36. I didn't know you had that kind of special taste.

Extra in The Student Council

36. I didn't know you had that kind of special taste.

"You don't need to send me back home. It's not that late," Chizuru said to Shuu, who was walking beside her on their way to her apartment.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to talk about with you alone," Shuu replied.

"With me? Is it about work?"

"Well, it's quite related."

Chizuru stopped on her track and turned face-to-face with Shuu.

"If I said I could give your grandmother the best treatment in this country and the top treatment in the whole world, would you want to?"

Chizuru's eyes were wide open when she listened to Shuu. "Why are you suddenly talking about this? How much is it going to take?"

"It's undeniable that it will be much more expensive than ordinary ones. It could go even tens times more expensive." The moment Shuu answered her questions, Chizuru had a perturbed face.

"But I think money will soon be your smallest problem," Shuu added.

"What do you mean?" Chizuru was puzzled.

She didn't have money. She was broke. That's the reason she started to rent a girlfriend part-time. It just coincidentally helped her with acting practice. If she had money, obviously she wouldn't choose that kind of job. Not every customer was gentlemanly and proper after all. It's hard to earn money. She's already learned it the hard way.

"What do you think of a lead actress?" Shuu gave her a strange look "Do you think they don't have money? The movie just started airing, and our company's name is also a new one. That's the reason you still have that kind of mindset. You will soon see the results. The latest would be next month," Shuu stated.

"Aren't you a bit too exaggerated?" It was still hard for Chizuru to believe that.

"Well, you can ask your grandmother if you don't believe my words. Ask her opinion after she watches it." Shuu shrugged his shoulders. "Still, this movie will be a big hit. My company and I will make it a big hit!" Shuu added, "Or I wouldn't spend my time handling this matter." Shuu talked about his meeting with Sayuri. "You just had that much value."

"...." Chizuru was lost. She didn't know how to react. She had this fidgety feeling when Shuu praised her after his talk with her grandma. She should be used to being praised like this! It's hard for her to understand.

"However…" Shuu spoke with a low tone.

"However?" Chizuru repeated his words. She felt the heavy pressure of Shuu's words.

"When it comes to something elite among the elite, like what I'm talking about, money isn't enough. Those people had more money that they could spend on their lives. That's why you need connections to reach those people. I couldn't give you proof, but I'm sure they could prolong her life for months or even years longer than those ordinary hospitals," Shuu explained.

"I see…" Chizuru quickly recalled the topic they originally talked about. She also forgot the jumpy feeling she had before.

"Well, I might not look like it. But I'm actually quite a big shot. So I can handle that part," Shuu said with a light tone as he pushed his chest like a child talking about things proudly.

"...." Chizuru's eyes narrowed instantly, and she was fed up with his antics. "Even a blind person could see you are a big shot!" She retorted.

"Oh, is that so? Sorry, I'm bad at hiding things," Shuu said, looking down and embarrassed.

(As If!) Chizuru screamed on the inside. She was an experienced fake girlfriend. She is usually able to see what the others want from her. That's the reason she was the best and could get five-star ratings each time. However, she was just unable to read the one named Katsuragi Shuu. The more she interacted with him, the more confused she was. Her impression of him kept changing.

Even now! Chizuru observed him. (He looked down, but in the next second his expression shifted like normal.)

"I know it's hard for you to decide now." Shuu gets back to the topic: "I'll inform them first, so when you have your decision, they can act faster." Shuu said this and ended this talk as he walked again.

But as Shuu walked a few steps ahead, his hand was caught from behind.

"Wait!" Chizuru called, grabbing his hand. She threw away all the thoughts she had before and focused on one thing she treasured the most: her only remaining family. Her grandmother. Chizuru knew Shuu wouldn't help her for nothing. If she were to read behind his words, it would be like

('I need your grandmother to be healthy so that she could help us dissuade you if you tried to change agencies' or something like that.) Chizuru thought. She still clearly remembered Shuu's intention of meeting her grandma. (Even so, If it could help grandma....)

