I had chosen a cafeteria for our 'date' as while I didn't have the slightest intention of sticking with her, I wouldn't be so petty that I would take her out to some shady place. I would not stoop that low, even for her.
"Kazu-kun~!" speak of the devil.
"Hi Mami", I had a faint almost monk like small, "You were kind of distant yesterday Kazu, did something happen" she asked.
I said nodding , "Yes, I had a strange dream last night, where you had dumped me because I've lived my usefulness as an ego booster, stupid right".
She without missing a beat, chuckled sweetly and said, "That's such a weird dream Kazu, I'd never do that to you~"
"You are right, no one's that pathetic, silly me", said while bonking my head inverdly thinking 'Damn, she's good, it would be fun to see how long she can last against me though'
Later on we progressed through the day, with some witty remarks form both of us, from time to time, it was clear, she was getting weary of me. Planting Unnerving Self-awareness successful.
Meanwhile in Mami's mind, "WTF, when did this wimp grew a backbone, and what's with all these remarks, its like he's a different man altogether, he's even stop gazing at me or try to peep at my skirt"
I returned home, after dropping home like a gentleman, Mama didn't raise a jerk after all, and looked over to my study table to see the assignments from our business studies professor, taking a seat, I decided to review and finish off the task today itself, its better to not delegate.
3 Hours later
It took me a while to get a hang of the work, after 5 years since I was last a student, so it took me more time than it should have, I was just fortunate the original Kazuya was studying something that I had knowledge of.
So, after making sure the work was done and checking for any mistakes and not finding any, I decided to prepare some dinner.
Looking in the fridge for groceries, I thought, 'I restocked the poor groceries which in truth was only instant noodles',' I want something light, but fulfilling, maybe some fried rice would be good', as I was thinking, I noticed my phone and thought that a little bit more of trolling couldn't hurt could it.
"Nothing like dating someone who makes you feel like you're alone when you're together :) ❤️ #blessed", I tweeted, put it back, and started making my dinner. But before I could even get into it, a notification popped in.
#Mami: Are you okay Kazu-kun??
#Kazuya: Ofc, I am actually feeling great, just doing a bit of journaling right now, you know, expanding my horizons.
#Mami: Oh, what are you looking for Kazu??
#Kazuya sends a screenshot of the rent-a-girlfriend front page
#Mami:....Are you serious
#Kazuya: LOL, wut do u think, I would actually do that, I was only kidding, after all I don't like to play with people's heart like that!
With that, she got offline without a word, taking it as a sign, that this was her limit, I stopped playing around, prepared my food, and after eating it while watching some good old classics, I slept on my futon.
After that a week passed in the blink of an eye, during that time, I decided to mallow it down a bit, cause it was clear she would not be able to handle it, after all we would not wanna break the poor girl, would we. During that time, I also did some side gigs, like visiting my parents and grandma, hanging out with kibe and kuri, even starting gym because Kazuya far from being fit, but most of all, meeting the Rental Girlfriend!
"White checker shirt and black jeans, are you Kazuya-kun?" a sweet almost delighted voice asked, I turned to the voice, and Damnnnnn, she really went all out on her date, seeing her onscreen was something, but looking at her up close, I can clearly see how much she prepped for this, and to think she does it for everyone of her clients, she really is on the grind, well I can respect the effort.
"Yes, and you must be Mizuhara-san, my date right, you are even more gorgeous up close", I asked with a practiced smile, she without missing a beat replied, "Why thank you, Kazuya-kun, you look charming yourself."
Well, while I didn't think too much of my outfit, as white shirt, black pants goes banger everytime, I did put in some work on appearance, like changing my hair color to original black, and because it was so grown I looked like a hubby, so I tied it back, and would you look at it, I actually look decent.
While walking to the cafeteria, we thought of as our first visit, she and I were conversing, "If I am right, you asked for a girl who can hear your, as you put 'wandering thoughts' didn't you", I replied, "Yeah, I actually already have a girlfriend you see, but I feel like there's some disconnection between us, but I don't have any close female friends, so I decided to hire you for your advice, and put my thoughts while having some fun in between."
We reached the cafe, as I finished, so we entered, while opened the gate for her, to which she nodded gratefully, then we pick a seat at the far end with no windows on side, so that we could have our little space. After we both took a seat she responded, "I understand, what you mean, you want an opinion form a girl's perspective right, I have to say its quite mature of you Kazuya-kun"
After which the waiter came to us, asking for what we wanted, chizuru asked for some lemonade, while I asked for a chocolate shake. Yes, I just ordered chocolate shake as an adult in the body of teenager, so what, suck on it haters.
While we waited for our order to come, I replied to her earlier comment, "Thank you for your kind words, but I also want to clarify already that I don't think she's into me, and I think dating's just not my gig. I just want to go full philosopher mode today."
"Oh", she blinked, a bit surprised from my words, but then smiled ,regaining her composure and said, "Then feel free to speak as you want Kazuya-kun, I assure you I would hear you out."
Taking that as a cue, I begin what could be considered the biggest 180 twist of her life, "Starting off, I think love is truly nothing but an illusion, a dopamine-driven illusion, that we subconsciously project to hide our evolutionary guilt."
As expected, it worked, chizuru.exe had crashed.
"....I am sorry, What?"
I didn't let her jumbled reply throw me off, I relished it, "I know it is hard to think of it as such, but this is the bitter truth, in reality love, affection, and everything related was only formed by our mind, so that a sentient being like us could justify sexual intercourse. Its the reality"
"Are... are you okay?"
"Never better, my realisation has finally shown me my purpose, my goal, my motto. I must spread my beliefs, encourage and gather people alike, form a community, who have an understanding of relationships. Lack of knowledge such needs to be addressed and if no one is acknowledging it, then I need to step up."
After saying this, and letting her process a bit, we decided to go on with the 'date'. The next stop was the aquarium, because believe it or not, I like sea... salt.
"Do you like aquariums Kazuya-kun, I think they are beautiful and full of life", I see, she was trying to get in control again, not in my watch.
"I agree, but if you think about it, they truly are like love, don't you think? Looks so serene from outside, but under the surface, its full of things trying to survive, hunt or hide.", Nailed it.
"You're really intense, Kazuya-kun, aren't you"
"I just try to live honestly, and fulfilling, and I think you should too, you don't need to act around me you know"
"Well, forgive me for not being composed, but... but usually people only see the surface, the act, not the actress, so its very new for me"
Oh, I expected her to get defensive, or withdrawn, but her opening herself to me was not in my plans... shit, I need to improvise now.
"Its okay, you can take your time, you don't even need to open up today, maybe we do it on or off the clock, I make some damn good tea. And I am an even better listener."
Chizuru nodding replied, "I will think about it, thanks Kazuya"
The rest of the day went uneventful, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy my time, and I could say the same for her too, she looked just a tad bit free. Her rental time was just nearing an end, so we decided to part ways, when I asked, if she needed me to drop her off, she stated that its agianst the policy of 'Diamond', so I just dropped her to the station, and went home myself, forgetting that we were literally neighbours.
Now sitting in my apartment, I was pondering on my own device, "Okay, I got there from intentions of trolling for my sadistic little heart, instead I just became her therapist... wait, did I just paid her to be her therapist, Well its not that bad, I can still just take some enlightenment from Mami's confusion". Thinking that I happily drifted off to sleep.