Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows Part II
Chapter 5:
Kazuya smiled back, but a little more subduedly. "I anticipated their reaction and was prepared." Thank you for asking, Akane-san."
Akane's eyes were piqued, and she leaned back in her chair, her speech humorous. "When are we going back to the gym?" We've had a couple of days off, you know."
Kazuya's expression shifted, a shadow crossing his features. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yeah, about that... I actually left my sports clothes at my apartment."
Akane's expression softened when she realized what was going on. "Oh, yes. I completely forgot about it."
Kazuya's mind was racing, his current living condition causing him to tense. "Yeah, I need to get my belongings from there soon."
Akane cocked her head, her words soft. " We could go together, if you want."
Kazuya's reaction was quick, his face a mix of fear and determination. "No, it's fine. "I'll handle it myself."
Akane furrowed her brows, her curiosity piqued. "Are you sure? I don't mind lending a hand."
Kazuya shook his head, a serious look in his eyes. "I appreciate it, Akane, but I'd rather keep this low-key. I don't want Chizuru to know where I live now."
Understanding dawned in Akane's eyes, and she nodded in acknowledgment. "I get it. No worries."
With that, Kazuya turned to depart, his strides quick and purposeful. "I'll be right back." Just need to get the necessities."
Akane's gaze lingered on the doorway as he exited the flat, a combination of emotions whirling within her.
"I really hope Kazuya doesn't run into her."
As Kazuya approached his apartment door, his footsteps creating a hushed echo in the corridor, his heart skipped a beat when he saw her. There, sitting on the cold floor tiles, was Chizuru. Her presence was like a sudden burst of colour in the otherwise mundane surroundings.
She sat with her back to the wall, her position indicating both determination and vulnerability. Her hair fell in waves about her shoulders, and her gaze was fixed on the floor in front of her, as though lost in thought.
The soft glow of the hallway lights flickered across the lines of her face, forming subtle shadows with the faintest hint of emotion. As though conscious of the delicate moment that had occurred, the air appeared to hold its breath.
Kazuya's pulse beat as he took in the scene in front of him, a flurry of emotions swirling within him. Surprise, concern, and a glimmer of optimism swirled in the air, creating a charged and uneasy mood.
As he stood there, stuck in place, time seemed to stand still. His gaze fastened upon her figure, as if drawn together by an invisible thread. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them in this secluded area.
The faint shuffle of his feet seemed to echo in the quiet corridor as he took a step closer. Her name was on the tip of his tongue, and his heart was racing in his chest as he pondered what to say.
"Mizuhara-san... what exactly are you doing here?" Kazuya inquired; his voice tinged with anxiety.
Chizuru immediately wiped her eyes and tried to speak softly. "Why did you send that text yesterday?"
Kazuya took a deep breath, his heart heavy. "Mizuhara-san, we can't keep living in this delusion. You deserve to be happy, to move on with your life... with Umi-kun."
Chizuru's eyes widened in disbelief. "You... you want this to end? Just like that?"
Kazuya nodded; his expression pained. "It's for the best. We are not really together, Chizuru. You deserve real happiness, with Umi-kun."
Chizuru's voice trembled. "Kazuya, you don't understand. Umi-kun and I have never dated."
Confusion clouded Kazuya's face. "What do you mean? I saw you walking with him while holding hands at the mall and the chemistry on the stage... that was not acting. That was real."
Chizuru took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the ground. "The director wanted us to practice for the play. He wanted us to portray a believable couple, so we spent time together to make it convincing."
"So, it was just an act? They never dated?"
The door to Mini's nearby flat creaked open just as the weight of this news began to seep in. Mini stood with her arms crossed and a solemn expression on her face. "All right, all right... "What have we got here?"
Kazuya's annoyance was growing. "Mini-san, please stay out of this."
Mini made a shaky motion with her head. "I'm sorry, but I've been listening in." And Chizuru-san isn't telling you everything."