"I want it. Please help my grandma!" She bowed her head sincerely.

"Alright, I'll tell them to prepare as soon as possible. You also need to tell your grandmother about this," Shuu replied with a warm smile. "If it's up to you, With how you persuade her,"

"All I can say, if I were your grandma, is that becoming a burden on my most beloved granddaughter is the last thing I want to do in this life," Shuu hinted to her, to which Chizuru nodded as she also had the same opinion.

(I still haven't had her full trust. It would be a problem for me if you told her carelessly,) Shuu thought.

"Then, let's go," Shuu said, then he gently pulled their connected hands and continued the rest of the journey to Chizuru's home, of course with their hands still connected.

(Well done! I'll be there for you whenever you need me. Depend on me more. I'll handle everything. I'll solve every problem until the point where you can't live without me. That way, it's easier for me to move you around in the future)

***

Once they arrived at Chizuru's current apartment,

Shuu stared at the building listlessly.

Chizuru how Shuu stood still, looking at her apartment. She knew that, from Shuu's point of view, this kind of place might not even enter his eyes. Yet Chizuru didn't feel embarrassed or shy. This is the way she lived. She lightly tugged their connected hands before they walked upstairs to the second floor, where her room was.

On their way up, Shuu asks, "Are you sure this place is secure?"

"I lived here for a while, and nothing happened," Chizuru replied.

"I see, but still, I recommend you find a place with better security. It might have been fine now. But the moment you become famous, this place wouldn't be enough," Shuu explained.

Chizuru thought for a moment before she replied, "I guess you're right. I'll think about it."

"Yes, please think about it," Shuu said. "A house is a shelter, a place where you are safe and can be relaxed."

"Un" Chizuru nodded.

"Bye then." Shuu said his goodbye and walked down the stairs when suddenly

"Katsuragi-san" Chizuru called.

Just as Shuu was about to turn around, he saw two figures walking toward them from the corner of his eye. It wasn't strange for others to walk around here, yet it became special because one of them was someone Shuu recognized.

"Yes?" He turned around.

Chizuru didn't immediately reply. Her face was quite red. She also looked embarrassed and unsteady as she looked right and left. "Actually, I… lost my key!" She said it at once.

Shuu thought for a moment as she read her face. (She didn't seem to be lying. Oh!) Shuu grinned when an evil thought crossed his mind.

"I didn't know you were this bold, Ichinose-san. I think I should call you Chizuru at this point." Shuu slowly walked to her.

"Eh?" Chizuru was surprised and unable to understand Shuu's words properly. "What do you mean?"

Shuu didn't respond to her question. Instead, he continued, "I'm still seventeen, you know. In this country, I'm still considered a child. I didn't know you had that kind of special taste. Well, I don't mind, though."

Chizuru, who finally understood what Shuu meant, exclaimed, "Hah?! That's not it, you idiot!" She retorted, "I'm thinking of entering my room from the neighbor's veranda! I'm asking you to accompany me as I'm not close with my neighbor!" She reasoned.

(So, she asked for my help first?)

(Or was it just coincidental that I was nearby?)

(Mhm, whichever the case, it's a good sign.) Shuu didn't reply and continued walking toward her.

Chizuru saw how Shuu just stared at her and kept walking toward her. His gaze overwhelmed her, and she unconsciously took a step back. She continued to take a step back every time Shuu approached her, then her back touched the hard door, surprising her a bit.

Shuu took that moment when her attention slightly shifted and *Bam Miyuki's secret technique, 'Kabe-Down!'

"Hya?!" Chizuru yelped. She didn't know if it was because Shuu's face was so close to her or because of the shock. But it's undeniable that her heart is beating very fast right now.

Shuu didn't do anything further. Instead, he waited for Chizuru to calm down a bit. "Of course I don't mind accompanying you." Shuu smiled harmlessly at her.

Then…

"Mi, Mizuhara?" A voice calling Chizuru from the stairs behind Shuu.