Rent a Girlfriend: Issues with Wrong Moments (Short Story) Part1
Characters:
Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru Mizuhara
Mami Nanami
Ruka Sarashina
Sumi Sakurasawa
Nagomi Kinoshita
Yoshiaki Kibe
Shun Kuribayashi
Sayuri Ichinose
Harumi and Kazuo Kinoshita
Plot:
Just after the Crowdfunding Movie and in a Moment that Kazuya later regretted he said something that he knew he shouldn't have. For after he said that fateful words to Chizuru. It all came to an end.
Wrong Time Wrong Words:
It was two days ago he made the mistake and confessed his feelings to Chizuru. Now Kazuya laid on his bed staring at the ceiling wondering why he had done that. Oh he knew why he had done that. It was because he was in love with her and wanted her to know it. Thinking back he felt tears begin to form in his eyes.
"I have fallen in love with Chizuru." As soon as Kazuya said those words to her. He knew he had made a mistake. For at that moment, He could tell at that she did not feel the same. Mainly from the way she stood there staring at him in disbelief. After several moments of silence she turned away from him.
"I am sorry Kazuya. It is not in my plans to feel that way about anyone. I think it might be best that you don't rent me anymore and we are going back to the original agreement. You will not talk to me or attempt to talk to me. Good bye Kazuya." Chizuru declared and then walked away. Leaving a devastated Kazuya to stand there watching her leave.
What she said still plague him and he just did not know what to do. He knew at some point he needed to tell his Grandmother and his Parents that it was over between him and Chizuru. That they had broken up. He no way wanted to tell them that Chizuru was a Rental Girlfriend and he had made the biggest blunder of his life by confessing his feelings for her. No he would spin it that he confessed and she did not feel the same. Though he would take the blame for being an idiot. Having the belief that after over a year that perhaps she did love him. "Being an Actress is more important to her then...Anyone and anything else. I should have remembered that." He muttered and with a deep inhaled breath he decided to finally get out of bed.
In Route to Ultimate Doom:
Walking to him felt like a short distance, but in truth it was actually a good distance to his Family's Home. Kazuya really did not want to do this. But he decided that it was best to do it now while he had the gumption to do so. He knew his Grandmother was not going to be happy. In fact he suspected she was going to be extremely upset and more then likely she was going to take it out on him. He would not blame her if she did. It was his fault after all. He was the one stupid enough to even believe that Chizuru felt anything for him. Nearing the four story building he looked up at the second floor and winced.
"I better get this over with." Kazuya said and made his way back to his Family Home. With his Parents working in the Store, that only left his Grandmother. So he figured she could relay the bad news to them later. "Grans...You might want to sit down for this...I have some bad news." He said to her and the Matriarch of the Family slowly sat. Though she reached over to clutch a stick when she did.
"Why do I have a feeling I am not going to like what you are about to tell me?" Nagomi asked and Kazuya let out a deep sigh. He lowered his gaze down at the Table and shook his head.
"Because you are not." Kazuya braced himself for her to become extremely upset. Mainly due to his Grandmother adored Chizuru. "Grans...I am sorry...But I messed up...Chizuru...We broke up." He stammered out slowly and then waited for the repercussions. He looked over to see his Grandmother glaring at him, with tears beginning to roll down her cheeks.
"What did you do? What did you do to get her to break up with you?" Nagomi demanded and Kazuya let out another sighing breath.
"I told her I had fallen in love with her...And...And she...It is my fault Grans...I knew she did not want...It is all my fault." Kazuya said and felt tears begin to roll down his face. His Grandmother looked at him completely confused.
"Wait...Wait. You told her that you had fallen in love with you and she broke up with you?" Nagomi asked in shock. "Why would she break up with you because of that?" She asked trying to understand.
"Because it does not fit with her plans...She does not want anyone to...She does not want me to be...I am sorry Grans...I knew and still I messed up." Kazuya said and still his Grandmother was confused. "I know it sounds ridiculous...But she is adamant about following her dream...And I am not part of that dream." He then sobbed and started to cry. His Grandmother moved around and instead of hitting him with the stick. Hugged him. Crying herself. Not telling him that she was going to talk to Sayuri later about this and try to understand what was going on.
It took about an hour and as Kazuya walked back to his Apartment. He stopped long enough to pick up an Apartment Guide. He could not live in his Apartment anymore. Not with Chizuru right next door. Even if he accidentally saw her. All those emotions he felt would come rushing back and he would not be able to handle it. Worse if he actually saw her with someone. Then he knew he would loose it. Believing that it was just him that she could not bring herself to love.
