Rent a Girlfriend: Tricked or Treated (Short Story) Part 1
Characters:
Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru Mizuhara
Mami Nanami
Ruka Sarashina
Sumi Sakurasawa
Nagomi Kinoshita
Yoshiaki Kibe
Shun Kuribayashi
Sayuri Ichinose
Two Weeks After Episode 12:
It was not that Chizuru wanted to be where she was, but Ruka had threatened to tell everyone about Kazuya renting her. So she had no choice but to agree to this meeting. In truth if Ruka did tell, it would not effect her in the slightest. Since no one knew that Chizuru Mizuhara was in fact Chizuru Ichinose. The only one that knew that was Kazuya and she knew for a fact that he would never divulge that secret. Instead he would then become the focus of ridicule and the blunt of a lot of jests. Still he would not tell. She owed him this at least. Looking up from her tea she saw Ruka come into the Cafe and then sat down across from her. "I am here...What do you want?" She demanded from Ruka who simply smiled at her.
"Thank you for coming Chizuru." Ruka said as she picked up a Menu and opened it before her. Chizuru had the urge to rip the Menu out of the other girls hand, but resisted that urge.
"Will you just tell me why you wanted to see me and why you would threaten to...You do know that if you did tell...It would be Kazuya that you would be hurting. Not me." Chizuru said and Ruka put down the Menu.
"I know and I would not really have told. I just needed to talk to you and I figured that threatening to tell would guarantee that you actually agree to meet me." Ruka then smiled and Chizuru was beginning to loose her patience. Though she already had lost a great deal of her patience the second Ruka had threatened to tell everyone around that Kazuya was renting her as a Girlfriend.
"So what do you want to talk about?" Chizuru asked again and Ruka stopped smiling.
"That is simple...I want the absolute truth. Are you...In love with Kazuya?" Ruka asked her and Chizuru chuckled.
"Is that what you wanted to ask...That is it...I have no romantic feelings for Kazuya at all. He is nothing more then just a Client. That is all he is to me." Chizuru stated and Ruka shook her head.
"Okay. That will make this so much easier then." Ruka reached into the pocket of her Jacket and pulled out an envelope. Laying it on the table before her. "In this is about 50,000 Yen. Almost all I made when I was a Rental." She slid the envelope towards Chizuru who looked over at her in confusion.
"What are you...What is this?" Chizuru asked and Ruka smiled broadly at her.
"It is simple. I want you to first to stop letting Kazuya rent you. Then I want you to block him from accessing your Rental Agency Account. Finally I want you to take the money and move out of your Apartment that is right next to his and just go elsewhere. I do not care where as long as it is nowhere close to his." Ruka told her and Chizuru still looked over at the other girl completely confused.
"Why would you...Want me to do that?" Chizuru asked and Ruka shrugged.
"Well you did say he is nothing to you but a client. So I have decided that since that is all he is to you...I want you gone. So that you won't be interfering with me trying to get him to be my Boyfriend." Ruka said no longer smiling. "Take the Money and just...Go away." Chizuru just sat there.
"No." Chizuru said softly and Ruka leaned closer.
"What was that?" Ruka asked and Chizuru scowled.
"I said...NO!" Chizuru repeated more loudly this time.
"Come on Chizuru...Take the Money and...You said he is nothing to you but a Client. Well I want to be his real Girlfriend. Since You don't...be a proper Rental and..." Ruka was going to continue but Chizuru slammed her right hand down onto the table.
"I SAID NO! NO I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE HIM FROM ME!" Chizuru growled angrily and Ruka chuckled with a smile.
"Why not? If he is just your Client and I want to be his Girlfriend...I do not understand why you won't let me have him." Ruka said wanting to really rile Chizuru up. Perhaps make her say what she already suspected from almost the beginning. That Chizuru was in love with Kazuya.
"You cannot have him...He is...He is...He is mine. He is my Boyfriend and you cannot have him." Chizuru stated firmly and Ruka shook her head.
"He is nothing but a client to you and you are nothing more then his Rental Girlfriend." Ruka said and Chizuru glared at Ruka angrily.
"NO HE IS NOT! I...I AM HIS GIRLFRIEND! HE IS MY BOYFRIEND!" Chizuru yelled loudly bounding to her feet and glaring down at Ruka. Clenching her fists with the intent of hitting the other Girl. Ruka smiled and began to laugh.
