Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows
Chapter 22:
Monday, April 15th.
Akane sat on her bed, her phone in hand, her heart racing with anticipation. She had asked Kazuya to go to the gym together, hoping for a chance to spend more time with him outside of classes. But he had not responded to her message, and that left her feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"Maybe he's just busy," she thought, trying to reassure herself. "I mean, it's not like he's ignoring me, right?"
Akane kept checking her phone throughout the day, hoping to get a message from Kazuya. But every time she looked, she found nothing. "Perhaps he didn't see my message," she reasoned, trying to produce an explanation for his silence.
Later that night, as she was about to text him again to inquire about going to the gym, she noticed that he had yet to respond. Her heart fell a little, but she refused to give way to disappointment. "Perhaps he just had a long day and didn't check his phone," she reasoned, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Akane got up the next morning filled with both hope and trepidation. She took out her phone, half expecting to see a text from Kazuya. But there was nothing this time. "Okay, maybe he's really busy or something came up," she reasoned, attempting to keep her mind from wandering to darker possibilities.
Akane tried to keep herself busy with her schoolwork and other things during the day. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept returning to Kazuya. "I just want to know if he's okay," she reasoned, her concern for him overpowering her own disappointment.
As the day came to an end, Akane summoned the strength to text him again, hoping that he would react this time. She took a deep breath and typed a brief message, attempting to keep it casual yet welcoming. "Hey, are you free tomorrow to go to the gym together?"
A wave of nervousness swept over her as she pressed the send button. She knew she could not control his response, but she could not help but hope he would respond at some point. "Please, let him answer this time," she begged softly, her heart longing to see him again.
Friday, April 19th.
Akane sits in her dimly lighted living room as the clock strikes midnight, surrounded by the warm glow of candles illuminating her birthday cake. She looks at the unopened texts on her phone, her heart heavy with disappointment. She had intended to spend her special day with Kazuya, but his quiet made her feel abandoned and alone.
Just as tears threaten to spill from her eyes, the doorbell rings, startling her. With a glimmer of hope, she rushes to the door and looks through the peephole, her heart skipping a beat when she sees Kazuya standing on the other side.
She swings through the door and wraps her arms around him in a strong hug without a second thought. "I thought you forgot about me," she says softly, her voice tinged with sadness.
Kazuya embraces her again, sensing her frailty and regretting his actions. "I could never forget about you," he says quietly. "I'm here to help you celebrate your birthday."
Akane walks Kazuya into her flat and sits down with him, filled with relief and curiosity. "Why have you been ignoring me then?" she asks, trying to control her feelings.
Kazuya inhales deeply and stares her in the eyes. "It's not that I wanted to ignore you," he says. "I've been dealing with some personal stuff, including my feelings for someone else."
As she learns what he means, Akane's heart collapses. "Is it Chizuru-san?" she inquires, her voice trembling.
Kazuya nods, his face filled with shame. "I didn't want to hurt you," he acknowledges. "I was confused and didn't know how to handle my emotions, so I ended up avoiding everyone, including you."
Akane pauses for a while to comprehend his words, feeling a mixture of loss and comprehension. "I wish you had told me," she mumbles, "I would have understood."
Kazuya reaches out and takes her hand, offering a sincere apology. "I'm truly sorry," he says, "I never intended to hurt you. You're important to me, and I value what we have."
Akane takes a deep breath, attempting to suppress her feelings of betrayal and despair. She knows she cares strongly about Kazuya, but she also understands that love does not always go as planned. "I forgive you," she finally adds, her voice firm. "I just wish you had been honest with me from the beginning."
Kazuya squeezes her palm, appreciative for her patience. "I promise to be more honest with you from now on," he declares solemnly.
Akane looks at Mini as she stands at the entrance, a warm smile on her face, not recognizing the girl in front of her.
Kazuya steps in, trying to clear the confusion. "Oh, Akane-san, I'm sorry for not telling you. This is Mini-san, my neighbour. We came here together after the play," he says.
Akane gives a polite smile and nods, "Nice to meet you, Mini-san."
Mini returns the smile, "Nice to meet you too, Akane-san. I've heard a lot about you."
Kazuya chimes in, "Yeah, Akane-san, Mini-san knows about Mizuhara-san and everything. In fact, she was invited to Chizuru's birthday too, but she decided not to go when she found out about Mizuhara-san and Umi-kun dating."
"So, Mini-san, what's your relationship with Kazuya-kun?" Akane asks, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Mini smirks playfully, "Oh, he's, my master!"
Akane's face flushes with surprise and mild jealousy, "Your master?"
Kazuya jumps in, a bit flustered, "It's just a silly nickname she came up with. We're just good friends."
Mini winks at Kazuya, "But you know, I'm always there to follow him around, just like a loyal sidekick!"
Akane's heart skips a beat, wondering if there is more to their friendship than they are letting on. "Is that so?" she says, trying to sound casual.
Kazuya quickly clarifies, "No, it's not like that. Mini-san is just a close friend."
Mini grins, "Yep, just friends, but I'm always here to support him, no matter what!"
