Rent a Girlfriend: The Long Wait (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Plot:

Following the Manga. Kazuya told Chizuru he would wait for her to complete her Investigation into her feelings for him. But then something happened that has changed and he suspects that she has completed her Investigation and cannot tell him what she has discovered. This is where it will deviate from the Manga and the Anime. He now has no idea what to do. Knowing he cannot bring himself to actually see her. He has spent the last week basically hiding for he does not have the courage to find out.

Before:

It was early in the Morning. The Sun had not even completely risen yet as Kazuya made his way home from the University Library. He was tired. Bone tired from spending half the night researching for his End of Semester Paper. None of the Information he needed was on the Internet, so he had to actually spend the time finding the appropriate information in the Library. Inside his shoulder bag was several pages of the Research he needed. Nearing his Apartment door, he stretched and yawned heavily. Then he looked over to see Chizuru's Door open and someone he was introduced to as Umi Nakano came out of her Apartment and shut her door. "Excuse me." The other said as he passed Kazuya. Then Umi made his way to the steps. "Man I am beat...That kept me up almost all night. Worth it though." The other said softly as he descended the steps. When Umi was out of sight, Kazuya slumped to the floor in utter anguish. Instantly suspecting what it appeared to be. That Chizuru had finished her Investigation and then had just spent the night with Umi. It took all of his willpower to crawl into his Apartment and once at his Futon. He cried and continued to cry for several hours.

"I guess she has finished her investigation and...And has decided...She does not love me after all." Kazuya said and just laid there staring at the ceiling as tears ran down his cheeks.

Inside her Apartment, Chizuru watched Umi leave and then set down the Script. Shiori had left about half an hour prior and it took up to just a few minutes ago for Umi to be satisfied with his lines for them to be done studying together. None of them could believe that the Instructors at the Acting School had decided that their project for this next time would be a William Shakespeare Classic. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Or rather the first Act. So the three of them decided to study the lines together. But did not suspect that it would take almost all night for them to be able to fully study the entire ACT 1. Now as she sat there at the table, she felt both mentally and physically exhausted. With a yawn, she stood and went first to take a shower and then perhaps take a nice nap. "First I better Text Kazuya...Tell him I can't go eat breakfast with him this morning." She muttered and sent a text to him. Not noticing until a few hours after her four hour nap, that he had not read it or responded to it.

Three days later and after seven texts and eight calls went without answering or response. Chizuru was beginning to feel concerned. So she decided to ask Kibe and Kuri if they knew if there was something wrong with Kazuya. "You tell us...He has been showing up to class...But it seems that no one is home. His mind is not there. Did you two have a fight or something?" Kibe asked her and Chizuru now was really worried.

"No. Not that I am aware of." Chziuru said and decided to wait a few more days to see if maybe it was him just busy with his End of Semester Paper. But when it turned into a week. She knew it had to be something else. Outside Kazuya's door she first Rang his Door Buzzer and then knocked. Still there was no answer and no sound from within. It immediately reminded her of when she stopped responding for that three months. How she would not respond to his texts and did not answer her door. Closing her eyes she just stood there. "Please open the door Kazuya...Don't do what I did to you before. Talk to me." She loudly said at the closed door knowing that he could hear her. Just like she heard him when he was at her door. "Is that why you are doing this? You said you would wait for me to...I need more time...Kazuya...I am still so confused and unsure. But I do know...I want to see you. Talk to you. So please open the door." She then heard the door unlock and it slowly edged open. Now able to see inside and Kazuya himself. She gasped. His whole appearance was like his Apartment in shambles. He looked completely terrible.

"Why bother? I know you have finished with...Your Investigation...And I know you don't. So what is the point in dragging this out? Also won't your Boyfriend be upset that you are...Here?" Kazuya asked his voice sounding cracked and hoarse.

"What are you talking about? What Boyfriend?" Chizuru asked and he exhaled with a deep sigh.