(From here on there will be three different possible outcomes.)
ACT 1 : Chizuru Ichonise
Confrontation: Love and Hate
Once more back at his Apartment, Kazuya looked over the Apartment Listings and frowned. There was not many options that he could afford. The closest and cheapest was at least fifteen hundred Yen more then he was paying for this one and it was a good two miles further away on the other side of the Campus. Standing he decided to go look at it. Since it would give him something to do. As he opened his door, there was Chizuru about to walk past. She said nothing and looked away from him. About to continue on to her own Apartment. Which pissed him off. "I guess we are going to follow the old rules then. Fine! Be that way." He said with a small amount of anger in his voice. She turned and glared at him.
"This is your fault. So don't get...Never mind." Chizuru snapped back and was about to walk away. He slammed his door shut and started towards the Steps that led to the Ground Floor.
"Maybe it would be worth the Fifteen Hundred more to get out of here." Kazuya muttered just loud enough for her to overhear him. She turned towards him from her door and glared at him again. Then noticed the Apartment Guide in his Hand.
"So you are thinking about moving?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya stopped on the top step.
"Yes. Though I was actually had an Apartment here first. It would be fair if you moved out. But I doubt you would since you spend all your Money on that idiotic Dream of yours!" Kazuya said with a small smirk and Chizuru threw her Textbook she had been carrying at him. Nearly missing him as the Book landed behind him on the Walkway.
"YOU ASSHOLE! You know how important my Dream is to me! How could you say that?" Chizuru walked towards him fully ready to kick or hit him. He laughed at her and it was not a pleasant laugh.
"Yeah I know and that deluded dream is more important then anything or anyone else!" Kazuya said back and decided that he was not going to move after all. So he went back to his Apartment door. Chizuru had moved closer and glared at him.
"Well it is and it always will be!" Chizuru said and tears began to form in her eyes. She continued to glare at him with her fists clenched. Then noticed he was just standing there at his door almost wanting her to hit him.
"At one time...I wanted to help you accomplish that dream. I even worked my ass off making that Crowdfunding Movie. Why do you think I did that? Do you even realize how hard I worked on that? Do you know what hell I went through just so you could be in a Movie? Do you?" Kazuya asked glaring back at her. "I did it because I was in love with you." He growled and Chizuru stood there.
"No one asked you to do that! I sure didn't! You did it because you thought that it would wear me down so that I would fall for you! Well it didn't work!" Chizuru stated and still had an overwhelming urge to hit him.
"I wish I never rented you! There were others and I should have rented any number of them! Someone that is not such a...self obsessed manipulative...B..." Kazuya stopped there believing it would cross the line if he called her what he wanted to call her. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Go on say it! Call me that and see what happens! You know what I wish you hadn't rented me either! Then I would not have this problem right now! I hate you Kazuya Kinoshita! I hate you so much for...Do you even realize how much I have suffered because of you renting me? I have had to pretend to be your Girlfriend for all this time and I hated every moment of it!" Chizuru said a little too loudly and after she said it. She regretted saying it. Especially since she did not mean any of that.
"Well I hate you now too!" Kazuya retorted back and Chizuru could see the tears rolling down his cheeks. She stepped even closer and peered into his eyes.
"I hate you...I hate you...I hate you!" Chizuru said repeatedly and then lunged forward kissing him roughly. Pressing herself hard against him as she kissed him so passionately that her teeth ground against his. He kissed her back with the same amount of force. Parting slightly she glared at him. "I hate you...I...I hate you Kazuya." She whispered and kissed him again with the same amount of passion. Pushing him backwards into his Apartment and she kicked the door shut. Angling him over towards his messy Futon. Knocking him over with her on top of him as they continued to kiss. Parting only long enough for a brief few seconds. "Condoms...Do you have Condoms?" She asked softly and he reached over to a nearby nightstand. Pulling the door open and reaching inside with his right hand. Bringing out a box of them. Form there clothes were essentially ripped off from each other.
Hours upon hours later, Chizuru awoke and let out a satisfied sigh. There besides her was Kazuya and she smiled. He was awake as well and he smiled back at her. She pouted. "Do you even realize how...distorted this is going to make out of my life?" She asked him then smiled coyly. "I hate you Kazuya for...Why did I have to fall in love with you." She forced herself to say and then pinched his left arm in irritation. Resisting the urge to smack him instead. He shrugged and she leaned closer to kiss him again.
