Rent a Girlfriend: Second Chance (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Harumi and Kazuo Kinoshita

Mimi Yaemori

Umi Nakano

Present:

Sitting at one of the tables within the Room, Ruka could not help but feel envious and regretful at the same time. Sitting at another table. The main table was Kazuya and Chizuru. The now happily married couple. Surrounded by his Father, Mother and Grandmother. This was the wedding reception and soon the newlyweds would be off to enjoy their honeymoon. "That should have been me." She muttered as she took a deep gulp of her soda from her glass. Then felt the burn as the caffeinated beverage flowed down her throat. She almost wished it was some type of alcohol. But the bartender had shooed her away when she asked for some. Stating she was underage. Subtly looking over she noticed someone else who was also downtrodden over the loss of someone that they believed that they were in love with. It was Umi. She did not know his last name and did not care to find out. What she did know was that Umi had valiantly tried to be with Chizuru and failed. She chuckled lightly as she shook her head. Thinking if he had not been such a playboy or womanizer then perhaps Chizuru would have actually agreed to date him. "But no! You had to be a complete sleaze and make it obvious to her how much of a womanizer you are." She said inaudibly in disgust. Believing that if Umi had been descent then Chizuru might not have fallen for Kazuya and for Umi instead. Once again, she looked back at the now happy couple and grimaced. "If only I met him before Chizuru did. Then it would be me up there with Kazuya." She muttered to herself and once more wished she had some type of booze to help her deal with her heartbreak.

Attending College at the same University that Chizuru and Kazuya went to, Ruka made her way to meet up with her new friend that she had accidentally met on her first day of Classes. Mei Hatsumi. Though Ruka believed that Mei was quirky and a bit strange. She enjoyed hanging out with the Purple Haired Science and Engineering Major. It took her mind off her woes. Especially when Mei did something so ridiculous that she had to laugh. Like a day ago when Mei had almost caught her hair on fire trying out her new invention that was supposed to dry a person's hair in a matter of seconds. Problem was that it got so hot that there was a risk that your hair could ignite. Ruka began to wonder if Mei would ever invent something that would actually work without the risk of bodily harm or some other type of disaster. As she entered the Lab, Mei was almost beaming with delight and excitement.

"Ruka...Ruka! I did it! I invented something that is so...So incredible that I cannot believe it actually works!" Mei said ecstatically and pointed to a small chamber that almost looked like one of those old phone booths.

"Please tell me that it isn't something dangerous." Ruka commented as she with great hesitation allowed Mei to almost drag her closer to the weird looking chamber. Mei smiled broadly.

"No...But yeah it could be if...Used the wrong way." Mei admitted and then laughed.

"So, what does it supposed to do?" Ruka asked still not willing to get any closer to the thing that Mei had just invented.

"It is basically a time machine. Though it works differently than any other Time Machine that you might have heard of. This one...This one takes the memories and experiences and transmits them to your past self." Mei explained gesturing to the Chamber with delight. "What you can do is relive some of your past and make changes if you want to." This caught Ruka's complete attention. She then listened as Mei told her everything and explained all of it to her.

"Does this actually work? I mean...Have you tried it...Yet?" Ruka asked and Mei nodded.

"Yep...I have actually done it twice so far. Look I no longer have a burn spot on my hair." Mei turned her head so Ruka could see that the spot where Mei had burned her hair the day before.

"This is important. Do you think...Would it work...If I used it and went back to almost two years ago?" Ruka asked tentatively and Mei slowly nodded.

"Yeah, it should. Though you would only be able to be there or rather your Consciousness would only be able to be there for maybe a month. Also, any changes you make might not...Work out the way you want them to. Time is a fickle thing after all." Mei told her and Ruka decided that she was willing to take the risk if it meant she could be with Kazuya.

The Past: One Year and Plan Number 1

Awakening, Ruka opened her eyes and sat up. She glanced about and noticed that she was in her Bedroom at home. Or rather her Parent's house. She had moved to an Apartment that was adjacent to the College a month after she began to attend classes. That was the future and as far as she could tell. Mei's invention seemed to work. Rising she went to verify that her consciousness from the future was indeed in the past. Once in the bathroom, she gazed at herself in the mirror. Then she checked her Cellphone and smiled. According to the date, this was just about one year in the past. Two months before Chizuru had informed Kazuya that she was in love with him. "Okay...Let's see if what I have in mind actually works." She muttered and with a small smile sent a text to someone that she believed would be able to help her succeed in her scheme.

