Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows Part II
Chapter 21: The Date Part III
Chizuru looked over at Kazuya as the train rattled along the tracks. His expression, albeit tight at times, had softened into a genuine smile, and she could not help but feel her heart lift in response. Their talk had flowed easily, with light humour and shared recollections. He would occasionally giggle nervously, scratching the back of his head as if unsure how to deal with how well they were getting along.
She felt herself relax more, dropping the normal barriers she had erected around herself. It felt strange. Special. A part of her appreciated the moments when she did not have to be "Mizuhara," the rental girlfriend. She could just be Chizuru, an ordinary girl on a train with a guy who was slowly but steadily getting under her skin.
She gave him a taunting nudge as the train began to slow down, signifying an impending stop. "Ready to take on the world, Kazuya?"
Kazuya chuckled and grinned at her. "As long as I'm not blindfolded, sure."
Chizuru smirked, glancing at the black cloth she had hidden in her backpack. 'Oh, he has no idea.'
As they stepped off the train, they were greeted by fresh air, which carried the aroma of vegetation and the subtle buzz of the metropolis. Chizuru could not resist smiling as they strolled side by side. The streets were busy, yet their shared silence provided a sense of tranquillity. She was calm for a few periods before blindfolding him.
Okay, Kazuya. "It's time for you to put this on," she said, pulling out the blindfold.
"What? Now?!" Kazuya's voice trembled as he looked at the material in bewilderment.
"Yes, now," Chizuru said with a cheeky grin. "Trust me."
Kazuya reluctantly let her to tie the blindfold across his eyes. His anxious laughter filled the air as she gently walked him down the street. Navigating the bustling city with a blindfolded Kazuya was difficult, but every time he stumbled or nearly tripped, Chizuru could not help but giggle.
"Hey! Is this safe?!" Kazuya inquired, half-joking but visibly terrified, his hands flailing in front of him.
Chizuru's laughter rang over the street as she grabbed his arm to keep him stable. "Don't worry, I've got you." When Kazuya nearly collided with a lamppost, she burst out laughing again. "Honestly, you're such a klutz."
Despite his nervousness, Kazuya found himself smiling. Her laugh was contagious. He felt strangely at ease whenever she held him steady. He discovered that trusting her was not as difficult as he had anticipated.
After what seemed like an eternity to Kazuya (but was only a short stroll), Chizuru came to a halt. "Okay, we're here," she whispered quietly, gently untying the blindfold.
As the cloth slid away, Kazuya blinked many times to adjust his eyes to the light. He knew the location right away—the placid beauty of the trees, the distant shimmer of a lake, and the peace that Inokashira Park always seemed to exude.
"Inokashira Park..." he said, half to himself.
Chizuru beamed in recognition. "That's right."
Kazuya looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. "Why here? "Why all of this?"
Chizuru paused, her attention shifting to the peaceful water of the lake before returning his gaze. There was a vulnerability there, which she did not frequently display. "Because I am serious about you, Kazuya." I have always been reserved about my emotions, but... I want to go all out for you this time."
Her words struck him like a soothing wave. He was not used to hearing her express her emotions so openly. His heart skipped a beat as a mix of hope and disbelief washed over him. "Chizuru... I..."
She halted his frantic answer with a sweet grin. "Let's just enjoy the day, okay?" "There's no pressure."
Kazuya nodded, still pondering her words. "What do you want to do first?"
Chizuru looked around and noticed a food booth nearby. "How about we get some food?" "I am starving." She grinned as she pointed to the stall. "Yakisoba and Ikayaki sound good?"
They walked up to the food stand, where the aroma of sizzling noodles and grilled squid filled the air. The vendor delivered them two steaming plates of yakisoba and ikayaki, and they sat on a nearby seat to eat. The dinner was simple but pleasant and eating it alongside Kazuya enhanced its flavour.
As they ate, Kazuya could not help but cast glances at Chizuru. She seemed different today calmer and more open. Is this really her? He wondered. He realized he had always been so focused on impressing her that he had never taken the time to simply be with her and understand her.
Chizuru, too, found herself eyeing Kazuya out of the corner of her eye. He appeared happier and more at ease than she had seen him in a while. This is nice. Maybe this is how it should feel... not forced or planned. Just us.
After finishing their meal, Chizuru washed her hands on a napkin and gazed out at the lake. "Do you want to take a boat out? It's a wonderful day; we can discuss some more."
Kazuya's eyes brightened, and he nodded happily. "Yeah, that sounds great!"
They rented a tiny rowboat and ventured into the calm waters of the lake. As Kazuya awkwardly attempted to row, Chizuru could not help but giggle at his ineptitude. They eventually got a rhythm and drifted pleasantly across the sea.
Chizuru leaned back, letting the steady rocking of the boat relax her. She looked at Kazuya, who was focused on keeping the boat stable. "So, tell me more about you, Kazuya," she asked, her voice quiet but curious. "Not the Kazuya who is trying to impress me, but the genuine you. What do you want from all of this?"
Kazuya gazed at her, shocked by her question. He paused briefly before taking a deep breath. "Honestly? I just wanted to be someone worthy of you. But I suppose... I want to be happy as well. I want to be with someone that makes me feel this way, like I don't have to pretend."
Chizuru's heart flooded with his words. 'Maybe we aren't so different after all.'