"I guess it is all my fault isn't it?" Kazuya said and Chizuru let out a short laugh.
"Yeah it is. I was more then...No I can't say that. I was not happy with us not...I was miserable and I did not want to go back to how we were before. I was not happy with the thought of us not going out together. That I could not be with you...See you...Talk to you." Chizuru admitted and Kazuya reached up to wipe a couple of tears that she had on her cheek. She relished in his touch. Wanting it. Needing it. "I really hate you. I hate you so much." He knew what that meant now. Hate was another way for her to say Love. Just now he knew she had to really make herself ask why she had fallen in love with him. So the only way she could say what she truly felt was for her to substitute the word love and use hate instead. He laughed at the obscurity of what his relationship with her was going to be like.
"This is going to be...Really interesting...Isn't it?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru looked at him then laughed.
"No one said love was easy to understand...Did they? You have had to know that being in a relationship with me...Would be interesting and probably difficult." Chizuru said and then cuddled against him. Putting her left arm across him and putting her head on his pillow. She let a loud sigh. "We will have to go tell your Grandma and mine that...That we are not breaking up after all. In fact we are now closer then ever." Kazuya frowned. "What?"
"Ruka is going to be upset and Mami...Oh God...Mami is going to throw a massive fit. Oh well...I sort of knew that being in love would you would not be easy." Kazuya said and Chizuru smiled at him. Then kissed him once more.
"I may not be able to say that word yet...But Kazuya...Keep saying that to me. Say it to me all the time." Chizuru then closed her eyes and was tempted to just stay there in bed with him until tomorrow. Then go tell the Axis of Grandma's the news.
ACT 2: Sumi Sakurasawa
Moving Onward and Finding A New Beginning
With an Apartment Guide, Kazuya began to look for a new Apartment and was at the third place. This one's rent was about the same as his other and it was about the same distance to the Campus. It was also closer to work at the Karaoke Cafe. So he was heavily considering it. Inside the Apartment. He was impressed. It was larger then his other one and it actually had a Bedroom. Walking out to the Balcony, the Manager joined him. "Oh...The Balconies are shared. This one shares it with the one there." The Older Man said pointing to an adjoining door. "So what do you think Mister Kinoshita?" He asked and Kazuya was heavily considering but he still had one concern.
"It seems a little...Inexpensive for the size and everything else." Kazuya commented and the Manager smiled.
"The Entire Building has been remodeled and was not an Apartment Building until this last year. Even with the Listings in the Apartment Guides. No one seems to want to rent one. So the owner reduced the Rent Amount hoping it would draw tenants. So are you interested?" The Manager asked explaining why it was so cheap. Kazuya smiled.
"Yeah I might be...But I would like to meet the Neighbor first before I do rent. I do not want to have the same issues that I have with my Current Neighbor." Kazuya said and the Manager smiled.
"That is no problem...I believe she is home." The Manager walked over and lightly knocked on the other Balcony Door and within moments someone Kazuya knew came out. Sumi Sakurasawa and she had no problem with Kazuya renting the Apartment and being her neighbor. In fact she was extremely pleased. After a brief few minutes Kazuya smiled at the Manager.
"I will take it." Kazuya declared and went to sign the paperwork and give the Deposit.
It took two days and four trips in a Rented Pull Behind to move all of his things to his New Apartment. Kazuya had borrowed his Parents car to pull the Pull Behind and with the added help of Kibe and Kuri. The move was not that difficult. Kazuya did not see Chizuru once during the Move or even afterwards and at that point he did not care if he did or not. In his mind whatever they had was over and done with. So he was looking forward to living away from her. On the first night he was staying in his new Apartment, Sumi came over to visit. Wanting to see his Fish and welcome him to the Building.
Two weeks had passed and Kazuya had no idea what to do. Sitting on the Balcony with Sumi as he petted her dog. He wanted to ask her something and was afraid that she would say no. So just as she was about to go back inside her own Apartment, he decided to just ask and get it over with. "Hey Sumi...Uhm...Would you...Go out with me?" He asked her.
"YES!" Sumi said loudly and it shocked Kazuya on how loud she had said it.
"Oh if it is easier...I could always rent you and..." Kazuya was about to continue put she shook her head vigorously.
"No...I would like to go out with you." Sumi softly and shyly said. Blushing even more.
"Are you sure...If you want we can go out tomorrow? Say about noonish?" Kazuya asked and Sumi nodded.