"Oh come on Mizuhara...I saw your Boyfriend leave your Apartment the other day. Saying something about how you kept him up almost all night. That can only mean...That you don't while I do. I love you Mizuhara...But you don't me." Kazuya started to cry again and he was aboot to shut the door. Not wanting her to see him break down in front of her. She stopped him from being able to shut the door.

"What are you talking about? Who left...?" Then it dawned on Chizuru what he was talking about. "Wait...Do you mean Umi?" She asked and Kazuya did not even look at her. Then he sullenly nodded.

"Yeah...Your boyfriend...Right? The one that spent the night with you." Kazuya tried again to shut the door, but Chizuru continued to hold it open with her right hand and her right foot.

"We did not do what you think we did. No he and Shiori came over to study and that is it." Chizuru stated and Kazuya looked at her finally.

"What about...You don't feel the same...Do you?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru let go of his door and moved her foot back. She slowly shook her head.

"You said you would wait...Just wait a bit longer Kazuya...I promise I will give you my decision...Once I know I am. I do know I do care about you Kazuya...And I want to still go out with you. Please just be patient about...The other...Okay." Chizuru said softly and reassuringly. She was torn. She knew she did. She was in love with him. But to actually tell him that she wanted To be his Real Girlfriend and then later something more then that. Was something she just could not bring herself to admit yet. "Now...I think you need to take a shower, change your Clothes and then...We need to go out. Dinner and a Movie or something like that." She told him and he finally smiled at her and she smiled back at him. He nodded. "Good I will be back in an hour and then we will go out." She turned and went to her Apartment to get ready as well.

Mami's Rebellious Plan:

Shifting another amount of money from her Family's Accounts to her secret one Overseas. Small amounts that were transferred from each one that would make it almost impossible for anyone to actually notice. Mami smiled. Her plan was about to bare fruit finally. "I am glad I can count on my Brother being both naïve and stupid." She muttered as she deleted all access from the Coded Login that she had used to access her Family's Accounts. Leaving no trace of what she had been doing. "Problem though...It still is not enough. Not if I want to get out from under my Father and not have to marry that boring jackass." She thought. So far her plan had been perfect. She knew her Brother kept not so subtle tabs on her by secretly accessing her Phone from his own via a Surveillance APP that he had placed there when she first went to College. She also knew he kept tabs on everything else she was doing by openly spying on her. She knew all about it for she had discovered the APP and had noticed those he hired to watch her. She did feel guilty about using Kazuya and Chizuru as a decoy. But she had no choice. She had to have something that occupied her Brother's attention while she transferred the Money along with Making Digital Copies of a whole slew of Documents. That meant she had to play the part of a conniving bitch that tried to make Kazuya and Chizuru's life miserable. By attempting to end their real relationship. It gave her Brother something to report to her Father. Who seemed to delight in that she was doing something so vile to someone else. Believing she was just as vile as he was when he tormented or destroyed an enemy or competitor. Financially and most times emotionally. What her Father did not know was at one time. She wished she could have had a real relationship with Kazuya. That is if she had the freedom to do so. But everything she did from her dumping him and then tormenting him. Was all part of her plan to escape her so called engagement and get out from under her Father's thumb. The other parts of her plan would in time bring her Father down. Documentation was now securely hidden within her Computer and once she was sure she had enough Money. That is when she would send everything about his illegal and immoral dealings to the Media and also the Justice Department. She figured within hours her Father would be arrested and her Brother might also be arrested for his role in the illegal activities her Father was involved in. She was sure her so called Fiancé and his Family would be as well. Turning off the Cheap used Laptop that she had purchased with Cash from a Pawnstore, she slipped it in it's hiding place inside her Mattress. Where no one would find it and discover what she was doing. With a heavy exhaled sigh, she went back to playing the role of a villainess by pretending to find ways to make Kazuya and Chizuru miserable. She cried for hours. Feeling disgusted with herself after she had divulged that Chizuru was a Rental and that the two were a fake couple to his Family and their friends. Knowing for certain that they may say that it was fake. But she knew better. She knew Kazuya was in love with Chizuru and Chizuru was in love with Kazuya. It was too obvious. "Someday I will beg them for their forgiveness. Though if this works the way I have it planned. They will know for certain that they are in love with each other. For Hardships can make the heart stronger." She whispered as she continued with her ploy.

