Rent a Girlfriend: The Test (Short Story) Part 1
Characters:
Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru Mizuhara
Mami Nanami
Ruka Sarashina
Sumi Sakurasawa
Nagomi Kinoshita
Yoshiaki Kibe
Shun Kuribayashi
Sayuri Ichinose
The Beginning:
Checking her Cellphone once more, Chizuru Mizuhara glanced about. It was Wednesday and after checking again she winced. "He is never late. Where the hell is he?" She muttered, rechecking her Phone again to see if Kazuya Kinoshita had sent a text informing her that he was running late. Though what concerned her the most was she had not seen him since Friday, when he came out of his Room with his Trash at the exact moment she had with her own. She no longer cared if she ran into him, in fact she liked having someone as a Neighbor that she could trust. Just knowing he was there made it feel safer in a way. She always feared that one of her Booked Dates would try to follow her home. Wanting more then she would ever give. With him there she could have him claim that he was her real Boyfriend to protect her from any of those scenarios that plagued her fears. "Wait I have not seen him on the Campus either." She thought, swiping through her contacts. She hesitated and then called Nagomi Kinoshita.
"Chizuru! It is so nice to hear from you." Kazuya's Grandmother said loudly through her phone. Chizuru smiled then remembered why she called.
"Uhm...I have not...do you know...I have not heard from Kazuya in a couple of days." Chizuru said over the phone and heard Nagomi groan.
"That Grandson of mine. Wait until I get my hands on him. Not telling his Girlfriend that he was going away for a couple of days. I thought he would at least tell you, maybe even ask you to go along with him." Nagomi said and Chizuru sighed with relief.
"Oh so you know where he went." Chizuru said and was not expecting what she heard next.
"Well...actually no. I just suspect that he might have gone off somewhere. So don't worry. I bet he will contact you sooner or later." Nagomi said and Chizuru stiffened. She suspected he wouldn't. Why would he. It was not like he was her actual real Boyfriend and she was not his real Girlfriend. Then a thought came to her. "Unfortunately I have to go. Call me later and if Kazuya calls tell him that I am upset he is being so selfish." After a nice goodbye, the Elder Woman hung up.
"Perhaps he went somewhere with Ruka." Chizuru whispered and she internally panicked. She did not like the idea of him going off with Ruka. So she decided to go and see if Kazuya and Ruka had gone off together. Heading to the Karaoke Bar. Once there she entered and saw Ruka behind the counter. Approaching her, the other Girl noticed her as well.
"What do you want?" Ruka asked with a huge frown and Chizuru considered just leaving. But something felt strange.
"Is kazuya here?" Chizuru asked and Ruka looked at her confused.
"No. I thought he...I know he is still renting you on Wednesdays." Ruka smirked. "What did he do stand you up?" She asked and Chizuru bit her bottom lip.
"Yes. Do you know where he is?" Chizuru asked her and Ruka shook her head. No longer smirking.
"No I don't. Have you tried calling him?" Ruka reached into her pocket and called him. After a third attempt, she visibly frowned. "He is not answering. It is going straight to voice mail." She relayed as Chizuru also tried with no results as well. "Do you think he might be with someone else?" The Shorter Girl asked and Chizuru did not know. Turning she walked to the door. Wanting to contact one more person and then go back to his Apartment to see if he was there. Sending a text to Kuri and then getting the response, she grimaced. He had no idea where kazuya was. So with a decision made after several minutes ringing his Buzzer and knocking on his door. She went to the back Balcony. There she slipped around the dividing wall and because they both did not lock their back sliding doors, she entered his Apartment. They both did not lock them in case either one of them accidentally locked themselves out of their respective Apartments and then either one of them could get into their Apartments from the balcony without contacting the obnoxious Apartment Manager. Stepping inside, she first looked for him and then any clue for where he might have gone. Stopping briefly to feed his fish.
"Nothing seems out of place." Chizuru muttered to herself as she continued to look around. Then her eyes fell upon something that added to her concern. His Cellphone was on the Nightstand, turned off.
000
With an audible groan, Kazuya tried to move his right hand up to his head. But something attached to his wrist restricted him from moving that hand, slowly opening his eyes. He looked down at his wrist to see it was handcuffed to his wrist and a chain. In surprise and with another groan he tried to sit up, but a wave of disorientation overwhelmed him forcing him to lay back down. "I would not try to get up yet." A familiar voice said from off to his right. Turning his head, he gasped.
"Nami! What...What is going on?" Kazuya stammered out and she smiled at him.
"Oh this...let us just say it is a test." Mami Nanami replied and then held out a bottle of water. "You are going to need this. I have read that Chloroform can cause dehydration." She told him as he took the bottle with his left hand and with another groan sat up. Opening the bottle he guzzled half of it down. Then he fully realized what she had just said.
