"Have you really never thought of being something else other than a rental girlfriend, gurl?"
"Sigh, I'll be lying if I didn't. It's just that… The world is evolving far too fast for me to pick one subject, you know? I don't want to invest in a course that'll become obsolete a year later."
I'm Mizuka Chizuru, currently residing in an apartment complex in Tokyo. I'm self-employed as a rental girlfriend through one of the most popular rental apps, for now. Of course, I had every intention of moving up in the world. Just not now.
"Well, if you say so. What are you doing right now?"
"Putting on my makeup. I need to buy some groceries."
I'm currently on a call with one of my childhood best friends. We have been friends as long as I can remember. She is one of the few people I can fully trust with my secrets.
"The last guy must be such a loser to be paying you that much!!"
"Yeah…"
My best friend's comment stuck with me like a needle stuck in my heart. The way she mocks him as a loser… is just incorrect. I don't want to fight her for him, but I also don't want to fully agree with her.
My last client was Igo Heita, a trainer in the renowned Tracen Academy. You might be asking, why would a trainer in such a renowned institution need a rental girlfriend? Can't he just flash his trainer badge and get some chick?
Well, the main reason is that he is trying to cut off his trainees' love for him. I've gotten this kinda of contract before, but this is the first time where everyone would be happier if he grows some spine. No, if he becomes more of a fuckboy who sleeps with every woman that glances at him, everyone would be so much happier.
Sad for them, he was a man of commitment. He wanted to train and make them better runners instead of dating them. Truly an anomaly.
*Click* *Clack*
My apartment complex is a distance away from any major road. First and foremost, it's the price. It's common sense that the closer you are to any major road, the more expensive the rent is. So I opt for one that is far, but not unwalkable. Enough for a rental girlfriend like me to pay, while also living quite nicely.
I climb down the stairs of my apartment complex and walk under the night sky. The light pollution makes it hard for me to see the stars in the sky, which makes the sky pure black.
"I should thank him again for picking me."
"Nah! You should cut off losers like him unless he gives you money! You deserve a better man, Mizuka!"
"A better man…"
Once again, her words stuck in my heart. Igo Heita… is a great man. Someone who is constantly improving, even if he has to throw away the comfort he is currently enjoying. Isn't that how people become rich? They keep improving and investing in themselves, and soon enough, they'll reap what they sow and enjoy their hard work.
Unlike him… I'm a snail. He's an umamusume, and I'm a snail, and we both are racing on improving ourselves. I would lose 99% of the time and never catch up to him. He'll be basking in richness and glory in the penthouse of one of the expensive hotels while I… will still be sleeping in my apartment complex.
"I wish I could be more like him…"
"What's that?"
"No! It's nothing!! I'm at the grocery store, so I'll call you back once I'm done, okay?"
"Okay~~"
I end the call and turn off my phone before entering the supermarket. As I was doing my monthly groceries, I couldn't help but keep thinking of Igo Heita. Someone like him doesn't need to do this, right? Don't Tracen trainers come from rich families? He surely has a corps of maids that attend to his every need, even sexual ones.
"..."
I wonder how big he is down there. A man with so much desire inside of him will surely be packing under there, right? All his hormones firing will help him grow into a stud of a man.
"Huh?!?!"
What am I thinking?! Rental girlfriends aren't allowed to engage in a sexual relationship with our clients!! That's literally what differentiates between rental girlfriends and common whores. I should get this done with and call her back. Only she can keep my mind off of him.
I quickly finish off my shopping, grabbing all the essentials and booking it toward the cashier. Lucky for me, there's an empty cashier. The cashier is an umamusume, which reminds me of him. Everything leads to him, huh?
"Welcome, will this be all?"
"Yes."
"Did you bring your own reusable bag, or do you want to buy one?"
"I brought my own."
"Alright. Please wait a moment."
I step back as the cashier registers my items one by one. As she scans my item, I can't help but wonder what differentiates her from the girls I saw in Tracen Academy. Luck? Genetic? Surely those play into the role as much as hard work, right? Surely even if she works hard, it wouldn't matter much if she is unlucky and doesn't have any talent, right?
"Would you like to pay in cash or with other payment methods, miss?"
"I'll use my credit card. Here."
"Okay. Everything is done. Thank you for shopping. We hope you come back again."
"Yeah…"
I grab my grocery bag and start walking out of the supermarket, but I stop in the middle of my steps when the cashier calls out to me.
"Ah… and miss, I do hope you have brought in your laundry for tonight."
"Eh?"
"It seems like a storm will come soon. Take care~~"
"Ahh… Okay…"
Since I couldn't wrap my head around her words, I just awkwardly exited the supermarket. It was a nice reminder for a stormy night, but the way she said it to me was so weird.
I once again walk in the silent street alone. I open my phone and try to recall my best friend. I did promise her that I'll call her once I'm out of the supermarket after all.
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"The number you're calling isn't available. Please try again later. If you would like to leave a voice message, press one."
Eh? Did she fall asleep already? Did I take that long?
"Sigh… *BEEP* Hey, sorry for taking too long. Let's chat in the morning, okay? *BEEP*"
"The voice message has been sent."
Sigh… I guess I'll be sleeping immediately after dinner. Maybe I'll doomscroll a bit.
