Rent-A-Boyfriend in A Reverse World

A couple days after the date with Isami.

8 PM - Andy's room.

After kissing mama goodnight, I'm now sitting at the edge of my bed, waiting for my body to digest dinner before going to sleep.

'I wonder if Hina is off work, yet. Her schedule is a bit iffy from what I recall.'  with that thought, I tapped on my contacts and opened my chat log with Hina. My thumbs pressing letters into existence with each tap. 

["Hina you off work yet?"]   A casual message between friends. 

"I'll read a chapter of Campfire Isekai while I wait-"

Ping

"... That was fast."  slightly surprised by the near instant reply, I switch back to my chat with Hina.

["Yep! Just got back from the gym actually. Worked up quite a sweat."]  the message read.

My eyes widened slightly at the message. "The gym? Since when did Hina workout?"  evident confusion in my tone. 'Not to be mean, but she didn't seem like the gym-goer type.'

However, perhaps she's changed. After our first date, I've only met Hina once a week. She reasoned that she's busy with work, but I always felt like there was something else that ate away her time. 'Wait- Is this what they call "men's intuition" in this world? No, no. I'm just overthinking it...'

I move my thumbs and type up a reply. 

["Since when did you start working out?"]  

...

["Just recently. I've been going thrice a week. Wanted to work on myself."]  Hina replied. And I couldn't help the narcissistic thought that perhaps she's doing that because of me. 'Be humble, Andy... You'll only embarrass yourself if you assume everything is because of you.'  I lecture myself, culling any budding seed of arrogance.

["That's cool! I wish mama would let me sign up for a gym."]  I typed, but I haven't press Send, yet. Simply staring at the draft for a moment. '... This feels like I'm making it about me...'  

Tap Tap Tap

["That's cool! I wish mama would let me sign up for a gym. Then we could go together and be gym buddies!"]  and sent.

...

["No no please don't ever step into a gym, Andy. Actually don't even go near one please."]  Hina replied soon after. Her words make me feel like she typed in a rush. 'Is she worried I'll be eaten up? Mama reacted like that too.'

With the gender ratio being 3:1 women to men, I understand their concern. I'm aware of my image and how it can have an effect on women here, too. With the image of muscular women pumping iron, working up a sweat in a bright gym setting, a certain person popped into my head.

'I wonder how the shopkeeper of that defense goods store is doing...'  I wondered. She wasn't bulky, but she gave me the impression that she has real strength from actual combat and training rather than hefty muscles for showing off. 'And her hands... When she helped me hold the stun gun and taught me how to use it, I still can't get rid of the feeling she gave me. That raw, domineering power that could manhandle, or rather womanhandle me with ease. Make me squirm beneath her as she uses me for her own pleasure...'

A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of being dominated by such a woman. 'Was I always like this...? Or has this world had its effects on me?'  I asked myself, but I won't be able to answer it any time soon.

'Oh, right. I'm chatting with Hina right now. I shouldn't think of other women.'  with that thought, I started to think of how I could move the conversation. 'Should I... ask for a pic? Would that be a good idea?'

Ping

["I'll be in the shower for a bit. I'll message you back once I'm done, Andy."]  Hina texted. 

And for some reason, I felt like I had to rush a response.

["Could you send me a pic?"]  I texted. And immediately after, embarrassment hit me. I slam my back onto my mattress and frantically swing my dangling feet around. 'Why did I send that?! She might think I'm weird now! If I was in my old world and a girl asked me for a half-naked picture, I'd feel strange about it!'  I yell internally. Panic building up with every passing second without a response.

Ping

And the reply finally came. Will Hina be weirded out? Or maybe something worse? I won't know until I check my phone.

Building up the courage to look, I check my phone for her reply.

"!!!"  my eyes blew wide. Because Hina really sent me a picture of herself. A single towel wrapped around her waist, the phone's flash to the side at shoulder level. Strands of her black hair cascading down, reaching just shy of her perky nipples. And I can't explain why, but the fact that Hina's breasts are small makes the picture look even more inappropriate. Different from my mother's and Karina's hefty mounds.