Sitting at a Cafe a few blocks from her house, Ruka waited somewhat impatiently. If she only had just over a month. She did not want to waste a second. So, what she had in mind involved the other and after several texts and a couple of Calls. He had agreed to meet with her. Though it took some convincing that she was not at all interested in him to get him to attend. It was the truth. She had no interest in him and never would. In her mind the man was slime. Nothing more than a womanizer that used his charms and looks to make girls infatuated with him. Chizuru had been smart enough to know that any relationship she had with him would only lead to him either cheating on her or at some point him dumping her for someone that he now believed he was in love with. When the other arrived Ruka noticed that he smiled sweetly at first the blonde Waitress and then at a couple of girls sitting at another table. She shook her head with disgust. "Idiot! And he never understood why Chizuru never wanted to be with him. What sane girl would?" She muttered as he made his way over to her. "Thank you for coming." She said as he sat down across from her.

"You said you have an idea that could help me to be with Chizuru. So of course, I am interested in what you have to discuss." Umi said and Ruka smiled coyly.

"First I need to tell you. This is not for your sake. I could care less if you are able to get with Chizuru and have her be your Girlfriend. My goal is to make it so that Kazuya gives up on her. That way he will be with me." Ruka told Umi. "But right now, as it stands. We both do not stand a chance of that happening."

"What do you mean?" Umi asked and Ruka let out a short chuckle.

"Oh, come on. You have got to know Chizuru is secretly in love with Kazuya and he loves her back." Ruka was not about to mention that within the next couple of months. Chizuru finally admitted that she was in love with Kazuya. That within seven months later the two became engaged and a few months later. Married. That the two were happily married.

"Yeah...I can tell." Umi said with an almost audible exhaled sigh. "That is why I have been trying to get her to go out with me. To accept my confessions." Ruka shook her head thinking about how at the time she had become obsessive as well. How she basically tried to force Kazuya to return the feelings she had for him. It did not work. In fact, it only pushed Kazuya more into wanting to be with Chizuru. "So, what is this idea or plan you said you had?" Ruka smiled.

"It is simple. You need to take Chizuru out on some type of outing. I doubt she would go on a date with you. But I bet she would if it is just a casual kind of thing. At the same time, I do the same with Kazuya. Then we arrange it that we bump into each other." Ruka could tell that Umi did not quite understand. So, she decided to tell him. "Think about it. What would happen if they saw each other out with someone more suited to be with them."

"Oh, I get it. For Kazuya...He will realize that I am more suited to be Chizuru's boyfriend then he is." Umi said finally understanding what Ruka had in mind.

"That's right. Kazuya already believes he is nowhere good enough to be with Chizuru and Chizuru already knows that I deeply want to be with Kazuya. This kind of forces them to realize it." Ruka was worried though. It was possible that this plan could backfire. Especially if Chizuru became jealous and finally realized she was in fact in love with Kazuya. She was not about to tell Umi about her worries. Though she doubted that he would believe that could happen. She knew it was possible since that is almost what happened in the future. Ruka came close to succeeding and was about to take Kazuya away from Chizuru. But it backfired and it had forced Chizuru to come to the conclusion from her investigation that she did indeed was in love with him. From there it steamrolled to them dating and eventually get married. Though she did become closer friends with both of them. "This time I am not going to let that happen. This is a good six months before. So, there is no way Chizuru has completely fallen for Kazuya yet." She muttered as she laid out a possible scenario and location to Umi.

A day later Ruka could not believe what had happened. She had an inkling that it could happen. But was sure at the time that and how Chizuru usually reacted when around Kazuya. That Chizueu would never have the gumption to actually announce out loud that she was in love with Kazuya. "The time frame...No, it changed. She was not supposed to announce that so soon." She thought over the events of the day and shook her head. The day had started just as she planned it. She had forced Kazuya to take her out on a date and at the same time Umi had convinced Chizuru to go to a Cafe with him to discuss another Play that was hiring Actors. That was where the meet up was to occur. Then it happened. She was fawning over Kazuya in plain view of Chizuru. Without warning, Chizuru came over to their table and loudly told her to keep her hands off her boyfriend. At the same time Chizuru told Kazuya that she had fallen in love with him. Something Ruka could not fully believe that Chizuru was capable of doing yet. But she did and now her plan was completely destroyed. So, it left Ruka with only one option. The reset function on the Time Device. Something Mei had put in just to erase any mistakes made that would change the timeline too drastically. Using it, now this even never happened and Ruka consciousness was returned to the future.

Coming out of the Time Chamber, Ruka frowned heavily and was met by Mei. "I take it since you are back way earlier than I expected. You still have about another two hours our time. Which means that you had to reset?" She asked as Ruka slowly nodded.

"Yes. I screwed up big time. Guess I will have to go do it the way I was hoping not to." Ruka replied as she went over and sat down at one of the tables. She did not want to have to resort to what she originally planned. Since at most she might get maybe two weeks to accomplish her goal and that was what made it extremely hard to accomplish. Especially since it meant she would have to really push it to get Kazuya to fall for her completely.

"So, what happened?" Mei asked wanting to detail the information so she could analyze it later. Ruka then told her. How it all blew up in her face when Chizuru actually admitted she was in love with Kazuya a good half year before she had before. "Are you really sure you want to...I mean you told me at the time...Kazuya was going through a messy breakup with that Girl. It might not be a good idea to be his rebound." Her friend informed her and Ruka shrugged.

"I got no choice. By the time I met him. Kazuya already had fallen for Chizuru and from what I could tell there were inklings that she felt the same." Ruka said and Mei slowly nodded as she powered up the Chamber and set the date and time.

"Now remember...Two Weeks is all you might have. Also, you should expect it to shorten if it is a major change in the Timeline." Mei advised and Ruka let out a long-exhaled sigh.

"Yeah, I remember. I just have to be extra aggressive and make sure he never meets Chizuru." Ruka stated stepping into the Chamber and felt her consciousness flow away. The first time it was not a pleasant feeling to have herself be separated from her Material Body and be cast elsewhere. In fact, it was a terrifying feeling. But this time she was used to it, so it was not as bad as before. When she opened her eyes, she was once more in her room and as she sat up. She glanced at her Kitten Calander on the wall and smiled.

Not an Accidental Meeting:

Waiting for the right moment, Ruka hid behind a Bus Stop Advertisement Sign. She knew Kazuya would most likely come this way since it was in route to his Apartment. She was waiting. So, she could accidentally bump into him. From what she remembered what Kazuya told her before. It was a good week before he rented Chizuru. That meant she had to get to him before that happened. She figured that if she could get to him first. Then he would fall for her before he even had a chance to meet and then fall for Chizuru. Get him to go out with her and for her to become his Girlfriend. She knew she did not have a lot of time. Perhaps two weeks to accomplish her goal. So, she was almost willing to do anything. Including if she had to, sleep with him within a few days. Just as she was about to give up on waiting here and move closer to his Apartment Building. She spotted him. "Geez...He looks so depressed." She muttered feeling sorry for him and so wanting to comfort him. She remembered what she had gleamed from him. About how he believed he was in love with that other girl and the girl basically stomped on his feelings. She also remembered that the other girl was a world class bitch. That enjoyed tormenting him even after she broke his heart. Timing it perfectly, she came around the advertisement sign and bumped into Kazuya. With a lot of dramatic flare, she pretended he knocked her down onto her ass.

"I am so sorry." Kazuya immediately said reaching down with his right hand towards her and Ruka smiled up at him.

"No...No it was all my fault." Ruka quickly said as he helped her up. She smiled sweetly at him. He really did not smile back at her. "Say perhaps you could help me? I was here to look at the Campus and somehow, I got lost. Maybe you could show me where the Train Station is?" She asked him.

"Okay. It is this way." Kazuya said and she fell in besides him. As they walked, he barely said anything and Ruka knew why. He was still hurting over what Mami had done to him. So, it was difficult for him to talk too much. But she was not about to give up. Her goal for that meeting was to get him to believe that she was interested in him. That she wanted him to ask her out.

