Chapter 47

(First pov)

After Chizuru became my girlfriend... hm... for one hour. I just got [SR Package: [Acting] Ryan Gosling]. But why, for Odin's sake?! I don't need acting skills in my life since it's irrelevant for me! Just give me Batman's memories already!

This acting skill sure is helping me with the audition. Also, Ryan Gosling is a good actor. In his career, he won not just one but three Oscar. Though Blade Runner 2049 was a movie I liked, and Ryan Gosling nailed his role as officer K.

The gacha is great, sure, but I wish I had gotten something else. Still, to maximize this talent at 100%, I need to work on Chizuru's likability since it's only at 20% right now.

Soon, Chizuru and I have already left the cafe and moved on to the famous aquarium in Toshima.

We walk through a huge, bustling aquarium; the air is cool and faintly smells of something fishy. Soft blue lights fill the halls, making everything feel like we're underwater. Tall glass walls on either side hold vast tanks where fish swim by in bright, shimmering colors. A stingray glides slowly above, its shadow sweeping over our heads.

"Masamune-kun, look, look! Isn't that a big stingray? Uwaa!~"

I turn to look at Chizuru, who's gazing at the stingray with visible excitement on her face. She notices that I'm watching her, pauses, then smiles and gives a lovely giggle. "What is it, Masamune-kun? You've been looking at me this whole time while we're inside this pretty aquarium." She blushes and shyly looks away. "Am I prettier?"

This doesn't feel like her. It's like she's putting on a good act.

"Not really. I just find you really amusing right now."

"E-eh... is that so?" Her smile twitches slightly.

After getting to know her a little, I realize she's more of a prideful and sassy woman. At the same time, she can be easily triggered. Well, let's forget it and use this as practice.

Smiling a little, I say, "Hey, let me carry your bag for you."

Upon hearing this, Chizuru drops her act completely. "Huh? W-what do you want? I can carry my own bag." She holds up her palm, indicating a firm "no thank you."

This woman! She doesn't know how much effort I put into that cringe-worthy smile earlier.

"We're on a date, dipshit. I'm trying to be a good partner here by carrying my girl's bag."

Chizuru gasps, grits her teeth, and sighs. "Okay, here." She eventually hands it to me. "This is just a handbag, so I find it light. Still, thank you..." She looks away, blushing a little.

"Hey, who are these two?"

"Dunno. But aren't they hotties?"

"Yes. Maybe they're both models?"

Chizuru and I turn our heads and realize we've caught the attention of some aquarium visitors. Suddenly, she grabs my hand. "Let's go."

---

Soon, the date came to an end after an hour.

Since Chizuru wanted to tell me her story, we went to a quiet family restaurant with only few customers. After ordering some food, Chizuru started telling me how it began and how she kept getting dragged into this fake relationship with the guy I met at the hospital.

First, she talked about the second time he rental her as girlfriend and then how things escalated when Kazuya's grandmother went to the hospital. While she still had some time left to fulfill her responsibilities as rental girlfriend, she ended up visiting his grandmother as well. At that point, her client, Kayuza, suddenly introduced her as his girlfriend to his family.

To make things more complicated, Grandma Sayuri, who is also a friend of Kazuya's grandmother, was there, which made the situation spiral out of control.

"Pfft! Honestly, this feels so forced, Chizuru. Wouldn't it have been simpler just to dump him or set boundaries?" I said, trying to stifle a laugh.

"Stop, stop! I'm being serious here," she sighed. "I had my reasons okay? First, I needed the money. Secondly, I didn't want to waste time reporting this to my agency. Thirdly, the reason I decided to become a rental girlfriend in the first place was to hone my acting skills."

I hummed thoughtfully. "Acting?"

Chizuru crossed her arms, nodded, and explained, "I'm an actress. Well, not yet. The thing is, I couldn't afford acting school, so when I learned about this job, I thought it was a good way to practice my acting."

I hummed. Chinatsu had similar ideas about it.

"Still, your lie has gone too far, Chizuru. It might be better to break up with him now."

Chizuru shook her head. "That's easy to say. The problem is Kazuya himself. He doesn't have the courage to tell his grandmother the truth. He just… ugh, he keeps asking me to feel sorry for his situation while I'm busy focusing on my goals. Plus, I don't have many options, either."

I hummed again, looking at her as she showed me her irritated expression. Our food finally arrived, and after the waitress left, she suddenly giggled at me.

"Masamune, you know, you're the last person I'd expect to use a rental girlfriend. Now that I think about it, you're still a kid and probably don't have much experience, huh?" Chizuru asked with a smirk.

"If you're expecting me to get angry over that, you're wrong."

"Oh, look at that. I forgot you're a haughty brat, too. So, how about you tell this big sister of yours now?"

Look at her now, trying to act like a good big sister all of a sudden.

I picked up a spoon and said, "It's not a big deal. Chinatsu thought this might be good practice for my audition," I said, then scooped the curry onto my mouth.

