Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows Part II

Chapter 4:

"Make yourself comfortable," Chizuru murmured solemnly, pouring a cup of tea in front of Mini. She took a seat near her, her face solemn and concerned.

Chizuru's gaze was fixed on Mini; her words calm yet solemn. "I need to know where Kazuya-kun is."

Mini blinked in astonishment, taken aback by Chizuru's passion. She paused for a beat before responding. "To be honest, I have no idea where Master is right now. I last saw him at Akane without his birthday party."

"Does Akane-san and I share the same birthday?" Chizuru inquired, astonished.

"Yeah, I was surprised too; this is only seen in manga, right?" Mini exclaimed, laughing.

Chizuru's eyes narrowed, her thoughts racing as she tried to piece things together. "And when did you leave the party?"

Mini took another sip of her tea, her brows furrowing in thought. "I left a bit early, actually. Just wanted to head home."

Chizuru's eyes softened, and she leaned forward, her voice sweet. "Tell me what happened after you left the party, Mini-san." "Do you know where Kazuya-kun could be right now?"

Mini sighed, her face remorseful. "I'm afraid I don't know, Chizuru-san. When I left the party, I left them alone. I didn't give it much thought at the moment."

Chizuru's mind raced, the puzzle pieces fitting into place. Her eyes widened as she realized what had happened. "Wait a minute... they could have been alone together the whole night?"

Mini's eyes brightened with comprehension, and she nodded slowly. "I suppose so." I hadn't given it any thought until recently."

Chizuru's heart raced as she felt a rush of emotions. She recalled Akane's feelings for Kazuya and how they had spent time together during the party. A jealous and angry ache rushed through her, completely unexpected.

Mini observed Chizuru's reaction, her gaze filled with empathy. "Chizuru-san, are you... jealous?"

Chizuru's cheeks heated as her rage gave way to humiliation. She averted her gaze, her speech a mixture of rage and vulnerability. "No, I'm not." "I'm simply surprised."

"I know you're an excellent actress, but even a blind person can see you're lying right now." Mini said with a smug expression.

"Why does it even bother you?" Mini inquired, her gaze drawn to Chizuru's confused expression. "You're already working with Umi-kun."

Chizuru's expression hardened. "Mini-san," she began, her voice unsteady, "Umi-kun and I never dated."

Mini blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? But the play—"

"It was just method acting," Chizuru interrupted. "We pretended to date to perform better on stage. After the play, Umi-kun confessed for real, but I rejected him."

Mini's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're joking, right? That's not possible."

Chizuru's voice remained firm. "It's true, Mini-san. I never dated Umi-kun."

Mini shook her head, unconvinced. "I don't know if I can believe that."

Chizuru sighed, her frustration mounting. "If you need proof, then let's call Umi-kun. He'll confirm it."

Mini nodded, pulling out her phone and dialling Umi's number. Chizuru watched anxiously as Mini put the call on speaker.

"Hello?" Umi's voice came through the phone.

"Hello Umi, I'm a friend of Chizuru-san" she said. "I need to ask you something. Did Chizuru-san and you ever date?"

Umi hesitated for a moment, his mind racing. He did not recognize Mini's voice, and he had a feeling he would not be seeing her again any time soon. So, he decided to lie. "Yeah, we dated recently, but she broke up with me yesterday."

Chizuru's eyes widened, her heart sinking as Umi's words reached her ears. She felt a wave of wrath build within her, directed at Umi for spreading such false information.

"Umi-kun, how could you?" As she yelled over the phone, Chizuru's voice trembled with rage.

But Umi had already disconnected, leaving the room in uncomfortable quiet.

"So, you guys broke up yesterday, huh?" Mini said furiously.

"No, he is lying! We genuinely never dated. I had to do this fake dating to get some answers myself." Chizuru said softly.

"Kazuya is the only person I have left, and I wanted to make sure that what I feel for him is special. I wanted to see if those feelings I have for Kazuya, I could have them for someone else. That is why I needed to this, and I know that I should have told Kazuya, but I just could not tell him. I needed to give this fake dating my all to ensure that the results are legit."