"Yes...I am sure. Noon sounds nice." Sumi softly replied then made a beeline into her Apartment. One date turned into two and then several more and by the end of the Month Kazuya asked her to be his Girlfriend. She was more then happy to be his Real Girlfriend. Then told him that she had quit being a Rental Girlfriend after their third Date. Wanting to be his Girlfriend way before then.
Walking together two weeks later, Kazuya held Sumi's left hand in his right. He could tell she was nervous from the way she was blushing and how tightly she clutched his hand. "Are you sure you want to meet my Grandmother and my Parents? We could always wait until next month." He asked her and she shook her head.
"No I want to...meet them." Sumi said not as softly as she once spoke. She had gotten used to him and became more self assured around him. He stopped walking and she did as well. "Is there something wrong Kazu?" She asked him and he took a small inhaled breath. He let his breath out in a long sigh.
"I messed up with Chizuru and I am not sure...And I am not sure that if I...Sumi...I love you." Kazuya blurted out those last three words and then braced himself for her to like Chizuru reject him. But he had wanted to say that to her for at least a week. He looked over at her and she was blushing madly. But she was also smiling.
"I love you too Kazu." Sumi said confidently and she glanced around to make sure no one was around. Pulling at his hand so he would lean down. Once he did, she lightly kissed him and then blushed even more a brighter shade of red. "Let's go meet your Family." She whispered to him as she reaffirmed her resolve to meet them.
Inside the Kinoshita Home, Kazuya nervously and anxiously introduced his new Girlfriend to his Grandmother and Parents. Then Sumi did as well. "Hello...I am Sumi...Sumi Sakurasawa...It is nice to meet you." Kazuya noticed as she spoke that her voice had started out a soft whisper and then decreased to a point that none of them could barely hear her. Though he could not blame her from the way his Grandmother was staring at her. To help her, he gave her hand a gentle reassuring squeeze and it seemed to help. Then his Grandmother grabbed Sumi and gave her a fierce hug. Laughing as Sumi squealed with fright.
"I must say Kazuya...She is adorably cute. Just about as much as Chizuru. But please tell me that this one is going to stick it out and not dump you after some time?" Nagomi said as she held Sumi out at arms length. Sumi stared at the Elder Woman with determination.
"NO! I...I love him and I am his Girlfriend." Sumi said her voice just about at a normal level. Which surprised Kazuya.
"Good. Now let's sit down and talk. I would love to know how such a cute girl would even want to be with my idiot of a Grandson." Nagomi said leading Sumi over to the nearby Table as his Mother Harumi brought Tea and his Father sat down to listen as well.
ACT 3: Ruka Sakurasawa
Making it Official:
At first Ruka was going to do as Kazuya asked her. To give him a couple of days to sort out his feelings and cope with the fact that it was completely over between him and Chizuru. But after three days, she just could not contain herself any longer. She was worried that Chizuru would come to her senses and then she would be right back at square one with Kazuya. So she supposedly and accidentally ran into him as he was returning home from one of his Classes at the College.
"Why am I not surprised?" Kazuya muttered when Ruka suspiciously suddenly showed up from around a corner. He was actually happy to see her.
"Oh hi Kazuya...Funny seeing you here." Ruka said to him and Kazuya shook his head. Suspecting that she had been waiting for him for quite awhile.
"Come on Ruka...I know you have been waiting for me. To tell the truth I was going to call you when I got back home." Kazuya told her and Ruka smiled broadly. Then he started walking and she fell in besides him. But when he walked not towards the Apartment Building that he lived at. She looked at him somewhat confused.
"Uhm...Didn't you say you were going home?" Ruka asked and Kazuya nodded.
"Yes. I moved yesterday to another Apartment. I could not live...In my old one anymore. Not with...Her next door." Kazuya said and Ruka heard the coldness in his tone when he said HER. She could not help but like it. Knowing that it was most likely completely over between him and Chizuru. It did not take long to reach his New Apartment Building and this time he lived on the Ground Floor. He opened the door and once inside she noticed that he still had not put a lot of his clothing and other items away yet. "Sorry about the mess...But I only got everything here this morning." He then moved a bundle of clothes from the table and flopped them over onto his Futon.
"No it is fine." Ruka said smiling broadly as she sat down. "I would like to know Kazuya...Are we...Can we make it official? I still want to be your Girlfriend." She asked him and Kazuya looked at her.
"Can you give me a couple more days...I know I am asking a lot. But...I just...I don't want you to be like a rebound if we do...Get together and right now that is what it would feel like to me." Kazuya said and Ruka smiled.