["How do I look?"]  Hina texted.

I shift my attention to her arms and stomach, scanning for anything muscular. 'Probably because she just started, but I don't see anything that stands out.'  though, she does look a bit healthier than when I last saw her.

["You look great!"]  I replied. Hoping that those three words will help boost her confidence.

'Should I send one too?'  the idea popped into my head. 'Not a topless pic like Hina's, but something with a bit of skin... Just to make it fair.'

After some contemplation, I prop my phone against my pillow. The camera app opened and displaying what the front camera sees. I sit on my butt with my legs to the side in an M-shape. I set my camera's timer to 3 seconds. And after pressing the button, my hands grab the hem of my pajama top and raise it up to flaunt my flat stomach. Holding the hem just shy below my nipples. 'This should be fine, right? It's just my belly...'  and a second after, the camera released a loud shutter sound as it took the picture.

"And sent..."  I muttered after sending the picture to Hina. 'She should be in the shower now, so her response won't come for a while.'

As I was wondering what to do while waiting for Hina's reply, I received an email notification. Since I had nothing going on, I decided to check it out.

"Huh? Tak*shobo publishing...?"  I muttered the name of the sender. 

After carefully reading the email, I understood what their intent is.

"They want to hire me as a cosplayer for the "Gushing Over Magical Boys" booth in the year-end convention."

I obviously don't believe it at first glance. "And how did they even get my email? I don't remember giving it to anyone-"  that's when a certain memory resurfaced. "No way... Did the cinema manager give it to them? But for her to give out my contact information, then this might be real..."

After a quick search, I discovered that Tak*shobo Publishing is the publisher of the Gushing Over Magical Boys series. But just to be sure this is really the publisher contacting me, I called the cinema manager to ask. And she told me that the publisher reached out to her after seeing the photos she posted of me on the cinema's social media account in order to promote the movie. She apologized for giving them my contact information, but she apparently decided that it would be beneficial for me. 'She still gave out my information without asking me, though...'

With the authenticity of the sender confirmed, all that's left is to decide on whether I'll accept or reject it.

I'm not a hundred percent certain, but they'll likely hire me to cosplay as Kiwi, the blond guy from the villain group that torments the magical boys.

The problem with that is that Kiwi doesn't wear pants nor shorts. His bottom half consists of just a pair of briefs and green knee-high military boots with garters disappearing under his oversized military uniform jacket.

"Ha... I don't want to wear that in public... And mama would never allow it."  I sigh, contemplating the reality of this request. 'I do want to cosplay and attend a convention, but I don't want to dress up like a slut in public...'

"I'm going to reject it. I'll send them my reply now, since ghosting a company is a bad idea."  with that in mind, I type up the best, most formal-sounding rejection I could come up with.

["Good evening. This is Andy Tsukishiro. I am messaging in regards to the offer I recently received. 

If the character I will be cosplaying is Kiwi, then I will have to decline the job. I resonate with the character, but realistically, I cannot cosplay him in public. 

I am deeply honored that you have gone the lengths to contact me. I enjoy the content Tak*shobo Publishing has released and will continue to be an avid fan. 

Best wishes. Andy Tsukishiro."]

Phew 

"That should be good enough."  I breathe a sigh of relief. After reading over the message several times, I finally press the send button.

After making sure the reply was sent, I close my phone and rest it on my chest then close my eyes. "That was nerve-wracking..."  I mutter.

Ping!

"Hm? Did Hina finally reply?"  assuming a reply from my friend to my belly selfie, I open my phone again. And my eyes quickly widened after discovering it's a reply from the Tak*shobo Publisher again. 'So quickly?'  I thought. Curious what the content is, I open up the new email.

["Good evening, Tsukishiro-san. We are happy to hear that you are a fan of our works. 

