Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows Part II
Chapter 8:
Kazuya's eyes remained fixed on the girl, and in the recesses of his thoughts, he began to take in her features. Ayumi had long, straight black hair that gracefully flowed down her back, typically secured in a neat ponytail. Her eyes, a rich and expressive shade of brown, sparkled with warmth and curiosity, seeming to hold a world of stories and kindness behind them. Her smile, friendly and genuine, could easily put anyone at ease.
"Sure," Kazuya responded, little perplexed.
As if sensing Kazuya's unspoken admiration, the girl introduced herself with an air of openness and enthusiasm.
"I'm Nakamura Ayumi. Nice to meet you!"
"Hello, you can call me Kazuya."
"Hey Kazuya-kun!" She smiled as she greeted him, her eyes as warm as her smile. "I've never seen you around here before. Are you new around here?"
Kazuya only nodded in return, taken aback by her friendliness. "You seem a little down," she added, her interest piqued. "Is everything all right?"
Kuri and Kibe, Kazuya's companions who had been immersed in their own talk in the bar, were caught off guard by the encounter between Kazuya and the foreign woman. Kuri made his way over to them, ready to join in on the chat. Kibe, on the other hand, grasped Kuri's arm and shook his head, pushing him to stay put.
Before answering to Ayumi's query, Kazuya took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I recently went through a tough break-up, and I'm here with my friends to try to cheer myself up." He motioned to Kuri and Kibe, who exchanged an uneasy wave with Ayumi.
Ayumi laughed sympathetically, realizing the importance of a night out with friends during difficult times. "I'm sorry to hear that," she replied as she patted his shoulder. "Let's not linger on it. How about a shot to cheer you up?
Kazuya reached for his wallet to pay for the drinks, but Ayumi waved him off playfully. "I've got this one," she insisted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Consider it a cheer-up gift. You can get the next round."
Kazuya grinned in response, appreciating the gesture. As they clinked their shot glasses and sipped the fiery liquid, their conversation flowed more naturally. Ayumi mentioned that she also studied at the same university, majoring in sociology. Her passion was to become a social researcher, working to create a more inclusive world by fostering understanding between different cultures.
Kuri and Kibe, who had been watching Kazuya's sudden happiness while he spoke with Ayumi, decided it was time to leave. "Well, buddy, looks like our work here is done," Kuri slapped Kazuya on the back. It's time for us to go." They were already drifting away, despite Kazuya's protests.
Ayumi could not stop laughing at their abrupt departure. "Your friends seem like a lively bunch," she remarked, smiling. "But, just so you know, I'm not looking for anyone to date right now."
Kazuya nodded, his smile firm. "That's totally fine," he said. "I'm just grateful for your company tonight."
After a few more drinks, when they were feeling at ease with each other, Kazuya decided to bring up a personal issue. "You know," he continued, "I'm thinking about leaving my apartment." It's right close to my ex's house."
Ayumi appeared surprised. "You live next door to your ex?" she inquired; her interest piqued. She sipped her drink and leaned in; her gaze fixed on Kazuya as she began to tell her own stories.
As Ayumi recounted her own past, she felt as if she was reliving those experiences through her own eyes, the memories resurfacing vividly.
"I used to be quite introverted," she continued, her voice heavy with recollections, "and I was never particularly popular with the boys." But I was only a waitress in a restaurant about two years ago." Her gaze returned to that same instant in time.
"A couple walked in," Ayumi went on, "a blond guy and his girlfriend." She could not help but feel uneasy as she remembered how the blond guy had flirted with her even though his girlfriend was right there next to him.
As she went more into the past, her gaze turned faraway. "It was the first time anyone had ever shown any interest in me," Ayumi admitted, "so I responded awkwardly each time, not really knowing how to handle it."
She felt the memories of that period rush over her with each syllable. "At the end of that couple's date," she recalled, "the blond guy gave me his phone number and told me to call him." So, I did, and we went out on a date."
"After our first date, we kissed," Ayumi said, "and after the second date, he took something very personal from me." Even in retelling, the rawness of those experiences stayed.
"I know I would never act like this, but I didn't know any better. He was very charming and that smile, that damned smile." Ayumi added flustered with a laugh.
As she told the next portion of her narrative, the pain resurfaced. "After that second date," Ayumi's voice became hushed, "he began ghosting me." I assumed I had done something wrong and that it was my responsibility." She could still taste the sting of those feelings.
Her face contorted in agony at the time. "I felt worthless," admitted Ayumi, "lost, and I didn't even know who I was or what I wanted."
Ayumi's voice was hopeful as she described the turning point. "That's when I decided to quit my job," she explained, "and I started traveling around the world." Her eyes twinkled with delight as she remembered those excursions. "I rediscovered my joy, and I loved seeing and experiencing different cultures."
Ayumi finished her story with a sense of determination, pondering on her next steps. "After my travels," she explained, "I knew exactly what I wanted to do." I opted to study social studies in order to make the globe more linked and to bridge cultural differences."
She returned her focus to Kazuya and talked with empathy and compassion. "Sometimes," Ayumi stated emphatically, "it's a good idea to change your environment in order to grow again. You never know what opportunities might arise when you step outside of your comfort zone," she continued.
"Yeah, you are right. I need to move out."
As Ayumi explained her past, Kazuya could not help but feel sorrow for her. Her encounters with the blond guy had clearly left wounds, and he found himself asking additional questions about him.
"Wow, that must have been tough for her."
"So, this blond guy," Kazuya inquired carefully, "who is this guy exactly?"
Ayumi took a big breath and hesitated for a moment. "Well," she said cautiously, "his name is Umi Nakano."
A sudden insight struck Kazuya like a bolt of lightning as Ayumi spoke. His eyes widened, and wrath welled up within him.
Ayumi blinked in surprise. "Do you know him?"
Kazuya clenched his fists, his thoughts drifting involuntarily to the image of Chizuru and Umi kissing passionately on a stage. The memory burned in his mind, intensifying his anger. He needed to get away from this place, from the reminders of his own past.
With a forced smile, he deflected from the topic, saying, "You know what, Ayumi-san? Let's talk about something else, something lighter."
As they continued to drink together, they began to talk about numerous things, sharing stories and laughter. The hours passed, and the mood became increasingly upbeat. Kazuya and Ayumi were both extremely inebriated by the end of the night, but Kazuya had clearly overindulged.
Ayumi's concern for Kazuya rose as she watched him try to keep his cool. "Kazuya, you really shouldn't be alone tonight," she leaned closer. Allow me to drive you home."
Kazuya shook his head, his words somewhat slurred. "I'm afraid I can't go back to my apartment," he moaned. "I'm afraid I just can't."
"So, where exactly do you want to go?" Ayumi inquired.
"You can bring me over here," Kazuya answered, pointing to the address on his phone.
Akane sat on her couch, absorbed in the most recent YouTube video she had discovered. He was aware that Kazuya was with his friends. They had been living together for a few days, and she had become accustomed to his presence, taking comfort in knowing she had someone to share her life with.
But while she viewed the movie, she began to feel lonely. She had not realized how much she valued having Kazuya around, even though he could be a bit of a jerk at times. She groaned and shook her head, attempting to shake the gloom that had settled in.
The doorbell rang, jolting her out of her reverie. She cast a glance at the door, wondering who could be there at this hour. She stood up and walked over to the peephole, peering through it.
Her eyes widened in surprise when she noticed a young woman clutching Kazuya, who appeared to be inebriated and unstable on his feet. Concern poured over her, and she hurriedly unlocked and swung open the door.
"Who is that girl?"