Kazuya looked back and forth between Chizuru and Mini, his emotions in turmoil. "What do you mean?"
Mini was staring at him. "They dated, Master." They did; however, they broke up two days ago. Chizuru-san contacted Umi-kun yesterday, and Umi-kun stated that they dated but split up the day before."
"Umi-kun was lying! He only said it because I turned him down!" Chizuru stated this.
"What exactly is the truth?" Kazuya pondered.
Kazuya felt a flicker of hope, but his logic swiftly buried it. "Even if that's true, I can't just jump into a relationship where I'd be the rebound."
"And if you'd never dated him, you could have just told me it was all a ploy. I can't do it right now, Mizuhara-san; I need some time to think about things." Kazuya stated quietly.
As he stared at her, Kazuya's features softened. "Chizuru, please move away from my door." Please."
Chizuru paused, her emotional control slipping. She could see the sincerity in his eyes when she gazed into them. She rose up slowly, brushing her tears away with a resigned nod.
"I informed my family about the breakup, Mizuhara-san."
"Wait already? Can I at least talk to them?" Chizuru asked sadly.
"You can do whatever you want. I don't want to see you right now." Kazuya remained unaffected.
"Do you have any feelings for Master?" Mini asked as she took a step closer.
Chizuru's breath froze in her throat as Mini's candor caught her off guard. She turned away, unable to respond.
"If you don't have any feelings for him after all this time, just fuck off and never be in his life again," Mini's comments cut like a knife through the tension.
Chizuru could feel the weight of those words pressing down on her, her heart racing. Her eyes begged for explanation as she stared at Kazuya. "Please, Kazuya-kun, give me some time to think. I have feelings for you, but I need some more information. "I'd like to know if it's love or not."
Kazuya's voice became stern as he ignored the question. "I need the ring back, Mizuhara-san. It's finally time."
Chizuru's gaze was drawn to the ground, her heart breaking at the finality of his words. She stood there watching Kazuya walk into his flat, his steps echoing the emptiness she felt inside.
Kazuya's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions within his flat. "I hate it that I'm still hoping for more," he reflected, the weight of his emotions crushing down on him, a secret he kept hidden from the rest of the world.
The night-time air was filled with a silent sadness as Chizuru and Mini stood outside Kazuya's apartment, their emotions still raw from the previous conversation. Mini's voice broke the silence, cutting through the tension.
"Chizuru-san, what about the ring?"
As Chizuru began to talk, her gaze remained distant. "The ring was a present from Kazuya's grandmother." She handed it to me a long time ago."
Mini's face contorted into a puzzled expression. "Are you sure? You manipulated his family's emotions, tricked them into thinking you were dating, and you even had a ring from them?"
"It wasn't intentional, Mini-san," Chizuru said, her voice wavering. "I had no intention of any of this happening."
Mini's annoyance was evident. "You have no idea what you've done, Chizuru-san. You've duped his entire family, stolen the ring, and now you're stuck in this tangle."
Chizuru's eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at Mini. "I never intended to cause him or his family any harm. I was only trying to help him."
Mini's eyes were drawn to Chizuru's. "You must return that ring to Kazuya. Then you must leave his life."
Mini turned and walked back to her own flat, leaving Chizuru standing there, a heavy sorrow in her chest. The weight of Mini's comments crushed Chizuru's heart as she walked back inside her own flat.
Chizuru's thoughts were a whirlwind of memories and regrets outside her apartment. The past two years rushed before her eyes: shared laughter, vulnerable times, and the bond that had grown between her and Kazuya. She remembered their travels, their disagreements, and the moments they relied on each other for support.
Chizuru found herself in the present moment as the memory ended, tears flowing down her cheeks. She knelt, the weight of her decisions finally catching up with her. The agony of recognizing the magnitude of her own acts pierced her, leaving her feeling lost and broken.
"I need to talk to his family."