As I let my mind wander while I walk down the empty street, I catch a glimpse of a purple outfit at the edge of my eyes. It really reminds me of the Tracen uniform, which is why I immediately turn my head to look at it.
"Huh?"
Nothing. There was nothing but an empty street being lit by streetlights. My mind must've wandered back to Igo Heita for me to be hallucinating about Tracen Academy.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
"Ah! Shit!!"
When raindrops begin falling from the sky, I quickly hasten my pace and run to my apartment complex. Getting sick is the last thing I wanted today, or maybe… I could make that an excuse for Igo Heita to nurse me back to health.
"GAH!!"
What the hell am I thinking?!? Why go back to him?!?!
I hurriedly climb up the stairs of my apartment complex and enter my apartment. Thankfully, I reached my apartment now instead of later, as the next moment, stormy rain began pouring. It's summertime, so what's with the torrential rain?
"Sigh… What a day…"
I turn on the TV to give the atmosphere some familiar noise as I sort out my groceries. Toilet stuff goes into the bathroom, detergent near the washing machine, and food goes into the refrigerator. Since I'm going to cook dinner, I might as well do it now while I'm in the kitchen after sorting the food out.
I lay out several vegetables since I'm planning to cook a soup tonight. Something warm on a stormy night sounds like heaven to me. Especially if I pair it up with a nice cup of coffee. Imagining it already makes my mouth water.
*Kchhk—bzzt!*
"WOW!! SHIT!!"
The light suddenly goes out the moment I try to cut a carrot. I quickly put the knife down so as not to hurt myself and pull out my phone. My apartment is designed so that the only light that would enter my room during a lightout is through the glass doors, which separate the living room from the balcony.
*BZZZZZZZZAAAAAAMMMM*
The occasional thunder also helps to light up the room temporarily. To help with the semi-permanent lighting, I searched for the candles I put in one of my cupboards. I lit several of them and put them throughout the apartment. I should now be able to return to my cooking.
*Ding Dong*
"Hmm? Someone at the door?"
I quickly go to my door and open it. I was expecting it to be the landlord or people from the power company, but there is no one there–only raindrops and the occasional thunder. Was it just my imagination? Or maybe it's from the neighbors.
Whatever. I close my door and walk back to my kitchen.
I wish I had just run away.
"What the fuck?!?!"
On the cutting board, the whole chicken I bought just now had been diced into small pieces.
I didn't do this.
Without a single doubt, this is not my doing.
*BBBZZZZAAAAAAAAMMMMMM*
*Swooooosh*
"HUH!!?!?!? WHO IS THERE!??!!?"
A thunder struck outside, and a sudden, powerful gust of wind swept through the room and turned all the candles off. I quickly grab my phone once again and scan through the room. I frantically try to find anything weird in the dark room.
"This isn't funny, you know?!!? STOP IT!!!"
*BBBBZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMM*
"HUH?!!?"
When the last thunder hit, I swear I could see silhouettes lining up on my balcony doors. The shadows cast upon the floor of the living room only heightened my panic response. I quickly shine my light on the glass door, only to find that there is nothing there.
This can't be a hallucination!! I refuse to believe that I'm crazy!! There is someone here, and they're after my life!!! I need to call the police!! I hurriedly dialed up the emergency phone number, but was horrified by the answer.
"We are sorry. The network is currently unavailable. Please get somewhere with better reception, and try again."
"No… What the hell is this?!?! What the fuck is going on?!?!"
This can't be a coincidence, right??!! We had a worse storm before, and even then, the cell tower can still be used. Why can't I call the emergency service now?!?!
I walk out to my living room, but that's when I notice that perhaps… There is something on my balcony. I shine my phone back at the glass doors and notice that it was pitch black. Thunder struck several times, but no light peered through the transparent glass.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
I screamed my lungs out and burst through the door of my apartment. Thankfully, I did as I heard the glass doors shatter and footsteps rattle the apartment.
"HHHEEEEEELLLLPPPP!!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!!"
All the apartment rooms were closed, and their lights were off. But I kept on screaming. There is absolutely no way that every single room is empty. Surely someone will hear my call for help and see outside to see. All I need is just one. Just one person!!
"PLEASE HHHHEEEELLLLPPP!!!
I hurriedly climbed down the stairs to the apartment complex, never stopping to call out for help. The footsteps grow louder and louder, as if they were truly behind me.
Fear and dread grip my heart.
I want to stop and end this all.
No one is coming to help.
No one is coming to get me.
Is this really my end?!?!
What have I done to deserve this?!?!?!
I never put my nose in someone else's business. I always keep myself in my line. This should never have happened to me. I've been a good girl!!
"Someone… Please… Please… Help…"
My feet grew weak with every unanswered scream my mouth let out.
I can't.
I can't continue like this…
My feet are sore…
My chest hurt…
I'm soaking wet from the rain…
I should be warm inside with a bowl of soup right now. Why am I running for my life outside in the rain?
I once again open my phone as I've grown pessimistic about anyone answering my call for help.
Like anything I've done tonight, it was a mistake. In the reflection of my phone screen, I saw them. Uma–
*THUMP*
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!! HHHHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPP!!! PPPPLLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSEEEE!!!! HHHHEEEEEELLLPPP MMMEEEEE!!!"
The wailing of a prey animal was silenced by the thunder and rain.