then, surprisingly, her thoughts turned to one person—herself. As the thought occurred to Akane, her cheeks flushed deeply. She had always appreciated Kazuya's sincerity and kindness, and perhaps her rage at Chizuru reflected something deeper.
"I guess I like him more than I thought," she said quietly to herself, her voice barely heard over the gym's background hum. Her cheeks tingled with humiliation and excitement.
As Akane continued to spar with the dummy, a newfound resolve blossomed within her. She would find a way to support Kazuya, to be there for him. And who knows, maybe along the way, her initial crush would grow into something deeper.
With a renewed sense of determination, Akane carried on her training, her heart filled with newfound emotions and the possibility of a connection that she had not anticipated.
Kazuya had just arrived home, feeling drained from the long day at work. He kicked off his shoes and slumped onto his futon, hoping for a moment of peace. However, his phone buzzed, interrupting his quiet respite. The caller ID displayed Mami Nanami's name, and Kazuya hesitated for a moment before answering.