At one point to gain the Money she needed. Mami considered not becoming a Rental Girlfriend like Chizuru did. But to do something more desperate and in her mind disgusting. She knew of a Bordello that had young Girls dress up in Bunny Outfits. Then they would have sex with some Customers for an exorbitant amount of Money. She had met two of her Classmates that did that to pay for their tuitions and be able to go to College. The two told her that someone as cute as her could get at least 100,000 Yen an hour. Even more then that depending on how good she was. The idea sickened her, but at the time she actually considered doing it. Not for just the Money, but she knew if her Father ever found out. It might give him the final push to give him a Heartattack or stroke to discover that his Daughter was a Whore. She lost her nerve when she went to inquire about working there she saw some of the Customers that frequented the Establishment. They were not anyone she would even allow to touch her let alone have sex with her. She could not understand how the two girls even could stand letting any of those men do anything to them. Let alone have sex with them. "I am desperate...But not that desperate. I guess I will just have to keep fleecing money from my Family's Accounts until I have enough." She said to herself as she left. On the way back home she spotted Chizuru and Kazuya holding hands and heading towards a Cafe.

"I hate this...I hate this so much. There they are and...And they look so happy. It is like they belong together and here I have to pretend to sabotage them." Mami thought as she stood across the Street from where she could see Kazuya and Chizuru out on a date. She did not have to look, but she knew that there was someone there watching her. The Older Woman could not look more obvious that she was watching and reporting on her to her Brother. She had seen that Woman so many times it was hard not to pretend that she had seen her or know why the other woman was there for. If it was not the Dark Haired Woman. It would be one of the two Men that basically stood out. For all of them were too old appearing to be on the College Campus or at the dozen or so other places she had seen them at. "Forgive me Kazuya and Chizuru...I do not want to do this...But I have no choice." She muttered as she took a deep breath and made her way over towards them. She only hoped that she did not cause them too much strife that they no longer stayed together. If they ended their relationship because of her. Then she would hate herself for the rest of her life. To her inner relief Chizuru once again stood her ground and dared her to report her to her Agency. Because now Chizuru was no longer charging Kazuya to go out with her. That it was not a conflict of interest if she is dating Kazuya for real. Pretending to be upset she stormed off in a huff. She could not help but to secretly cheer them on.

The Investigation is Over:

Returning to their Apartment Building, Chizuru was still thinking about when Mami had confronted them. "Sure we are not a couple yet. But I can go out with him on dates. Like I told her I am not charging Kazuya. My Agency knows all about me and Kazuya and it is not against the Rules for me to go out on Dates with someone I want to go out with." She thought as they neared the steps that led up to their Adjacent Apartments.

"Uhm...Mizuhara...I am sorry about...When Mami saw us and...And said all that." Kazuya softly said to her and Chizuru shook her head.

"It is fine. We should expect that if she sees us together. She still believes I am using you and is determined to cause us trouble. Though I have no idea why. I have to believe that she is not that bad of a person that wants to make you suffer just because at one time you said you were in love with her. It has to be something else that is making her do this." Chizuru told him and Kazuya inhaled softly.

"No I can't believe that. I think she generally hates us both and has it out for us." Kazuya said thinking that once again Chizuru was just too nice to believe that Mami was basically a bitch. But he would not want Chizuru to ever change. That is why he loved her so much was because of who she was. Nearing his Apartment, he loosened his grip on her hand. Though she kept holding his.

