Chizuru had to be strong. She couldn't afford to collapse. Slowly, she forced herself up from the ground.
(Now, I have to find a way to cover Grandma's medical bills on my own. The money from selling the house will run out sooner or later; it won't last forever. I can't just rely on savings that are dwindling by the day.)
Maintaining her usual facade, Chizuru continued her work as a rental girlfriend. It was through this job that she eventually crossed paths with a certain individual: Kinoshita Kazuya.
She didn't particularly care for the young man. His face practically screamed "lecher"—one look was enough to tell he was harborng indecent thoughts. But for the sake of the money, for the sake of Grandma's treatment, Chizuru endured it.
Taking a deep breath, she put on her professional, practiced smile and addressed Kazuya. "So, you're my client this time? What kind of service are you looking for? I can accompany you to the movies, go on a date, or even grab a meal together~"
Chizuru clasped her hands in front of her chest, leaning forward slightly. She exerted her full charm and appeal to the maximum. Kazuya was instantly enthralled.
The two began their date like any ordinary couple.
However, the very next day, Kazuya realized that this woman wasn't just kind to him—she acted the exact same way with everyone. He flew into a rage, losing his temper and calling Chizuru a "cheap woman" right to her face.
Chizuru, of course, had her pride. She was simply fulfilling an order, doing what she was paid to do, and providing emotional satisfaction as a service. On what grounds did he have to insult her? Weren't the rules clearly stated on the platform? What more did this man want?
Seeing the argument leading nowhere, Kazuya spitefully booked a dozen dates all at once to get his revenge. Chizuru didn't mind; as long as he paid, she would serve him.
Thus began a series of exhausting dates. However, Kazuya began to cross the line; he constantly tried to grab Chizuru's hand. The platform had strict regulations: holding hands required the woman's consent and could not be forced, or it would be classified as sexual harassment.
Chizuru rejected his advances. Kazuya wouldn't accept it—he had paid a fortune, and he couldn't even hold her hand?!
Just as another fight was about to erupt, Ryunosuke appeared. He stepped in, blocking the path in front of Chizuru and glaring at Kazuya—a protagonist he utterly loathed. The kind of person who, even after breaking up with his girlfriend, still indulged in filthy fantasies about his ex to the point of self-gratification; the thought of it made Ryunosuke sick.
Kazuya looked at Ryunosuke and felt an instinctive surge of fear. But, believing he was in the right because he had paid for Chizuru's time, he summoned the courage to bark:
"W-who do you think you are?! Don't ruin my date, you b-bastard!"
Kazuya tried to act tough to intimidate him, but unfortunately, his legs were shaking violently, betraying his cowardice. Ryunosuke simply stared at him coldly without saying a word. Kazuya finally lost his nerve, abandoned Chizuru on the spot, and bolted. He didn't even bother trying to get a refund for the date fees.
Chizuru's cheeks flushed slightly, but she still gave Ryunosuke a light swat with her small bag. "What are you doing here?"
Ryunosuke didn't answer; he claimed he was just passing by. Chizuru didn't believe him for a second, assuming he had been following her out of concern. Nevertheless, she whispered, "Thank you."
Ryunosuke glanced back and gave her a sincere warning. "Do you really intend to keep being a rental girlfriend? This kind of thing will keep happening. Many men will try to push their luck just because of your striking looks."
Chizuru had no choice. If she didn't work, how would she survive or pay Grandma's medical bills? She gripped her bag tightly.
Ryunosuke understood the girl's predicament. Dammit... He hesitated. Should he help? Under what pretext could he offer assistance? If he helped too overtly, the stubborn Chizuru would surely reject him.
Ultimately, Ryunosuke used the most classic approach. Right in front of Chizuru, he began an insane booking spree on the rental girlfriend app. After booking exactly 1,000 dates on her profile, he turned to her.
"Tonight, stay with me."
Chizuru bit her lip. She felt like she knew what might happen that night, yet for some reason, she found herself agreeing.
By the time she snapped out of it, she and Ryunosuke were standing beside Grandma's hospital bed. Sayuri welcomed them with a broad smile. Seeing her granddaughter arrive with Ryunosuke, the grandmother seemed to misunderstand their relationship. She grasped Ryunosuke's hand with hope in her eyes and pleaded:
"In the future... can I trust you to look after her?"
Chizuru was about to explain that their relationship wasn't like that, but Ryunosuke raised a hand to stop her. An old woman on the verge of death only wanted to hear a comforting answer so she could pass on without regrets. Thus, Ryunosuke gave a small, solemn nod.
"Haha..." Grandma finally smiled in peace. Now she didn't have to worry anymore, even if she had to leave for the afterlife.
They talked until the sun began to set. Before leaving, Ryunosuke reminded Chizuru once more. "Come to my house tonight. Don't forget the order on the platform; stay with me tonight."
Chizuru's footsteps faltered. Without looking up, she gave a tiny nod, as if resigning herself to her fate. Ryunosuke didn't care whether the girl misunderstood his intentions or not; he walked straight toward his home.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Night fell.
Chizuru sat in front of her vanity, applying her makeup with meticulous care. Like a young woman preparing for her wedding night, she dabbed a thin layer of lipstick on her lips. She dressed in her finest clothes and walked straight to Ryunosuke's house.
She felt she knew what was coming... but she had no other choice. The weight of Grandma's medical bills and the crushing burden of life had squeezed the air out of her lungs. She bit her lip, holding back the stinging pain in her heart to keep from crying, and kept reassuring herself:
"It's okay... giving him my first time isn't so bad. At least he isn't a bad person."
Chizuru reached the front of the house and gently pressed the doorbell. Moments later, Ryunosuke opened the door. He froze for a split second, struck by how beautiful and radiant she looked with her makeup, but he didn't read into it and invited her in.
After a soft "Excuse me," Chizuru removed her brown boots at the genkan, swapped them for house slippers, and stepped inside, taking in her surroundings.