"I knew it. You are in love with him." Ruka said and Chizuru slowly sat back down. Feeling completely embarrassed. Especially when she noticed almost everyone in the Cafe was looking at her in surprise and interest. Taking several calming breaths, Chizuru slumped her shoulders and looked down at the table.
"Fine. You are right. I am in love with him. Happy?" Chizuru asked and Ruka shook her head.
"Not really. I was actually hoping that you would continue to deny it. Though...I did lie some." Ruka gestured at the Envelope. "Uhm there is nowhere near 50,000 Yen in there. More like 10,000 Yen. Sorry. I was testing you." Ruka took back the Envelope that contained her Weekly Paycheck from her Job at the Karaoke Cafe.
"Why would you do this?" Chizuru asked trying not to notice all those in the Cafe that was looking at her believing that given some time she might make another huge scene. Ruka chuckled.
"Because I really like Kazuya and in a way...I like you too. But not as much as I like Kazuya and I want him to be happy. I know for a fact that he is in love with you. Though in truth I was hoping that you would continue to deny it and eventually he would give up on you. Then I could be with him...Ah well...So now that you actually admitted that you do love him...What are you going to do about it?" Ruka asked and Chizuru eyed her empty Teacup.
"I have no idea. I...I never have been in a real relationship before. All I have known is being a Rental Girlfriend and I can't be like that with him anymore. It has to be real and not some act. So I am going to have to think about how I should...Do this." Chizuru said knowing that at most she needed to talk to Kazuya. Though she suspected that he would probably lie to her again. So she began to devise a plan where he would be unable to lie to her and at the same time. Where she would not lie to him anymore. That meant doing something drastic. Ruka stood.
"Well now that I have really messed up...I better get going. Oh by the way...If you blunder it and not get with Kazuya. Then he will be fair game and I will not hold back anymore." With that Ruka left and Chizuru was about to leave as well. She had some planning to do before her date with Kazuya on Wednesday. Which was only in two days. So that did not give her a lot of time. Returning home, she headed right to her Laptop and reserved the reservation. Now all she had to do is make Kazuya take her there during their Date. Even though he would not know it yet. This one would be a real date and not a Rental Date.
Wednesday:
"Uhm...Mizuhara...This is one of those...Why would you want to come here?" Kazuya asked somewhat dumbfounded as he stared up at the Name on what she had told him that they would be going to on their Rental Date. A place called LIES AND TRUTHS. He felt beads of sweat begin to form when he saw what the Business offered to it's cliental. "REAL WORKING LIE DETECTORS! ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND GET THE REAL TRUTH FROM YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE!" Chizuru smirked at him and suspected that if given the chance Kazuya would run for it.
"I thought this might be fun." Chizuru said giving him her most dazzling smile. Though she did think it was funny on how badly he was sweating. Because the small beads of sweat had turned into full blown buckets.
"Wait...It says by reservation only. So I guess...We won't be able to do this." Kazuya said with relief and Chizuru chuckled.
"I already made a reservation...Shall we go in?" With that Chizuru led the reluctant Kazuya inside. Who now was a complete nervous wreck. Especially when one of the Attendants took them right into a Small Room.
"So who goes first?" The Attendant asked and Chizuru gestured over at Kazuya.
"He does." Chizuru said and Kazuya wanted to protest. Come up with some type of excuse to get out of this right up to the point that he was hooked up to the Machine that sat on a table. Chizuru sat down across from Kazuya and could not help but think it was funny how pale he was.
"Uhm...Sir if you do not relax...Then your Girlfriend won't need to use our services. She will be able to easily tell that you are not being truthful." The Attendant said with a small smile. Chizuru knew the older Man was trying and failing to calm Kazuya down and make him relax. "Okay Miss...He is all hooked up. It is best that you first ask him three Questions and have him lie...That way the Machine can be calibrated to detect when he is telling a Lie or being Truthful. When you want to switch...Just push that intercom button and I will come in and do it." With that the Attendant left and Chizuru smiled broadly over at Kazuya as he felt like he was about to have a stroke.
"Let's get started...Shall we?" Chizuru said and the test began. After she asked the three Questions that Kazuya had to lie about, she decided to at first go easy on him. Ten Questions later. "Alright Kazuya...Now it is time for a Question I have been wanting you to tell the truth." She leaned closer and at the same time kept an eye on the Screen that would indicate if he was lying or not. Kazuya gulped and began to almost hyperventilate. "Kazaya...Are you in...Love with me?" She asked him and he had a sudden urge to rip the lines that were attached to him off and make a run for it. But knew she would probably tackle him and then force him to be reconnected. He felt his heart pound heavily in his chest and he looked from Chizuru to the Monitor then back at her.