Mami and Umi strolled back home together, the evening air cooling their skin. The streetlights produced lengthy shadows, and the city's hum appeared muffled, as if the entire world were holding its breath. They had not spoken anything since they left the scene, too stunned by what they had seen to break the stillness.
Mami's head was racing, a flurry of feelings and concepts she could not quite comprehend. 'What the hell happened?' The image of Kazuya and Chizuru together, kept playing in her mind. It gnawed at her, causing her to feel angry, envious, and confused. She had assumed she had Kazuya figured out, but this was something else totally.
She cast a peek at Umi, who walked with his hands deep in his pockets and his face tense with anxiety. His customary easy-going approach was gone, replaced by an unreadable face. She could see he was as shocked by what they had seen. It was not just shock, but genuine concern.
Finally, Umi broke the stillness, his tone low and solemn. "I did not expect that. "Not from them."
Mami nodded slowly, still trying to grasp everything. "Yeah... Me neither." Her voice was milder than normal, and it lacked the characteristic bite. She was too preoccupied with her ideas to express any of her customary sarcasm or snark. 'Chizuru Mizuhara is the perfect girlfriend. And Kazuya... such a fool. What just happened?
The gentle sound of water lapping against the boat broke the silence between Chizuru and Kazuya as they drifted leisurely across the lake. The late afternoon sun poured a golden tint over Inokashira Park, painting it in warm, calm tones. It should have been tranquil, but Chizuru's heart was far from calm. She took a glimpse at Kazuya, who had turned slightly away from her and was peering out at the lake. The tension between them was tangible, and she knew she had to end it.
Chizuru took a deep breath and resolved to finally face the issue that had been hanging on her mind. "Kazuya… "There's something I need to tell you," she said softly but steadily. "It's about Umi-kun."
Kazuya turned his head to look at her, his expression neutral but curious. He did not say anything, just nodded for her to continue.
Chizuru's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the boat, her knuckles turning white. She hated feeling vulnerable, but Kazuya deserved the truth. "Umi… he confessed to me a while ago," she admitted, her eyes flickering to gauge Kazuya's reaction. His eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent. "He has been persistent, and at first, I thought I could handle it. I thought I could just keep him at arm's length and that it would not affect anything between us."
She paused, attempting to find the appropriate words. "But it became more than that." It made me question my honesty with myself and with you.
Kazuya's demeanour softened, and he gazed at her with empathy that made her heart ache. He did not interrupt but waited for her to finish.
"I'm sorry, Kazuya," Chizuru apologized, her voice quivering slightly. "I should not have let things go this far. I should have been more open with you. But… I want you to know that I have ended the fake relationship with him. I blocked his number and quit working as a rental girlfriend. I want to give us a genuine opportunity to grow as more than lost individuals."
Kazuya's eyes widened, and surprise was clear on his face. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out. Chizuru's heartbeat in her chest, and her pulse rang in her ears. She stretched out for his hand, her fingers quivering slightly as they brushed against his.
"You're really important to me, Kazuya," she murmured softly. "I do not want there to be any other misunderstandings between us. I want to express how much you mean to me.'
She began to lean forward, closed her eyes and placing her lips only millimetres away from his. But when she did not feel him approaching, she paused, opened her eyes to observe Kazuya's expression. He was not meeting her stare; instead, he appeared troubled and torn.
"Kazuya?" She muttered; her voice full of uncertainty.
Kazuya groaned and finally looked her in the eye. "Chizuru… "I've been unsure about my feelings for the past few weeks," he said, his voice thick with shame. I do not want to kiss you if I am not sure where I stand. It would not be fair to you.
Chizuru blinked as her heart sank. Embarrassment overcame her, and she pulled back slightly, her hand slipping from his. But as much as the rejection hurt, she understood. She did not want a fake kiss, either. "I get it," she murmured gently, trying not to seem disappointed. "I don't want that either."
They slipped into an uneasy silence as the boat glided gently across the water. Chizuru looked down at her hands, feeling the weight of the situation. It was not how she had hoped things would go, but perhaps this was better. Perhaps they needed honesty, even if it was difficult.
"I also can't do this while Akane is in the hospital." Kazuya added.
Chizuru forgot about it in the heat of the moment, and she understands "Yeah that is right, if I were in your shoes, I would be uncomfortable about it too."
As they approached the dock, Chizuru let out a tiny sigh, pleased that the tension would soon be gone. Kazuya stood up first, attempting to stabilize the boat so she could exit. But as he adjusted his weight, he underestimated the distance, and his foot slipped on the edge. Before Chizuru could respond, Kazuya fell into the water with a loud splash.
"Kazuya!" Chizuru gasped, looking over the edge of the boat to see him struggling in the shallow water. For a split second, panic grabbed her—was he all right? But when she saw his soaked form, fighting to stand as water dripped from his hair and clothes, she could not help herself. A laugh swelled up from her chest and out before she could control it.
Kazuya looked up at her, his face a mix of shock and embarrassment, and soon enough, he started laughing too. The sound of their laughter echoed across the lake, mingling with the gentle rustling of the trees.
As Kazuya climbed back onto the dock, still dripping wet and grinning sheepishly, Chizuru could not help but smile at him. In that moment, all the tension, all the awkwardness from earlier, seemed to melt away. He is such an idiot, she thought, her heart swelling with affection as she watched him. 'I really love this idiot, huh?'