In regards to your previous message, we would like to inform you that we do intend to have you cosplay as the character Kiwi from Gushing Over Magical Boys. We are fully aware that the character's design is not plausible in a real life public setting. As such, we would have the cosplayer wear matching green shorts instead of the supposed black briefs. 

If that is not enough, then please tell us your other requests. We are immensely interested in employing you for this event, Tsukishiro-san. 

You are the only one who can bring this character into the real world.

Best wishes. Tak*shobo Publishing."]

"... 'You are the only one who can bring this character into the real world,' huh?"  I muttered. 'If they're this accommodating, then it'd be rude to say no. Besides, the only issue I had with the cosplay has been resolved. Nothing is holding me back from accepting.'

The only hurdle left is convincing mama to let me go. I also need her help with looking over the employment contract I'll ask the publisher for.

A moment after, my phone began to ring. I look at the screen and realize it's a call from Hina. Although I'm a bit confused why she suddenly wants to talk instead of texting, I still accept the call request.

"Did you have a nice showe-"

"Andy- please don't send that picture to anyone else."  Hina cut me off, her tone rushed.

"Huh? What's wrong with it? It's just a picture of my stomach."  I reply, confusion evident in my voice.

"B-Because! Because... Other women might get the wrong idea..."  Hina's volume lowered mid-sentence.

'? Wrong idea? From just that? I wasn't even exposing my chest.'  I wondered, not comprehending how that picture isn't harmless. 

Little did I know that if you look closely, then my right nipple is peaking its head out. Which isn't a big issue on it's own, but apparently if a guy sends a picture of himself exposing an unseen section of his body to a woman, then it can be interpreted as flirting or even a "love call."

"Just- please promise me you won't ever send that kind of picture to anyone else."  she pleaded. Still unaware what she's clamoring about, I reluctantly agree. "Alright. I won't send that sort of thing to someone else."  I replied. And a second after, an idea flashed through me. "I'll only send those pictures of me to you, Hina~"  I teased. A little smirk playing at my lips.

Behind the phone, Hina's eyes blew wide as saucers. "No- no! You shouldn't-"  panic rising in her tone.

"Hm? Do you not like them, Hina? I thought you'd like that kinda thing. Unless..."

Gasp

"Do you not like me, Hina?! Am I undesirable to you?!"  I say in an exaggerated tone, barely holding back laughter.

"No! I like you, Andy! You're really cute and I-"  Hina suddenly stopped, realizing what she just said. "And what, Hina? What's the other thing?"  I ask, smug energy in my voice.

"......"   Hina stayed silent. Possibly holding her breath too, since I can't hear it anymore. "Hina? Hellooooo?"  I beckoned, trying to get her to reply. A breath later, Hina hung up. The familiar call end beeps echoed in my ear. "Was my teasing too effective?"

On the other side, Hina was screaming into her pillow. An event she'd never admit to.

"Guess I'll tell her about the cosplay job tomorrow."

.

.

On a certain internet forum website.

"RentalBoysJP"  a forum where women post about rental boyfriends in Japan. Their posts are often reviews of specific rental boyfriends they've encountered. You can also just chalk it up to a group of women sharing men with each other.

However, a couple days ago, a peculiar post popped up. Titled "Does anyone know where I can rent this guy?"

And the sole image attached is a picture of Andy with Isami resting her head on his lap.

["A lap pillow?!?! Lucky bitch!"]

["Cutie and the otaku ah scene."]

["You didn't have the clit to walk up and ask?"]

["? Why does everyone think he's a rental boyfriend and not her actual boyfriend?"]

["Lmao no way. Look at him, he's a 10/10. And her? A goblin incarnate."]

["Fair enough lol"]

["I'll check IkeRental."]

["PlayBoys on me."]

["I'll take Dreamers then."]

Andy would never guess that there is currently a manhunt out for him. By eager women who want to rent him.

["Wait. I recognize that guy. I think I saw him at a curry place before."]

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