"Want to come...Can you come to my Apartment. I want to talk to you." Chizuru reluctantly asked blushing slightly and Kazuya gasped loudly. Then he became sullen.

"Is this...Is this about...Have you decided?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru slowly nodded. He inwardly and somewhat outwardly panicked. Inside her Apartment, Chizuru had Kazuya sit at her low Table. Taking the time to make Tea and after that bringing it to him. While she did that, she thought over exactly what she was going to say. She did feel bad about how long she had kept him waiting for her to decide whether or not that she felt the same about him. Especially since she knew she did right from the start. But she just could not bring herself to admit it. She noticed when she handed him a cup of Tea his hands were shaking. In fact his entire body was shaking. "Don't prolong this! Come out and tell me...That you don't. So I can leave." He set the cup down without even taking a sip. All prepared to do as he had said. She smiled at him.

"Drink your tea." Chizuru ordered and took a sip of her own. She had elected for a calming blend. Hoping that it would calm her enough so that she did not make a complete fool out of herself. "Now listen." She took a deep breath. "You have to understand this is all new to me. Sure in High School a number of Guys and one Girl confessed to me. But I knew that they were only confessing to me because of how I look and not because of who I am. When I figured out you...Had fallen for me. I was suspecting that it was the same. Then later i discovered that you actually fell for me. That you actually were in love with me." She took another deep breath. "I did not know how to...Well to understand and relate to that. Especially since I never had those type of feelings for anyone but my Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather. That is why it took me so long to investigate my feelings. Along with decide if I was going to act upon them."

"I am almost worried about that." Kazuya said and Chizuru looked at him oddly. He sighed. "Okay...I am completely freaking out right now. So have you...I am still willing to wait you know." He admitted and Chizuru shook her head.

"That is not what it sounded like when you asked me not to prolong it. What it sounded like to me is that...Is that you were ready to give up on me. So I want you to understand how and why it took me so long. So that there is no misunderstandings." Chizuru said taking another sip of her tea. Preparing to word what she was about to say just right. "You see I was adamant that I did not want to have a Boyfriend...A real one. Do you realize how many times I turned down going out with Umi Nakano? I lost count. Though I suspected that all he was after was the same thing those that confessed to me back in High School. But I am going off track. Not wanting to be in a Real Relationship is why it took me so long. Because I was unsure if I wanted to be in one even with you. That is what has plagued me for this long. That no matter how much I...Well I am in love with you." She stopped long enough to see his reaction and was pleased when he stared at her in shock. She smirked coyly. "I still am not sure I want to be in one. But unfortunately I am in love with you Kazuya and...And I cannot fathom a future where I am not...With you. It hurts too much inside to even think of you not with me."

"Uhm...Does this mean you...That we...?" Kazuya asked hopefully and Chizuru could not bring herself to dash those hopes. For one she never wanted to hurt him like Mami had done. She let out a sighing breath and smirked.

"I thought I already made that clear." Chizuru shook her head when she could tell he didn't. "Geez...I have to wonder if my first real Boyfriend does not know how to completely listen." She said teasingly and then it finally dawned upon him. She moved around the table and sat right next to him.

"Boyfriend? First Real Boyfriend?" Kazuya asked staring at her in shock and she smiled.

"Yes...Boyfriend." Chizuru then did what she had done three times so far and leaned towards him. Pressing her lips onto his. Parting slightly she smiled. "Always be with me and always be in love with me." She whispered to him and then kissed him again. Knowing that this was real and this is what she wanted.

The Morning After:

Sitting up, Chizuru looked down at the sleeping Kazuya and she let out a sigh. "I cannot believe I...That we...But we did and we did almost all night long." She gazed over at the small Trashcan and chuckled lightly. Inside it was several wrappers and the remnants of what they had done. She smiled and laid back down, placing her head once more on his bare left shoulder and put her left arm across him. "You will have to take responsibility for...That means you are my one and only Boyfriend." She whispered and easily went back to sleep.