"I...I do not think it would be a good idea for me to answer that...Can I plead the United States 5th Amendment?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru shook her head.
"No you cannot! Now answer the damn question! Are you in love with me?" Chizuru demanded and Kazuya closed his eyes.
"Well I knew at some point that this would end and she did tell me once that if a Client ever fell for her...She would stop letting him rent her. I guess this is it." Kazuya mumbled mostly to himself and then reopened his eyes and looked directly at Chizuru. "Yes...Yes I am. I...I am in love with you." He declared and then waited for the verbal fallout. But that never came. Instead she said something that caused him to faint and that would be...
"Good...Because I am...I am in love with you too." Chizuru said and then watched as Kazuya fell off the chair onto the floor. Making their way back towards their Apartments, He stumbled along in a daze. Basically unable to comprehend completely what he just learned. "Hey are you alright?" She asked and he somewhat nodded.
"I...I guess so." Kazuya said and Chizuru giggled at his expression. He had a huge broad smile plastered on his face and from an outside point of view. He looked weird. As they neared home, she guided him right to her Apartment and at first he was reluctant to enter. "Are you sure...That this is okay?" He asked and Chizuru giggled again.
"Oh come on...I figure that we are now...A couple. So get your butt in my Apartment. We have a lot to discuss. I also got some good news that I want to share with you first." Chizuru told him and basically pushed him through her open door. Thinking back about what her Grandmother had told her. That she needed someone in her life that she could share with. How happy her Grandmother was that she did have someone and that it was Kazuya. Knowing that he would always be there for her, whenever she needed him. Their talk dragged on for several hours and by the end of it Kazuya was once more in a dazed state. Finding out that the Girl of his Dreams was in love with him and wanted to become his Real Girlfriend was really shocking. So much so he felt a little giddy and lightheaded. "Now onto the Good News...I have been offered a Role on a TV Series. So far it is only 13 Episodes...But like the Play it could lead me onto more roles." She told him and it brought him out of his daze.
"Hey that is awesome news Miz..Chizuru. What is the Role?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru smiled at him warmly. Her Grandmother had been right. She did need someone to share with. Someone close to her. Someone that cared about her. Other then her Grandmother.
"The Series is called...Horimiya...And I will be the lead Protagonist...Kyoko Hori. The premise is that she is bright and popular high school student, in contrast to her classmate Izumi Miyamura, a gloomy and seemingly nerdy, glasses-wearing boy. At home, Hori is a homebody who dresses down and looks after her younger brother, Souta. She takes every attempt to hide this from her classmates, as to not disrupt her social status and cause others to worry. One day, Souta comes home with a nosebleed. He had been accompanied by a boy with numerous piercings and tattoos, who introduces himself as Miyamura. After recognizing Hori, even when she is dressed down, they agree to keep their true identities concealed from their peers. However, over time, when the two begin to learn more about each other, they learn they have more in common then they originally thought. Together, they agree to assist one another in keeping their after-school identities a secret. As time goes on, the two suddenly find themselves closer than ever. Then they become romantically involved." Chizuru took a deep breath from completely describing it in detail. (Referenced from Wikipedia. So check Horimiya out and you will notice that Kyoko Hori looks just like Chizuru. With some minor changes that is. Already know that Horimiya came out before Rental Girlfriend.)
"That sounds great. So when do you start filming?" Kazuya asked with keen interest. Chizuru found she liked this. A lot.
"Next week. Though I am a little nervous and worried. This is not like the Play or the two Commercials that never was aired but I did get paid for. This is completely different. I am going to be the lead Protagonist and...and I am...not sure if I fit the role or not." Chizuru admitted and Kazuya smiled.
"No way. I am sure that whatever the role you will be really great at. I am also sure you will be incredible...If nothing else I will help you anyway I can." Kazuya said and Chizuru continued to like this. She had a very supportive Boyfriend now and she now understood what was missing in her life. It was him.