"Ah, Chinatsu-chan? Wait, did you say 'audition'? What kind of audition requires you to rent a girlfriend first?" Chizuru asked, taking a sip of water.

"Well, I have a casting for the role of the protagonist for a TV drama."

PFFFFFFT!

She spat her drink out, thankfully to her empty side.

"Ahem! Sorry about that. TV drama?" she said, wiping her mouth. "Wow…" She looked at me in amazement. "That's amazing, Masamune! Still, can I ask—what drama is this?"

Seeing her genuine excitement, I thought maybe she wasn't lying about being an actress.

"Do you know the shoujo manga Sweet Today?"

Chizuru's eyes widened. "That popular manga? How cool is that, Masamune! You must be really talented. When a popular manga gets an adaptation like this, the producer usually has someone in mind for the role already, or you'd at least need an invitation to the casting. Congratulations, Masamune." She smiled at me, sounding genuinely respectful. Then she sighed. "I guess I need to work even harder now."

"Hold on. I've never been an actor, nor am I particularly talented."

Chizuru paused, looking skeptical. "That's a lie."

"I'm serious. I met the producer by chance, and he asked if I'd be interested in auditioning. Long story short, I called him back and said yes."

"Isn't that… bad news for you? I mean, the others could easily outshine your poor acting, Masamune."

She had a point. But I didn't care if I wasn't chosen—I was putting in the effort because my family wanted to see me on TV! Especially my sister, who's a hardcore otaku. As for Chizuru's problem, I was thinking of a simple solution so that Grandpa and Grandma Sayuri could enjoy their lives without worrying about her stupid drama.

"About your problem… Well, since we're basically family now, I'll help you out."

"Really? How?"

I smiled. "You need to quit your job as a rental girlfriend. Hold on, let me finish, okay? When you stop, you can become my personal acting coach. I need someone with experience to teach me, and maybe even act as my manager if, worst-case scenario, I get the role."

"Eh?" Chizuru smiled awkwardly. "Well, I could do that without quitting as a rental girlfriend, you know?"

I sighed inwardly. "I'll pay you double what you make from that job, and I'll cover your acting school fees. If I get the role, you'll get a bonus. Plus, we can negotiate your salary as my manager. How about that?"

"W-Wait, what? You're not joking, right?"

"Nope. I'm not giving you time to think it over, Chizuru. So, what's your answer?" I smirked. "Or maybe you just enjoy spending time with this Kazuya?"

"Okay, okay! But I'll need to see the contract first, got it?"

Hmm… well, that was fast.

---

(Third pov)

After a long day, Kazuya walked to his rundown apartment. He had just finished working at his part-time job at a karaoke place. As he walked, he opened his phone, and a smile crept onto his face. He was thinking about renting Mizuhara Chizuru again as his girlfriend.

He began to wonder why this was so addictive that he spent so much money on renting a girlfriend. After all, he booked her for at least two hours every week that costing him 10,000 yen each time.

That was the reason he had started a part-time job—when his wallet had finally reached its limit.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I almost used up that 1 million yen you gave me. Hic," Kazuya muttered, holding back tears.

Soon, with his shoulders slumped, Kazuya arrived at his apartment complex. Still, he needed to take the stairs to reach his room on the second floor. When he stopped at his front door, he noticed something unusual. 'What's going on?' he thought himself.

"Hey, Chizuru. Hurry up and open it, keke."

"As if! Like hell I'm letting you in. Just go home already, you cheeky brat."

"What? I just want to see my big sis's room. Now that we're family, we shouldn't be hiding anything, right?"

Kazuya frowned deeply. He saw a tall, well-built man flirting with Chizuru at her front door. The man was none other than her step-cousin. Furthermore, was he trying to force his way into her place just now? Kazuya thought that guy was a major red flag! How dare he!

"Oi! Get away from Chizuru, you jerk!" Kazuya shouted spontaneously.

When they heard him, both Masamune and Chizuru turned around, not even realizing someone else was there.

Seeing Kazuya, "HUH?! W-Wait!" Chizuru screamed in panic. But before she could stop him,

Kazuya's right fist was already headed toward Masamune's face.

However, he simply grabbed Kazuya's wrist before the punch could reach him.

"..." Masamune silently watched Kazuya, unimpressed.

"Ugh!"

Kazuya groaned as he felt the grip of this guy's hand tighten around his wrist.

But, Masamune wasn't even trying that hard.

Kazuya clicked his tongue. "You jerk! I saw what you were doing. What are you thinking, huh? Trying to force your way into Chizuru's place?"

Both Masamune and Chizuru paused, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Fwosh! SMACK!

Masamune replied with a punch. Kazuya stumbled back, landing on the floor, and felt his left cheek go numb. However, he kept his gaze fixed on the big guy in front of him.

"Quit yapping like a bitch, will ya?" Masamune asked calmly.

---

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