"Mini-san if you are holding something back and if you know where he might be, please tell me. I need to resolve this misunderstanding with him." Chizuru said this while begging.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know where he is right now. When I see Master again, I'll tell him you want to speak with him." Mini said calmly.

"But seriously, you need to leave him alone. You have hurt him to much already and he does not want to see you at this point. If you really care about him, it is best to let him go. " Mini said.

"I see what you're saying, but he's the only one I have left. I constantly put on a brave face, but I'm terrified of being alone." Chizuru stated this.

"You know, I've always wondered why you're always wanting to help Kazuya." Chizuru inquired, genuinely interested.

Mini's response was immediate, her tone vehement. "Because I like him. A lot."

Chizuru's shock was evident. "Since when?"

"Since the first time we met," Mini admitted, her voice softer now. "Kazuya is... he's amazing, Chizuru. He is kind, caring, and he genuinely tries his best. I have seen him struggle, and I have seen him grow. I care about him deeply."

Chizuru's eyes narrowed. "Do you... like him romantically?"

Mini hesitated, then shook her head. "No, not like that. more like a pet. I want to be in his corner, to support him through everything."

Mini's face flushed, and she looked away. "I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear before."

"It's fine, Mini-san. I appreciate your honesty."

After a moment of tense silence, Mini stood up, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. "I'm leaving, Chizuru. But I mean it, please leave Kazuya alone. Let him live his life in peace."

Chizuru watched as Mini walked away, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

"Is it really over between us?"

Kazuya's parents sat together, the topic of their conversation casting a shadow over the atmosphere. The air was thick with tension, and their voices were hushed as they discussed the recent breakup between Kazuya and Chizuru.

His mother's brows were furrowed, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Honestly, I can't believe that whole act at our vacation was real. They were probably just pretending to date all along."

Kazuya's father nodded in accord; his tone sceptical. "Exactly. Everything was just for show. "I can't believe Kazuya fell for it."

Their talk took a negative turn when they discussed their son's conduct. They questioned his judgment and expressed their dissatisfaction in him in scathing tones. Unbeknownst to them, their remarks carried weight and had the potential to affect their perspective on the issue.

Just then, the air in the room changed as a graceful figure entered - Grandma Nagomi, the family matriarch. Her presence drew attention, and her sharp eyes observed the expressions on her children's faces.

"Ah, you're discussing the matter?" Grandma Nagomi's speech was calm, yet her tone was full of empathy.

Kazuya's mother sighed, her shoulders slumped in annoyance and exasperation. "I honestly don't know what to think. It's as though they've been playing with our emotions the whole time."

Grandma Nagomi sat gracefully on a nearby chair, her gaze fixed on her daughter-in-law's face. "Have you considered the possibility that there might be more to the story?"

Kazuya's mother's face furrowed in confusion. "What exactly do you mean, Mother?"

Grandma Nagomi's look became contemplative, and her voice sounded wise. "I've known Kazuya since he was a small child. He may have flaws, but he is not the type to mess with people's hearts. Have you thought that there could be more to this than meets the eye?"

Kazuya's father spoke out, his voice now gentler. "How can we put our trust in anything they've said?"

Grandma Nagomi's expression remained calm; her gaze steady. "Perhaps it's time to hear Chizuru's side of the story. Before we jump to conclusions and judge them, we need to understand the full picture."

Kazuya's mother hesitated, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "But, Mother, why aren't you angry at Kazuya? He's the one who's brought this mess upon himself."

A hint of sadness flickered in Grandma Nagomi's eyes, but her voice remained firm. "Make no mistake, I am furious at Kazuya. But in times like these, it is important to withhold judgment until we have all the facts. Chizuru is a part of this story, and we should give her the chance to speak her truth before we decide anything."

Kazuya's parents exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of uncertainty and contemplation.

Akane was working on a school project in the quiet confines of her flat, her focus centred on the task at hand. The soft glow of the desk lamp filled her office, creating a pleasant environment in contrast to the cool evening outdoors.

The familiar sound of the door swung open grabbed her attention, and she looked up to see Kazuya enter. She gave him a sincere grin and greeted him warmly. "Good day, Kazuya-kun. "How did it turn out?"