"Okay...That is fine. Though could we maybe...Go out on a date?" Ruka asked and Kazuya nodded.
A few days later, Kazuya told Ruka that he would like to make it official and they became a full fledged couple. The first thing they did as a couple was talk to Kuri. Since Kazuya did not want to upset his friend. But Kuri completely understood and even told them that his fascination with Ruka had been over for quite awhile. He was happy that the two of them got together. Kibe on the other hand was another story.
"How is it even fair that you somehow get the cutest and most attractive Girls to become your Girlfriend? First it was Chizuru and now it is...She is way too cute to be with you. Why can't I find someone like either of them?" Kibe asked and Kazuya smirked.
"Well most girls like their boyfriends to have hair. It could be your receding hairline creeps them out." Kazuya said gesturing to Kibe's hair that showed that he was balding. His friend glared at him and then a thought came to him.
"Hey if it is over between you and Chizuru...Do you think she would..." Then Kibe saw Kazuya's expression and decided not to continue with what he was about to ask. "Sorry dude...I don't know the details on why you and her broke up...But...Forget what I was about to ask." He quickly said and Kazuya smiled again. Then noticed someone walking by with her two friends and decided to be a little vindictive.
"No it is alright. I should tell you before my Grans does. I screwed up and confessed to her and that is what broke us up. She no way feels the same for me. In fact she isn't capable to feel that way about anyone. The only thing she cares about is herself and her impossible deluded dream. Everyone else...She doesn't give a shit about." Kazuya said loud enough for Chizuru Ichonise to overhear him. She paused for a second, gave him a subtle sideways scowl that he easily saw and then continued onward with Shinbo and Kawanaka. Ruka recognized Chizuru almost immediately and when Kazuya had said that, she felt sorry for Chizuru. Finding that kind of comment to be a little cruel. Though she also believed Chizuru deserved to be upset over his comment.
Walking back towards Kazuya's Apartment, Ruka held his right hand in her left. "You know that comment you made was a little mean. You know Chizuru heard it." Ruka said finally and Kazuya let out a sigh.
"Yeah I know...I just could not...I am still upset over...all of it." Kazuya let out another sigh and then smiled at her. "If I see her again...I will apologize." Which made Ruka feel better. Then she saw someone stalking towards them from the left.
"Well...Here's your chance to apologize...There she is." Ruka said pointing out an extremely upset Chizuru walking towards them with an extremely angered expression on her face. As she neared them.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID THAT?" Chizuru said loudly and angrily at Kazuya. He smiled and shrugged.
"I am sorry I said it. But most of that was true wasn't it? Just as long as you can become an Actress. You could give a rats ass about anyone." Kazuya said and Ruka gave him a small disapproving glance.
"Still what you said...I understand you might be...Upset about...But I never thought you would say something like that and make me sound like a...A unfeeling bitch." Chizuru said and Kazuya resisted the urge to say she was.
"Like I said I am sorry and I won't make comments like that again. Now since...Come on Ruka...Right now I am breaking her rules about talking to her or being around her." Kazuya said and Chizuru inhaled sharply. Watching them both walk away. Once far enough away Ruka bumped into him with her shoulder.
"That was not very nice Kazuya." Ruka commented and Kazuya sighed.
"Yeah I know...But...But she hurt me and I just can't bring myself to be nice or cordial with her anymore." Kazuya told her and Ruka wondered if he would ever completely get over his feelings for Chizuru. Regardless she was going to give it her all to make him forget Chizuru no matter what it took. That was what a Great Girlfriend does for her Boyfriend.
Eighteen Months later, Ruka stood next to Kazuya in a Chapel. She smiled at the their gathered friends and family. Then noticed someone in the back of the Chapel and almost gasped. It was Chizuru and from what she could tell. The other looked like she was about to break down and cry. Right before the Newlyweds departed for their Honeymoon, Ruka found Chizuru in the Ladies Room. That was when she learned that not only was Chizuru alone but the other had to give up her dreams of becoming an Actress. She had lost her motivation and gumption a few months after she had graduated from College. Realizing that without Kazuya, she just could not bring herself to be as dedicated as she once was. That she was in love with him and needed him to be there to give her emotional support. So now she worked as a Mid level Literary Researcher for the TOKYO MUSEUM. Ruka felt sorry for her and asked to see her again after she got back from her Honeymoon in Okinawa. They would talk more then.
The End.
(Sorry I gave Chizuru a bad ending. But I decided that she needed a bad one.)