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
The Present: ALPHA Timeline
"I am sorry Kazuya...I have finished my Investigation and...I just do not feel the same as you do for me." Chizuru had told him and now Kazuya was back at his Apartment trying not to succumb to the depression he now felt. Those words kept repeating in his mind over and over again. At first, he cried when he returned to his Apartment right after she had told him those words. In fact, he felt like crying even more as he laid on his Futon. As he laid there, he tried to think of what he could have done differently. If he had instead change how he had met Chizuru. Maybe not become one of her Clients. He almost wished he knew what he knew now back then. As it neared midnight, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Knowing he would dream about Chizuru. Like he had done several times before she had essentially ripped his heart out of his chest with those devastating words.
The Past:
Awakening, Kazuya sat up and looked around his somewhat cluttered Apartment. Everything was in a word different than what he remembered from last night or yesterday. For one, his Fishtanks were lite, and his Snakehead Fish were inside them. Shaking his head, wondering how they had gotten there since both tanks were still at his Parents house and he was going to move them today. "Maybe I did move them after all. Maybe I sort of zoned out and moved them without remembering I actually moved them." He muttered trying to rationalize why the Tanks and Fish were there. Just then his Cellphone chimed, and he picked it up. Almost dropping it when he noticed that one it no longer had a cracked screen and the case Chizuru had given him was not on it. Answering his Cellphone, he heard the familiar voice of Kibe on the phone.
"Hey...How long are you going to just...Mami dumped you a week ago...Get over it dude and do something?" Kibe said and Kazuya was utterly confused.
"What do you mean? Mami dumped me a week ago?" Kazuya asked and for a brief moment Kibe did not say anything.
"Okay...Now I am worried. What did you lose your mind or something? Go crazy over the fact that Mami dumped you?" Kibe asked back and Kazuya moved his Phone away from his ear and nearly dropped it again. The date showed about two years in the past. A day before he had first rented Chizuru Mizuhara for a Rental Date in an attempt to get over his heartbreak from Mami dumping him. Though right now he did not feel any type of heartbreak over Mami dumping him. For him it was in the past and after being with Chizuru for so long. He no longer was depressed or saddened or the break-up. In fact, he felt nothing for Mami at all.
"This is impossible." Kazuya whispered and then smiled. "Alright Kibe...Jokes over. I know you called to cheer me up since me and Chizuru...That Chizuru dumped me." There was silence again.
"Who's Chizuru? It was Mami who dumped you...I do not even know anyone named Chizuru." Kibe asked and Kazuya could tell that his friend was not joking with him.
"Uhm...I got to go Kibe. I will call you later." Kazuya hung up before Kibe could ask him anything more. Turning on his Laptop, he checked the date and when it showed the same as his Cellphone. He then flipped on the TV and saw the same thing. "How is this even possible? I am in the past and I remember everything that happens from now until then." He muttered as he slowly sat down on his Futon trying to make any sense of what was happening to him. Leaving his Apartment, he was tempted to knock on Chizuru's door. But decided that perhaps that might be a bad idea. If this was indeed some type of weird joke, he knew he could not right now handle her once again breaking his heart. So instead, he headed for the nearest Convenience Store for a cup of coffee. When he arrived, he gasped loudly. The Store was not there. Only an empty building that once was some type of Electronics Store. In the Window was a printed sign advertising that a twenty-four-hour Convenience Store would soon be opened in another two months. "That is right...This Store did not open until then." He muttered in disbelief. "It is true...I have somehow gone back in time. Or rather my memories have." He looked at his reflection in the window and he looked a little younger than what he remembered. With that he left and headed once more back to his Apartment. Any thought of having a Cup of Coffee was gone.
Back in his Apartment, Kazuya took out a Notebook and tried to remember everything crucial that had happened to him in those two prior years. He smiled broadly. Deciding not to make the same mistakes he made in the other timeline. "First and foremost...I do not Rent Chizuru no matter what." He declared and began to think of a way to first meet Chizuru in her alter persona as Ichinose and then form some type of relationship with her. Of course, it helped that she was living right next door to him. But he did not want to meet her under somewhat suspicious context. "Something that looks accidental might be my best bet." Then he remembered he had not cancelled the Rental Date yet.