Thursday:
The very first thing Chizuru did when she awoke in the Morning was QUIT being a Rental. The next thing was put on a Robe and go next door to have breakfast with Kazuya. Her Boyfriend. Though he was a little surprised when she knocked on his door and then entered his Apartment without hesitation. Then he remembered that he had invited her over for Breakfast. Still somewhat in a daze that he was now Chizuru's real Boyfriend and she was his Real Girlfriend. As she sipped coffee while he made breakfast. "I think we need to tell my Grandmother, Your Grandmother and your Parents the truth." She said and he almost dropped the toast onto the floor that he was transferring to a plate.
"Are you sure. I mean...I do not know about your Grandmother...But mine is going to want to thoroughly punish me...A lot." Kazuya said as he then put Poached eggs onto the toast. Along with some sausage he had just fried. Bringing the two plates over and placing one of them right in front of Chizuru.
"Yes...I want to make sure that they all know that we are together for real now and I really want to tell my Grandmother. Explain to her why I had to be a Rental and make sure she knows that I did nothing sorted." Chizuru was worried about that part. It had been discovered by a Investigative Reporter that one of the Rental Agencies was promoting prostitution. In that they were having the Girls that worked for them sell themselves sexually for money. She had been thankful that the Diamond Agency did not do that. Though she would quit the second they ever suggested she do something so vile.
"I will testify to that. That you did nothing improper." Kazuya said and Chizuru smiled again at him, while at the same time she began to eat her Breakfast.
"Wow this is really good." Chizuru commented as they both dug in. Talking about this or that as they ate and she found that she really liked this. It felt natural as if this was what she had been missing in her life. Having a real Boyfriend to spend time with. "I think I would like to do this more often...Have meals with you and just...be like a normal couple." She told him and he had to agree.
Walking towards the Campus together and at a certain point, they let go of each others hand. Chizuru still had to keep it a secret that she was Chizuru Mizuhara. Not wanting even her friends to know what she had to do for a living before now. That and they wanted to tell the Grandmothers and his Parents first and not have them discover it by other means. Such as Kibe blabbing to Nagomi. Which Kazuya reassured her if necessary he would swear Kibe to keep it a secret. "Later after School...I would really like it if you took me out on a date." Chizuru said just before they parted further apart then what they were.
"Okay...Do you want me to plan something or am I going to get blindsided again?" Kazuya asked hinting towards when Chizuru had taken them to LIES and TRUTHS. She giggled and shook her head.
"No go ahead and plan something. Though I do want it where we can at least spend some alone time together." Chizuru said and Kazuya began to think of where he could take her on their Date.
All during the day, Chizuru could barely contain how anxious she was about going on an actual real date with Kazuya. Sure the other day when she took him to LIES AND TRUTHS. She counted that as a Real Date. But later today was going to be their first actual real date. Where there was a possibility that she would get to kiss him again. They had this morning right before they departed to walk together towards the Campus. This would be different. In that it would be after their date and she was more then ready for that type of relationship with him. Along with eventually where they would be spending the night together in her bed or his. Shinbo and Kawanaka had noticed her changed demeanor and had questioned why she appeared so happy. "You are imagining things." She told them really doubting they believed that.
"To me it seems she is this way because she met a Boy." Kawanaka said and Chizuru wanted to deny it. But decided not to. Since she guessed that both of her friends could easily tell that she would be lying.
"Okay...Yes I...I now have a Boyfriend." Chizuru said and tried not to continue to look pleased and happy.
"WE WANT TO MEET HIM!" Both Shinbo and Kawanaka said together at the same exact time.
"Not going to happen." Chizuru told them and started to walk away as they pestered her relentlessly for details. Details she refused to give them. "I like this. This is kind of fun." She thought as her two friends continued to ask about her Boyfriend.
Sitting in class, Kazuya tried to figure out what he and Chizuru could do on their date. Before it was easier when he was in a Rental Relationship with her. Now he had to think of something that constituted as being a Real Date. Just having Coffee at a Cafe or something along those lines would not cut it. "A Movie? No...It has to be something not so...High School. Diner...Yeah...We could do that. But what else?" Pulling out his phone he checked over local events. Looking for anything that might be not only fun. But where they could be together romantically. He knew that was what Chizuru would want. Some real Romance. Then he found it. A Carnival. "Okay that works...We can even eat there." With that he preordered Admission Tickets and checked the Train Schedule to make sure it ran not only for them to get there. But also back home.
Carrying the Purple Teddy Bear that Kazuya had won her in her left arm. Chizuru held tightly to his left hand with her other hand. Their fingers were intertwined and both swung slightly back and forth. She smiled happily as they walked. "This was way better then any of my Rental Dates." She thought as they walked. She had thoroughly enjoyed the Ferris Wheel and that of the Love Tunnel. Where in both they kissed.