"Oh...By the way. I am Ruka...Ruka Sarashina." She said introducing herself.

"I am Kazuya...Kazuya Kinoshita." He said back and this time he actually smiled.

"You know...I am a little hungry. Could we maybe stop somewhere and get something to eat?" Ruka suggested and for a brief moment Kazuya looked like he could not believe what was happening. An extremely cute girl just asked him to get something to eat with him.

"Okay. There is a nice Cafe a block away from the Train Station." Kazuya said with a real smile. While at the Cafe, Ruka really flirted with him and by the time they left for the Train Station. She had his Phone Number. Along with the promise and premise of them going on a date real soon. All the while back on the Train. She smiled happily.

"I did it." Ruka said softly and then frowned. She was still feeling guilty over the fact that she basically was stealing Chizuru's one true love away from her friend. Sure, she rationalized why she was doing this with the fact that she was in love with Kazuya. But she still felt guilty about it. "No. I can't worry about that. It shouldn't really change her future that much. After all, before I met her. Chizuru was doing fine all by herself." She muttered unconvincingly as the Train neared her stop.

Within a week of meeting Kazuya. She had met his grandmother and his Parents at the Hospital. Ruka laid on the charm with them and again she felt extremely guilty. Sure, his grandmother called her a Princess and was so pleased that her grandson had met such a wonderful, cute and charming girl. At first, she wanted to deny it and come clean that she had manipulated Kazuya into dating her. That it was all wrong. That this should be someone else and not her. But she held her tongue. Desperate to have the future she wanted with Kazuya. Within the next two days. She slept with Kazuya. Which made her feel even more guilty and ashamed. Since she had seduced him into sleeping with her.

Changes are Not as Expected:

Just shy of two Weeks, Ruka felt her consciousness return back to the future and as she stepped out of the Time Chamber she was met by Mei once again. Of course, that was due to that it only had been about an hour in real time and not two weeks. "How did it go this time?" Her friend asked and Ruka looked at the object on her left hand. There on her ring finger was two Rings. One engagement Ring and one Wedding band. She smiled.

"You tell me." Ruka replied and Mei instantly understood. Since any changes did not occur within the room with the Time Chamber. Mei had looked up everything of relevance on the internet a few minutes before Ruka's time ran out.

"Well, it looks like you succeeded this time. You and Kazuya are married. Have been for about four months now. You are attending classes here while Kazuya has taken over running the Family Store along with working part time as an Assistant Manager at the Seaside Aquarium." Mei told her and Ruka smiled even more. She then frowned.

"What about...What about Chizuru?" Ruka asked and Mei let out a long sighing breath. Shaking her head.

"Are you sure you want to know? I mean from what I found out...It is not good." Mei asked again shaking her head.

"Yeah." Ruka replied reluctantly and Mei took in a deep breath. Gesturing to her to sit down as she did.

"From what I found out. Chizuru...It is not going too well for her. First off, she is still a Rental Girlfriend at Diamond. Someone at College found out and blabbed it all over campus. So, her last year at college did not go over that well. She was harassed a lot." Mei had memorized everything she had found out and she was upset over how badly Chizuru's life had changed over not having Kazuya in it. "That is not the worse part. It seems she got involved with a real piece of crap. A real and complete egotistical jealous creep that...Ruka he beat her a couple of times and one time she ended up in the hospital. The Police got involved and it turned out okay in the end with him going to jail. But still...She...Has had a hard time recovering from that."

"What was his name?" Ruka asked sullenly.

"Umi...Uhm...What was his last name? I can't quite remember. I can look it up again if you want?" Mei told her, gesturing over at her laptop and Ruka shook her head.

"No that is alright...I know who you are talking about." Ruka said and let out a sigh. "Please at least tell me that she...That Chizuru has been able to fulfill her dreams of becoming an Actress?" Thinking about how in the past year Chizuru had landed three other roles in a Play and about a half dozen Commercials. Mei once more shook her head.

"Nope. Sorry Ruka...From what I found out. Yes, she got casted for another big role. But due to being...That this Umi did not land a role in the Play. He took his failure out on her. In the end she could not take the part due to all the bruises on her face." Mei informed her and Ruka felt like crying. Sure, she succeeded, but she had essentially taken everything important away from Chizuru. Her friend's future husband and love of her life. Her not being able to keep her secret about her being a Rental Girlfriend from those at the University. Then without Kazuya, she had let herself become involved with someone that was all ego and charm. Someone that was abusive to Chizuru because of his ego and jealousy. "So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to let it stay this way and...And not care you...Stole what Chizuru had? Or are you going to give up and reset it back to how it should be?" Her friend asked her seriously and Ruka looked over at the Reset function on the Time Chamber.

"I have no choice, do I?" Ruka said and went over to press the Reset Function.

Confirmation:

Leaving the Lab, Ruka had to make sure that everything had gone back to normal. Sure, she was a little disappointed that she could not have the life she wanted with Kazuya. But at the same time, she was not that upset. Arriving at Kazuya's and Chizuru's house she quickly rang the doorbell and when Kazuya answered she felt a little relieved. She felt more relieved when she heard Chizuru within. "Who is it Kazu?" Chizuru asked within and Ruka let out a sigh of relief. But she wanted to make sure.

"It is Ruka." Kazuya answered.

"Oh good. Come on in Ruka." Chizuru said from within, but Kazuya was already about to let her come in. Once inside Ruka quickly glanced about and then saw the Photo sitting on a nearby Stand. It was Chizuru's and Kazuya's wedding photo. She sighed again with relief. Then she got a good look at Kazuya. He looked guilty and he was blushing slightly. She looked inside to see Chizuru sitting at the Table. She too looked guilty but there was something else that caught her eye. She smiled slightly.

"I am not interrupting something. Am I?" Ruka asked with a wry smile and Chizuru blushed even more.

"No. Not at all." Chizuru quickly said and Ruka giggled.

"Then why is your Shirt inside out and backwards. Along with the fact that...You don't seem to be wearing...A Bra." Ruka said accusingly and looked at Kazuya who looked even more guilty of something. Chizuru in the meantime looked embarrassed and just as guilty. "Ah...So I did."

"Okay. You did." Chizuru said finally realizing that they had been caught. "I am not about to deny it. We were about to...Hey we are married! We are allowed to...Fool around." Chizuru stated and then smiled. Soon she and Ruka both laughed. While at the same time, Kazuya felt like he was about to faint from embarrassment. Ruka then realized that it was not so bad being just their friends and will no longer try to take Kazuya away from Chizuru. Later she would suggest to Mei to dismantle the Time Chamber. Something like that should never be used again.

Just before Ruka arrived, Chizuru was sitting at the low table rereading the Script for the upcoming Play that she was the lead actress in. She had already reread it at least ten times before. But she wanted to make sure she knew her lines forwards and backwards. As she read, memorizing the lines. Her neck and shoulders felt stiff and a bit sore. So, she rotated her shoulders and tried to concentrate. Suddenly two hands began to massage her shoulders. "Feeling a little stiff?" Kazuya her husband asked. Chizuru closed her eyes and leaned her head back to fully enjoy the massage.

"Was and thank you. AHHHH...keep doing that. It feels sooo good." Chizuru said softly as he continued to massage her shoulders and the side of her neck. Then she felt his hands move from her neck to her chest and he groped her breasts in his hands. "Those are not...They were not stiff and sore." She said with a wry smile, not minding at all that he was coping a feel. In fact, she liked it immensely. It too felt good as he moved his hands all along her shirt and bra covered breasts. She moaned and he took that as acceptance and slipped his hands under her shirt and inside her bra. While his hands were inside her shirt and bra. Turning her head towards him. She reached up with her left hand and brought his face towards hers. Kissing him. After the embrace, she decided to give him further access. So, she pulled her shirt over her head. Not caring that it was now inside out. Then removed her bra. Once more kissing him. This time more passionately. As they were about to do more. The front doorbell rang and she frowned heavily. "RATS! Just when things were getting interesting. Go answer the door...While I put my shirt back on." She told him as he reluctantly went to see who was at the front door.

The End and the Beginning?