Rushing home from another failed audition, Chizuru was in a hurry. Today she had a Rental Date Booking and she suspected that she would be late. But as she entered her Apartment. The Date was cancelled. She sighed with relief. Though she also felt somewhat annoyed. She had spent several hours last night trying to memorize some aspects about different Tropical Fish. Since the Client who was new had put in that they meet and have their date at the Aquarium. "Oh well...Guess he got cold feet and changed his mind." She muttered, knowing it happened from time to time. She sat down in her chair for a brief moment of relaxation. Closing her eyes, she heard a loud thud from next door and grimaced. Especially when another thud sounded. "Can't I get a moments peace and quiet?" She said with a frustrated frown. When she heard another loud thud out on the Balcony she decided to go out and ask whoever it was to keep it down.
To make it look like an accidental meeting, Kazuya decided to clean his Apartment and make as much noise as possible. To do that he started to move around some of the Furniture he had. At the same time, he took his Futon out on the Balcony to let it air out. Again, making as much noise as he could. "Excuse me...But could you keep it down over there?" A familiar voice asked, and Kazuya smiled.
"Sorry about that. I am doing some cleaning and did not realize that I was making so much noise." Kazuya said and tried to keep himself from getting too excited.
"Okay...Well try to keep it down." Chizuru said as she was about to go back inside her Apartment.
"By the way...I am Kazuya...Kazuya Kinoshita...Your Neighbor." Kazuya said putting his right hand around the barrier wall and after a moment Chizuru clasped it. Shaking it quickly and letting it go.
"I am Chizuru...Chizuru Ichonise." Chizuru told him.
"Ichonise...Then you must be...How is Sayuri Ichinose...Your Grandmother doing?" Kazuya asked and Chizuru stared at the wall in shock. Which turned quickly into hostility. Fearing that her next door neighbor was some sort of stalker or even worse then that.
"How do you know...My Grandmother?" Chizuru asked sternly, now glaring at the dividing wall menacingly and had an urge to go next door and confront this Kazuya face to face.
"My Grandmother mentioned her a couple of times. She goes to the same hospital that your Grandmother is at. Guess they are friends." Kazuya quickly said, hoping that Chizuru would know that it was somewhat a complete lie. Sure, his Grandmother has gone to that Hospital a number of times. But has made no mention of any of her friends she made there. To him anyhow.
"Oh." Chizuru said calming down immensely. "She is doing...Alright."
"That is good to hear. Well, I better get back to my Cleaning...I have a total mess over here...Oh and I will try not to be so noisy." Kazuya said about to go back and only make a moderate level of noise while he cleaned. Though there was not much left for him to actually clean up. Ever since he lived with Chizuru in the other timeline, he had become a cleaning fanatic. No longer wanting to be perceived as a slob or untidy.
"How did you let it get to that level that it you are making so much noise?" Chizuru asked with some idle curiosity and Kazuya let out a loud pretend sigh.
"I recently got dumped by my first ever Girlfriend and...And I sort of let myself become depressed to the point of becoming a slob." Kazuya told her and Chizuru understood immediately. Some of her Clients rented her because of that same reason. They got dumped and needed someone to help them overcome their heartbreak.
"Sorry I did not mean to pry. I take it you...You were in love with her." Chizuru said and Kazuya again let out a pretend loud sigh.
"Yeah...I guess I did. She didn't." Kazuya said once more pretending to sound saddened. At the time he had no idea why Mami dumped him, and he imagined several different reasons. That she had moved on to someone else and was in fact having sex with them. Which gave him some Flapping Fuel when he envisioned Mami and him having sex. But in time he learned the real reason. She had essentially used him to make herself feel better. Due to her own family problems. He really could not blame her when he found out her circumstances. She had dated him to have some semblance of a normal relationship. Which she did not have with her so-called Fiancé. Who she had no feelings for at all. But she had to dump him before her family found out she was dating someone. Then when he started to pretend to be dating Chizuru. Mami could not handle that he had gotten over her so quickly. It had bothered her to the point that she had to discover how he had been able to so effortlessly.