"So did you have fun?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru smiled over at him.
"Yes. The whole time was perfect. We have to do something like this again." Chizuru said and edged closer to him as they walked towards the Train Station.
"Well next month there is a Festival we could go to. Actually I would love to see you in a kimono. I bet you would look absolutely beautiful in one." Kazuya said back and Chizuru giggled.
"Only if you wear one too." Chizuru told him, knowing she would have to get one or borrow one from her Grandmother.
"Sounds like a plan." Kazuya said as they stepped aboard the soon to be departing Train that would take them back home. "Uhm..Should we...You know talk about what we are doing this Saturday?" He asked her and Chizuru pouted.
"I guess so...Are you as nervous as I am?" Chizuru asked back and Kazuya nodded. "I want to apologize first...Even though it is mostly your fault."
"Yeah...It is. I should never have introduced you back then as my Girlfriend. Though I do not have any regrets that I did because in the end it all somehow worked out." Kazuya said and Chizuru smiled at him warmly, placing her head onto his shoulder. She began to wonder what would have happened if he had not done that. She doubted that she would be with him right now. In fact if none of those events had happened and they had not spent the last year pretending to be together. She had to believe that they would not be together now. Those events just sort of brought them closer and closer together and without them. She would not have fallen in love with him.
Saturday Confessions:
Everyone that they had invited was there, even someone that they had not invited to come. So it was time. Standing before them all with Kazuya right next to her, Chizuru bowed towards those gathered before them. "I wish to apologize to you all. For I...Me and Kazuya have been lying to you all for the past year. We were not a couple...I was not his Girlfriend. Not his real one anyhow. Grandma...I...I am sorry but my Job back then...I was a Rental Girlfriend and back then..."
"I rented her and she pretended to be my Girlfriend." Kazuya cut in not about to let Chizuru take too much of the blame. "I lied to you Grandma...Mom...Dad. Chizuru was never my Girlfriend back then...She was just nice enough to...Grandma you were so happy and you loved Chizuru so much...That I could never tell you the truth." He said and bowed towards his Family as well. "Please this is no way Chizuru's fault...It is mine." Everyone stared at them and Nagomi was about to say something. But Chizuru raised her right hand towards her.
"Wait...There is something else we must tell you all." Chizuru said and then took Kazuya's right hand in her left. "Even though in the beginning...It was all a lie. We are now together for real. Kazuya is my Real Boyfriend and I am in love with him."
"And Chizuru is my Real Girlfriend and I am in love with her too." Kazuya added. At that point they were bombarded with questions and Kazuya was hit by his Grandmother a couple of times. Neither noticed Mami scowling angrily at both of them.
"How do we know that you are not lying now? That you are not really together for real and this is just another act." Mami said with a lot of scorn and Chizuru turned towards Kazuya's EX Girlfriend and smiled.
"What type of proof do you want?" Chizuru asked and then continued to smile. "If you want...I will kiss him without hesitation."
"I have an idea that would prove it to all of us." Nagomi said reaching into her Purse and bringing out a small velvet box. "This was my...This was my Engagement Ring...Given to me years ago. Now if Kazuya asks and then gives this to you. Then that would be proof enough for all of us." The two looked at each other and Chizuru smiled at Kazuya.
"I am willing if you are?" Chizuru whispered to Kazuya who paled and with shaking fingers took the Ring out of the box. He turned and knelt in front of Chizuru.
"I am not sure about this...But I do love you Chizuru and...and...Will you Marry me?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru blushed. Holding out her left hand towards him.
"Yes I will." Chizuru replied and Kazuya slipped the ring onto her left hand Ring Finger. Then kissed her hand. Cheers erupted among their friends and family. The loudest came from their two Grandmothers who conducted a high five. Though one person stalked away in a huff.
"How could this happen? He is nothing more then a Pathetic Loser...How could...?" Mami said as she left, still believing that they were just putting on an act and decided that she would prove it. Looking back to see the now happy engaged couple standing together while everyone else congratulated them.
"Oh by the way Kazuya...We are...Spending the night together." Chizuru whispered to Kazuya, smiling as she kept gazing at the ring on her finger. It took him a good minute to realize what she intended. He paled and felt his knees buckle. Barely able to respond when his family and friends congratulated them.
The End or the Beginning.