When Kazuya awoke, he at first was thinking that he was still dreaming. Then he realized that it wasn't and what he and Chizuru had done last night was real and not some perverted fantasy. Like he had several times before. He did know one thing. Having sex with Chizuru was incredible. "No it is much more then that. It was...much much more then incredible." He thought as he looked down slightly to see her beautiful face mere inches from his. She had her head pillowed on the left side of his upper chest and she had this content expression on her face. He would like to believe that he had lost count on how many times they had done it last night. But he knew exactly. What shocked him last night was when she initiated them going to bed. Sure it all started with a couple of kisses and then before he could fully understand what was happening. She took him over to her bed and from there. It all seemed to be a wonderfully amazing blur. "Guess she really does love me." He muttered.

"Of course I do." Chizuru said sleepily and opened her eyes. "Do you think I would...That we would...If I didn't. I am not that type of Girl who just goes to bed with someone that I am not in love with. Now I do not have my Glasses on or my Contacts in. So what time is it?" She asked him and he glanced over at the Alarm Clock a few feet away.

"Just after 9 AM." Kazuya told her and Chizuru exhaled with a small sigh.

"Good. That means we can stay like this for at least another two hours." Chizuru closed her eyes and Kazuya could feel her sort of snuggle more against him. "Though unfortunately at some point the call of nature is going to...I am guessing you too might have to...Use the Bathroom." He chuckled.

"At some point...Yeah." Kazuya though was willing to hold it as long as it was humanly possible. Not wanting to miss a second of being like this with Chizuru.

"Maybe by then my Boyfriend will take me out to lunch." Chizuru suggested and Kazuya smiled.

"You bet." Kazuya then focused his mind on not listening to his need to use the Bathroom. After 11 AM and the fact that neither could ignore the urge. They both got up. Kazuya headed for his own Apartment to not only use the Bathroom but get ready to take Chizuru out for Lunch. During which, he noticed that she went with a mixture of her Ichonise normal appearance and that of her Mizuhara persona. She wore Glasses and had her hair tied back. All in all though he had to admit she was extremely cute regardless.

By the time they finished eating and basically strolled back to the Apartment Building. They were shocked when they found the Apartment Taped off with Yellow Caution Tape. Just about all the Residents were outside the Apartment Building holding some of their possessions. Upon seeing the Manager they both approached the Older Woman. "Manager...What has happened? Why is it tapped off?" Chizuru immediately asked and the Manager turned to look at her.

"Didn't you two feel or hear the Earthquake last night? Well...It sort of damaged the foundation and the walls. Right now it is unsafe for anyone to stay. So until everything is fixed. Everyone has to stay somewhere else." The Manager told them and Kazuya groaned in despair.

"I guess that is it then." Kazuya sullenly said thinking that if he did not live so close to Chizuru that she would come to the realization that she could do so much better. Or worse decide that due to them unable to see each other regularly that she would no longer want to be with him.

"What do you mean by that?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya shrugged.

"At most I can go stay at my Parents. So I am thinking because we won't be as close...You will reevaluate us and...And then dump me." Kazuya said and Chizuru reached up and plunked him in the middle of his forehead with her index finger.

"Are you stupid or something?" Chizuru asked him sternly and with a lot of annoyance. "No I am not going to do that. I made my decision and now you are stuck with me." She declared and smiled at him. Then an idea came to her. "Hey...It won't be another Month or so before my Grandma's House will be sold. How about we both...Move in there until the Apartments are fixed?" She suggested and Kazuya gasped loudly.

"Are you serious? That is a big step...Isn't it?" Kazuya asked back and Chizuru smiled at him.

"Yep and it is also sort of a test to see...If maybe after...If we do want to live together." Chizuru told him and Kazuya began to wobble on his feet feeling faint. Wondering if he could handle cohabitation with the Girl he was in love with.

The End and the Beginning?