"So...Have you finally gotten over...Her?" Chizuru asked wanting to help him if she could. With the reasoning from what she could tell he was a nice enough person. Someone she did not mind being neighbors with.
"Somewhat. I still feel...She was my first ever Girlfriend. But I can't just sit in my Apartment crying into my Cornflakes...Can I?" Kazuya said putting a little humor in his tone. Chizuru chuckled and shook her head. Then a thought came to her. Along with the fact she was sort of bored and found it nice to have a normal conversation with someone.
"This is kind of silly. Us talking at each other through the Dividing wall. If you are not too busy cleaning...How about we maybe go to Donny's and...I could really use a cup of Tea. How about you?" Chizuru asked wanting to at least continue trying to help him. Along perhaps get to know him a little more. Believing it might be nice to have a neighbor she could talk to when she was lonely.
"Sounds good. Let me clean up a little. Can I meet you outside in about twenty minutes?" Kazuya asked forcing himself from not sounding too excited. Hoping that this might lead to something more. But he had to be patient and not make it look like he was desperate. Still after he went into his Apartment, and before he took a quick shower in the bathroom. He smothered a cheer of delight with a towel over his mouth.
"Okay...See you in about twenty minutes." Chizuru said as she went inside her own Apartment. Once inside she finally realized what she just did. "Did I just ask him out?" She asked herself.
Is This a Date?
When Chizuru first met Kazuya face to face, she was a little relieved that he seemed like someone that she did not have to be wary of. Knowing, if necessary, she could easily defend herself against him. In route to Donny's, they talked about this or that. How he was attending College, and he just started his second year. She told him the same though this was her first year. She did not tell him about her Job as a Rental Girlfriend. After some time, he also told her about Mami and had to really pretend that he was still upset over her dumping him.
"So, what is your Major?" Kazuya asked wanting to change the subject. He already knew the answer. He knew more about Chizuru then she would ever expect. But he was not about to let her know that. For one it would only make her wary of him. In fact if she knew it would only make her believe he was some type of obsessed stalker.
"Literature and yours?" Chizuru replied and asked.
"Business Management." Kazuya replied and decided it was time to be bold. But first he had to make sure that she did not suspect him of somehow knowing about her real intentions for herself. "This might be a little forward of me to say this and I apologize if...If it upsets you. But...But you are...You are pretty enough to be an Actress or a Model." She stared at him in shock and slowly smiled. Blushing slightly.
"Stop teasing me. I have my hair in pigtails, and I am wearing Glasses. But thank you. Actually, in truth...I am trying to be an Actress. I want to be an accomplished Actress like my Grandmother." Chizuru said and Kazuya could tell he scored some points. After they finished their tea, they walked together back to the Apartment Building. As they neared the Steps, Kazuya once again decided to be bold. Hoping that he was not about to make a mistake.
"This was nice...Do you...Could we maybe go out again?" Kazuya asked tentatively and Chizuru stopped on the first step and turned back towards him.
"Do you mean...On a date?" Chizuru asked back and Kazuya slowly nodded. His heart pounding heavily in his chest. Praying he was not being too forward or assuming too much.
"Yes. Oh...Sorry do you...Have a boyfriend?" Kazuya asked already knowing that she really did not have a real one. But due to her job as a Rental Girlfriend, she did have a number of Pretend Boyfriends. She shook her head.
"No, I don't." Chizuru thought about it for a moment and decided that maybe it might be nice to go on real dates with someone. Give her a sense of normalcy. "I would like that...As long as you are not using me as...Someone to get over Mami."
"I believe I have now after meeting you." Kazuya said hoping that it did not sound too sappy and desperate. Chizuru smiled and chuckled. Lightly hitting his right arm with her right hand.