"Wait. You..Chloroform. Did you..?" Kazuya was utterly confused.
"Yes. I used Chloroform on you and then brought you here. Or rather Kibe carried you here." Mami smiled again and Kazuya glared at her. "You see I got together with Kibe and after a small chat. Where I informed him about Chizuru being a Rental Girlfriend. We both came to the conclusion that she has..lets say an interest in you other then you being one of her Clients. This here is a test to see if what we believe is true." Kazuya shook his head.
"That is all I am to her. I am just one of her Clients." Kazuya stated and Nami laughed. Shaking her head.
"I do not think so. Not after I talked to her. I noticed something interesting. She generally cares about you. More then she should as a Rental." Mami stood and then handed him some aspirin. "Don't fret any. By now Kibe is subtly leaving a clue for Chizuru. If she truly cares about you, which we both believe she does then she will eventually figure out where you are." She walked to the door.
"Wait why are you doing this?" Kazuya asked finally and Mami smiled again at him.
"Because I feel bad about how I used you. How I led you on with no real intention of really being your Girlfriend. I basically made you so lonely that you needed to rent someone to be there for you." Mami placed her hand on the Door handle. "It was Kibe's idea to knock you out and bring you here."
"Where is here? Where am I?" Kazuya asked and Nami laughed again.
"Somewhere completely obvious. Oh don't worry if Chizuru does not find you by Tomorrow then I guess me and Kibe were wrong. We will let you go then." With that Nami left and Kazuya exhaled then laid back down. He still felt lightheaded. Along with completely confused and of course pissed. Fully intending to punch Kibe the next time he saw him.
000
Stepping out the front door of Kazuya's Apartment, Chizuru slowly closed the door. Fully tempted to call the Police. Though she knew she did not have enough evidence to prove anything foul had happened to him. She was also tempted to call his Family. But the same thought came to her. She had no proof. Her Phone Chimed and at first she hoped it was him. "Nothing but a Date Request for later." She declined and then leaned back against his door. Wondering where to look next or what to do next. Glancing down, she saw something glitter in the streetlights from across the street. Kneeling she picked it up. "This was not here before." She whispered looking at the object closely. "A Coin...but not Money." Moving it closer to her eyes, she rotated it and then frowned. It was too dark to actually tell what it was. So taking out her Cell Phone, she used the flashlight of her Phone to look at it. "This is a Play Token. One for Kurinoshi's Game Zone." She muttered. Knowing the place because one of her Clients had taken her there once before. She shook her head. "Bad date from start to finish." She thought. Remembering when the idiot had taken her there. Spending hours playing video games and when that was over the same idiot tried to get her to go home with him. Offering her twenty thousand yen as an incentive. At that point she told him that her Boyfriend Kazuya would not like that. She smiled. "Eight times I used him as a way to get out of those morons believing that I was nothing more then a Prostitute." She said fondly. Pocketing the coin she went into her Apartment and retrieved something that Kazuya had given to her two months ago. He had given it to her claiming that she needed to protect herself, also stating that if she did not have it then he would worry about her. Putting the Can of Pepper Spray in her pocket of her Jacket. She left and headed for the Game Zone.
Across the Street, hiding in the bushes. Yoshiaki Kibe smiled and sent a text to Nami. While Chizuru was in Kazuya's Apartment, he quickly went up and placed the Game Zone Token where it could easily be seen. Then rushed back to make sure that Chizuru did see it. "Man Kazuya is so going to hit me later." He muttered and then chuckled. "Though if this works out...he better pick me as his Best Man." Watching as Chizuru walked by and in the direction where the Game Zone was located. Due west.
It being early evening, the Kurinoshi's Game Zone was occupied by a good portion of people. Chizuru suspected that a good half of those there were Couples. Teenagers from various High Schools there to play the Games that gave them Points to use for Prizes. She had no idea where to look, though she first made sure that Kazuya was not one of the Patrons. Promising if he was playing some type of game with her, she would use the Pepper Spray on him. Then kick him square in the nuts for aggravating her and making her worry about him. But after a few minutes she knew he was not there. Still she searched the Arcade and found nothing. Then something caught her eye. One of the Teenagers with his Girlfriend handed a Token to the girl and Chizuru removed the one in her pocket. They were different. Going to one of the Employees she held up the Token. "That won't work here anymore." The Employee said as he looked at the coin and then more closely at her. "We changed Token Coins last month. Sorry." He then smiled pleasantly at her. "Say I get off in an hour...how about I take you to dinner?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"No thanks. My Boyfriend is expecting me." Chizuru replied then thought. "Nine times." Noticing the disappointment on the Boys face. "So this is no good?" She asked him and the Boy shook his head.
"Not anymore...though in a couple of months...they might go back to them. Generally we put them into storage and if the Higher Ups could decide to go back to them. So go ahead and hang on to it." The Employee suggested, then pointed at the Storage door. Going over to the door, Chizuru stopped when she noticed a piece of paper with her first name on it. The paper was taped to the wall where the Advertisements were posted. Taking the paper, she left the Game Zone and once outside she read it.
"Very good Chizuru. You found the next clue to where Kazuya is. If you are thinking this is some type of prank. Well it isn't. If you do not find him by Dawn, then everyone will know that you don't give a crap about him. More importantly he will know. So it is up to you from this point. You can quit and go home or you can figure out the next clue, which might be where he is. If you go home then he will have to face it that all he is to you is a Client. Someone you do not give a damn about. Here is the Clue if you decide to continue. I have keys, but no locks and space, and no rooms. You can enter, but you can't go outside. What am I? Then after you figure what that is. The next part of the Clue is at the Closest Place that has it. There you will find the next clue or him." Rereading the note again, Chizuru grimaced.
"A fucking riddle. Not a hard one though. The answer is obviously a Keyboard." Taking out her Cellphone, Chizuru did a search for the nearest Computer Store and finding one only a block away. She tossed the paper into the nearby trashcan. By the time she arrived the Store was closed. Walking to the front window, she found something on the Frame. This one was a Key. Looking it over, she knew it had to be the next clue. Because it had her Initials scratched into it. Attached to the key was a key chain with a Company Logo on it. Using her Cellphone she looked up the Logo and then after finding what it was. Todoroki Storage. She was about to go there and then she stopped. "This is stupid. Why am I doing this? He is just a client." She said and then shook her head, then chuckled. "No tell the truth to at least yourself. You have fallen for that adorable idiot. Still though if this is some type of joke. I will have to hurt him." With that she continued on.
At the Storage Facility, Chizuru used the key to enter and then began searching for the Storage Room that the Key would work on.
Shivering, Kazuya wrapped his arms around himself. "You could have at least brought my coat with you." He muttered, watching his exhaled breath mist out. The temperature had dropped considerably and he began to worry how cold it could get before morning. He suspected the sun had set, because it now was now darker in where ever he was. When the door suddenly opened, he half expected it to be Nami or Kibe come to end this stupid test. He was surprised to see Chizuru standing there before him at the door. She had a relieved expression on her face.
"You better tell me what this is all about or I am just going to leave you there." Chizuru said pretending to be angry. But her voice betrayed her.
"Can you unlock this handcuff first?" Kazuya asked holding up his right arm. She smiled and reached over to the left side, removing a piece of tape that held a key. Coming over she unlocked the cuffs and as she did she touched his forearm.
"You are ice cold." Chizuru commented and he nodded. "Then lets get you somewhere warm and then you can tell me." She helped him up and took his left hand in her right. Intertwining her fingers into his. Leading him out of the Storage Unit and over to a Diner across the street. Where she ordered him a hot coffee. After he drank some and stopped shivering. "Okay..talk and this had better not be some type of joke you played on me. Because if it is...then I am so going to..." Kazuya shook his head.
"No this was not something I did. No. This whole scheme was Mami and Kibe being...stupid. They Chloroformed me and left me there. She told me it was some type of test for you. Because she...well she believes you care about me and not as a Client." Kazuya said frowning as he sipped some more coffee. Chizuru looked down at the table, blushing slightly.
"In truth I do." Chizuru whispered just loud enough for him to hear her. "I do care about you Kazuya. More then I should." That caught him off guard and he almost choked on his coffee. He stared at her wide eyed. She smiled at him. "One of their stupid clues gave me the option of just quitting. But I couldn't..because the note said that if I did, then they would let you know that...well that I do not care about you. It would prove to you that I didn't. I could not...like I said I care about you." She looked back up at him seeing him smiling broadly at her. "Well say something you idiot." She said sternly.
"I...I have no idea how to...you have to know I...I lied before when you asked me if I had fallen for you. Right?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru nodded.
"Obviously. I knew. I knew for quite awhile before I confronted you." Chizuru told him and he blushed. But she knew why he had lied. He was afraid that she would summarily tell him that he could not see her anymore. "I let it go...because I...I actually felt the same." She admitted and he smiled even more at her. "Oh I would like to know why you chickened out the other day. When you said you wanted me and then recanted. Right after I asked you what you meant. I wanted you to tell me...I wanted you to admit you had fallen in love with me. Not be a spineless idiot." She said and Kazuya no longer smiled.
"I found myself not wanting to risk never seeing you again. It was bad enough you said that you would be moving on...which I know that it meant that..that you probably would be moving out and I would never see you again regardless. But I wanted that time before you did." Kazuya said sadly and Chizuru reached over and lightly tapped him in the back of the head.
"That was so stupid. Though I guess I can understand. I did not make it clear to you. Did I?" Chizuru said and Kazuya shook his head. She smiled.
"So what...what now?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru chuckled. Reaching over and taking the top of his right hand in hers. Giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Well one you do not get to rent me anymore." Chizuru told him and it hit him like a blow to the heart. Small tears began to form in his eyes and he frowned noticeably. She smiled. "Boyfriends are not allowed to Rent their Girlfriends." She said and he gasped.
"What?" Kazuya stuttered out and Chizuru chuckled.
"It is Company Rules. A Real Boyfriend cannot Rent their Girlfriends. It can lead to problems and it is kinda foolish for a Boyfriend to pay to go out with his Girlfriend." Chizuru explained and Kazuya began to hyperventilate. She smiled coyly. "If I am not making it completely clear. We are now a couple. A real one. By the way...no more dating Ruka. I do not share." With that she partially stood and leaned across the table. Turning her head slightly to the left, she pressed her lips onto his and kissed him for real.
Across the Street under one of the Store Awnings, Kibe and Nami smiled. "Guess your plan worked, Mami." Kibe said gesturing towards the two as they kissed.
"Of course it worked. I told you I got the impression from my little talk with her, that she had fallen for him. Though you do know, he is probably going to deck you the next time he sees you?" Mami said smiling broadly. Kibe chuckled.
"Yeah I know. She might hit you too..you know." Kibe replied and Mami shrugged. "I got to know why you did this for him?" He asked her and she shrugged again.
"Lets just say I owed him. That and I felt bad for what I did to him." Mami said then decided it was time to go home. During this whole debacle she had time to consider her own relationship. She was not happy in her relationship. Chinjo was not who she believed she was into anymore. For one he was boring. She had stayed with him because her Brother and her Parents adored him. But to her he was just a dullard. No real spark or zing. "Well I am splitting...got to get home and take care of my own problems." With a parting smile to Kibe, she made her way to the Train Station. He watched her leave and then decided it might be best he left too. Not wanting Kazuya to see him. So Kibe turned towards his Apartment Building and left as well.
Walking hand in hand, Chizuru smiled as she walked with Kazuya. This time when she held his hand it was not because he had rented her to be his Girlfriend. No this time it was because he really was her Boyfriend. At the steps leading up to their respective apartments, she turned and kissed him again. Parting she smiled at him as they stared into each others eyes. She was beyond tempted to take him to her Apartment and spend the rest of the night with him. But she suspected it was too soon for that and she doubted either of them were ready for that type of intimacy yet. So kissing was all they would do for now. Which was more then enough for her. "Kazuya if it bothers you that I continue being a rental...please tell me. I am willing to quit." She told him and he shook his head.
"No you need to do it so you can follow your dream." Kazuya said and she smiled at him. Then kissed him again.
000
On the Campus the next day the first thing Kazuya did when he met up with Kibe, was deck him. Kibe expected it to happen and did not move or try to defend himself. Kuri though wanted to know why Kazuya had hit Kibe. Though after he did thank his friend and would thank Mami as well later. As he helped Kibe up, he saw Chizuru in her student mode. He had to stop himself from smiling and giving away that she was Chizuru Mizuhara, his now real Girlfriend. Then he noticed it and thankfully no one else did, not even her two friends. When she smiled at him.
Unable to stop herself, Chizuru smiled when she saw Kazuya. She was able to stop herself from giving him a small wave. So she chided herself for almost letting it slip. But when she saw him she could not help herself. She was happy and at that second that she smiled, she really did not care if anyone saw her. Walking on she barely heard her Friends commenting on one of the Boys hitting the other and then thanking him. Later in the day, she waited in the same room that she had pulled Kazuya into a year or so ago and upon seeing him coming down the Hallway. She grabbed him once again and pulled him into the room. Immediately kissing him. When they finally parted. "Here I thought I was going to blow your cover and you almost did." Kazuya said chuckling. She wrinkled her nose at him.
"So I lost my composure for a second. Couldn't help it. I have never been in love before and..." Chizuru blushed realizing that she had said the L Word and then she smiled at him.
"Me neither. I have never really been in love before. Mami don't count. I know I really did not love her." Kazuya said to her and she kissed him again.
"Want to come over for dinner tonight?" Chizuru asked him and Kazuya nodded. After a couple more kisses, they both sneaked out of the room and went in different directions. Fully intending to keep her secret.
The End.