Akane finally relaxes, taking in the situation. "I see. Well, it's nice to meet you, Mini-san."
The three of them gather around the birthday cake, with Mini and Kazuya presenting their gifts to Akane. Mini looks a bit apologetic as she hands over her gift.
"Actually, this gift was initially intended for Chizuru-san," Mini admits, "But I'm sorry, Akane-san. I didn't have time to get a new one."
"Oh, don't worry about it, Mini-san," Akane says pleasantly. Your presence here is more than enough of a present for me."
"I hope you like mine, Akane-san," Kazuya says with a smile. He hands her a nicely wrapped gift, which she immediately opens.
As she reveals a stylish refillable water bottle, her face lights up in surprise. "Oh, wow! Thank you, Kazuya. This is really thoughtful of you."
Kazuya blushes slightly, "Well, I've noticed you always carrying a plastic water bottle when you work out, so I thought a refillable one would be eco-friendlier and more convenient."
Akane's blush deepens as she realizes that Kazuya pays attention to her habits and preferences. "Thank you, Kazuya. I'm touched that you notice these things about me."
Mini grins, teasingly adding, "See, he can be useful from time to time!"
Akane rolls her eyes at Mini's statement, but her heart glows with joy. She appreciates Kazuya's honest thoughtfulness because she knows he actually cares about her.
As they enjoy the cake and each other's company, the atmosphere is filled with laughter and happiness. Akane is grateful to friends like Kazuya and Mini for helping to make her birthday truly special and unforgettable.
As the night goes on and the party winds down, Mini decides to take her leave, bidding goodbye to Akane and Kazuya.
"Thanks for having me, guys. I had a wonderful time," Mini says, smiling.
"Thanks for coming, Mini-san! It was fun having you here," Akane replies.
Once Mini leaves, Kazuya and Akane find themselves alone in the cosy living room. Akane looks at Kazuya and can sense that something is still bothering him.
"You know, Kazuya, you can tell me anything. "If you have anything on your mind, I'm here to listen," Akane says softly.
"It's just... Chizuru," Kazuya says after a brief pause. I do not want to think about her any longer, but it is difficult. "I feel as if I'm stuck."
"Can you explain what happened to me?" Akane inquired.
Akane pays close attention as Kazuya tells what happened between Chizuru and Umi during the last few weeks. She nods compassionately, realizing the range of feelings he must be feeling.
"I know it hurts, Kazuya-kun," Akane adds softly, "but there are times when we have to accept that certain chapters in our lives have come to an end." It is difficult, but it is vital for us to heal and grow."
As the clock approaches midnight, Kazuya considers going home, but then he remembers there is a birthday celebration going on next door, at Chizuru's house. The prospect of confronting her during her celebration is daunting.
"I think I should go home," Kazuya says, trying to hide his unease.
However, Akane notices his discomfort and offers, "You know what? It is late, and you will be walking into a birthday party next door. Why don't you stay here tonight? I mean, if you're comfortable with that, of course."
Kazuya hesitates at first, not wanting to impose on Akane, but she keeps insisting, cheeks slightly flushed, "It's not a big deal, really. We are friends, and friends help each other out, right?"
Kazuya finally agrees after some back-and-forth, appreciative for Akane's understanding and warmth.
As they settle in for the night, Kazuya understands he needs to do something crucial in order to move on. He pulls out his phone and begins to type a message to Chizuru.
"I need to do this," he says quietly to himself. He says that he wishes to inform his family that they have broken up and that they should no longer communicate with one another.
After sending the message, he feels a mixture of relief and sadness. It is a difficult decision, but he knows it is necessary to set both himself and Chizuru free to find their own paths.
Akane, who has been watching him, walks over and gives him a comforting hug. "You're brave, Kazuya-kun. You'll get through this, and I'll be here for you every step of the way."
Kazuya finds solace in Akane's embrace, realizing that he has a true friend by his side, someone who cares deeply about him and his well-being. As they embrace, he feels a glimmer of hope that he can heal and move forward, even though it still hurts. And with Akane's support, he knows he will not have to face this journey alone.
Backstage, the air is electrified with a combination of exhilaration and tiredness. The smell of fresh paint and the faint sound of muffled crowd voices permeate the backstage walls. It is a welcome break for the actors after their thrilling performance.
Umi, clothed in his costume, approaches Chizuru with an apprehensive air about him. As he musters the confidence to urge her to speak, the intensity of the play still rushes through his veins. His heart pounding with suspense, unsure how she will react.
Chizuru displays elegance and grace while still dressed in her Roxane outfit. Her attention appears to shift from the persona she played on stage to the present. As she waits for Umi to speak, her look is a mix of curiosity and openness.
"Just do it like Cyrano. It's going to be fine."
Umi takes a deep breath, trying to calm his anxiety as the backstage noises fade into the background.
"Hey, Chizuru, can we talk alone for a minute?"
A/N: So, there was the end of Part I of this saga. The story will continue in part 2, and the next chapter will be hot, I promise. I hope you enjoyed reading Part I and will continue to read this fanfic.