"That was extremely sappy. I am busy most of this week...How about we go see a movie this next Wednesday?" Chizuru suggested and Kazuya quickly agreed. Just as they were about to say their goodbyes, his Cellphone rang. He already expected this call. It was his Mother calling to inform him that his Grandmother was being taken to the Hospital. Chizuru could not help but overhear the conversation. "Is your Grandmother alright? You don't...Well you don't act like you are too worried?" She asked and Kazuya shrugged slightly.
"I am and I'm not. Grans is a tough old woman and she has been taken to the Hospital a number of times before. It is probably, like most of the time...my Parents overreacting. Still, I am a little concerned so I will go make sure it is nothing too bad." Kazuya explained about to head to the Hospital.
"Do you mind if I come with you...I can after making sure your Grandmother is alright...Perhaps go visit my own." Chizuru asked as she stepped closer. Kazuya smiled and nodded.
"Sure, if you want to. But let me warn you...My Family might think we are...A couple." Kazuya told her and she smiled.
"We will just make sure they know that we are...We are neighbors and I happen to want to come with you to visit my own Grandmother." Chizuru clarified, as she considered introducing Kazuya to her own Grandmother.
After finding out that Nagomi was alright, Chizuru took Kazuya to introduce him to her own. Making it clear that Kazuya was not her Boyfriend. But she could tell her Grandmother was not completely convinced. She also could tell that his Parents and Grandmother were not convinced as well. Which did not bother her at all, for some reason she did not understand. Yet.
Real Date:
With Chizuru once more dressed moderately in pigtails and glasses, Kazuya walked with her to the Local Movie Theater. He knew that yesterday she had gone on a Rental Date, for he had seen her meeting up with her Client when he had gone to the bank. She had seen him as well and for a brief moment he could tell she was alarmed and concerned. So, he pretended he did not know her. As if he did not recognize her. But he knew it was her. Even though she looked nothing like her Chizuru Ichinose persona. Not in her Rental Girlfriend Mode. That was yesterday and today he was on a date with Chizuru. A real date. Something he only got to once in his prior Timeline and that did not go too well. Since after that, she basically turned him down. As they entered the Movie Theater, they both had an idea of what movie that they wanted to see. Then settled on one they both were only somewhat interested in as a compromise.
"That Movie...It was...Not that good...Was it?" Kazuya said as they sat in a local Cafe waiting for their waitress to come with their orders. Chizuru chuckled and shook her head.
"No, it wasn't. Did you see that man walking his dog in the background?" Chizuru asked and they both chuckled. The Movie was called ATTACK OF THE MUTANT SHARK. A B-Class Movie that was extremely farcy and completely mediocre. Still, they both had a good time.
"Yeah, that was so funny. Here the main actors are being attacked by the Mutant Shark in that Park and some guy a couple hundred yards away is idly walking his dog down the sidewalk." Kazuya said and they both chuckled again.
"That happens in some of those B-Movies. If the Production Company uses a Public Area, they can't stop anyone from being there." Chizuru commented and Kazuya was impressed about her knowing such things. "You know I really like this. I like going out with you." She said finding that she did. He seemed to know things about her that only her Grandmother knew. She first was a little alarmed on how much he knew about her. But at the same time, she liked having someone that actually knew her. With her only her Grandmother, she did feel a little lonely.
"Does this mean you want to be my Girlfriend?" Kazuya asked and regretted that he had made that assumption. He wanted to take it slow, but he could not stop himself from asking. Especially after she said that she liked going out with him. Chizuru shook her head. Though she still smiled warmly at him.
"Not yet. Maybe...After some time. I might like to be." Chizuru said blushing slightly and again Kazuya felt like cheering. He had come leagues further in this timeline then in his past one. Back at the Apartment Building, she looked over at him from her own Apartment. "I am free this Saturday evening. Around 6 PM...Do you want to...Go out again? But this time let's not go see a Movie like that again." She asked him, and he nodded. with a light chuckle.
"Yes, and yeah I agree. So, what do you want to do?" Kazuya asked back and Chizuru shrugged.
"Let's wait until Saturday and then decide." Chizuru suggested and went inside her Apartment after they both said their goodnights.
Problems Arise:
It being Thursday, Chizuru stood waiting for her Client. The person who rented her was one of her Regular Client's. He had rented her three prior times before and what he had requested was something she had done several times before. Basically, he was using her to get over his heartbreak over being dumped. He had assured on their last Rental Date that this was the last time he would rent her, because he was ready to move on. Find someone better than his Ex and have a normal relationship. For some reason the whole situation reminded her of Kazuya and what he had gone through with his own Ex-Girlfriend. The difference was, Kazuya did not seem to broken-up over the break-up. In fact, he seemed not to be as depressed as her soon to be arriving Client. "It had taken Shinjo over a month and three Rental Dates for him to decide to move on. Where Kazuya seemed to be over it within just over a week. Maybe he is over it because of me." She thought with a small smile.
In the middle of the Rental Date, Chizuru discovered she was experiencing a problem. For some reason she kept thinking how much she rather be out with him right now, then with Shinjo. She also kept thinking about their upcoming date this Saturday. "Come on. Get it together. This is my job. I can't keep thinking about Kazuya. I need to be focused." She thought as she silently chided herself and forced herself to pay more attention to Shinjo.
"I want to thank you for today and the other times. Because of you...I now can...Move on." Shinjo said at the end of the three-hour Rental Date. Chizuru smiled warmly at him.
"I am glad I could help you get over her. Do you...Have someone in mind to move on with?" Chizuru asked and Shinjo nodded.
"Yep...It is someone that is a close family friend. At one point I...I never thought I should since we are such close friends. Because of that I started dating Karin. Now I think I know why it never worked out with Karin. It is because I always wanted to be with Agawa. So, tonight I am going to confess and hope that she feels the same." Shinjo said confidently. Where before he did not seem to have the same confidence.
"From what you told me about her. I suspect she does." Chizuru said reassuringly and Shinjo smiled again. Departing a few minutes later making his way towards the Trainstation. She watched him depart and made her way to the same Trainstation to catch the Train that would take her back near her Apartment.
It being Saturday, Kazuya waited impatiently for it to be 6 PM. "I am going out on a date with Chizuru." He sang as he took another Shower in anticipation of going on another date with the Girl of his Dreams. The one that he was so in love with he could barely contain his excitement. Ever since he had awakened this morning, he felt like time was running slower than normal. In fact, he believed it was standing still. Now as it neared 6 PM, he found that he was staring at the Clock more than anything else and when it reached five minutes before 6. He quickly made his way outside his door to wait the rest of the few minutes for her arrival from her own Apartment.
Walking together, Chizuru decided to let Kazuya hold her hand. Unlike her with any of her Clients, she found it really nice to hold his hand. It felt to her that it was real and not just an act on her part. Here she was with someone she went on a real date with. She could be herself. Though she still wore her glasses and had her hair in pigtails.
For Kazuya, this was the greatest moment he could hope for. He was holding the girl of his dreams hand. It was not a rental date. It was real and right now nothing could interrupt his glee. That is until there before him was Kibe and Kuri. Two that he hoped not to run into while on his date with Chizuru.
"I am so sorry about this." Kazuya blurted out to Chizuru as the Elevator Doors closed. She smiled at him and shrugged.
"It is no problem. They did not give you much of a choice and I really do not mind." Chizuru said calmly. Thinking it sort of funny that at first his friends believed that she was some type of cultist that was preying on their friend. Then they made the assumption that she was his Girlfriend.
"Still...Those idiots. I should have denied right from the get-go. We are not...You are not my Girlfriend." Kazuya said sullenly and Chizuru was about to say something. But the Elevator arrived at the third floor, and they had arrived. What awaited him was something he hoped would not have happened again. He actually knew already that Mami would be there. But he was hoping that this time she would be different. Boy was he wrong. Though this time Chizuru was a lot more hostile than what he remembered from the previous timeline. What she said to Mami, made him so happy that he thought he was in a dream.
To be continued: