"Thank you so much, Adam! I had a wonderful time!" My client, a woman in her 30s, said aloud. Her head bowed deeply. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Takahashi-san." I respond, bowing my head as well.
After each saying our piece, we both raise our heads. "Um... Could you call me that again? You know, that. I know my time is up, but please do me this one last service!" she says, clapping her hands together and bowing her head again.
'Oh, that, huh?' Realizing what she means, a smug smile begins tugging at my lips. I take a step closer, and bring my lips close to her ear. "You were incredible, Aiko~" I whisper in a sultry low. My warm breath tickling her ear. "Oh- Ohhh!!" Aiko trembled in response. A goofy smile decorating her face.
After collecting herself, she turns around and walks away. As her back grows smaller, she looks over her shoulder and waves at me. Naturally, I wave back with a smile on my face until I can't see her anymore.
'Another satisfied client.' I say internally. Feeling satisfied myself.
Turning heel, I begin walking back home. 'Mmm. I'm craving something a little sweet. I should drop by the konbini for a snack. Oh, and some curry cubes for tomorro-' But before I could finish that thought, I felt a hand grab my arm.
"Ah!?" I gasp as I'm pulled into an alleyway I didn't notice until now.
"Who-"
"Please don't scream! I promise I'm not a bad person!" An unfamiliar girl said in a quiet-loud voice.
The person who dragged me into an alleyway appears to be a highschooler, judging by her appearance and uniform at least.
There's the possibility that she's a weirdo who likes to wear school uniforms, but her youthful appearance urges me to believe she's a real student.
'I feel like I've seen her before...' I think. Looking at her face closely, I get this feeling of familiarity.
I shake my head briefly. 'Not now. She could be dangerous.'
After clearing my head, I look the female stranger in the eyes. "Okay. Let's say you aren't a bad person. Why did you pull me into an alleyway?" I ask, cautious of the girl before me. My eyes watching her every move, prepared to fight or run away at any sign of danger.
"! T-That's because... um..." she nervously looks away. Racking her brain for an explanation. She looks like someone who did something last second and is just now wondering why she did it.
".... Hah. Alright. Let's start with introductions. I'm An- Adam. My name is Adam. What's your name?" I ask, almost telling my real name to a suspicious stranger.
At my question, she hurriedly looks back at me. "O-Oh! My name is Izumi Sato! I'm a student at X Highschool!"
'X Highschool... I've heard that name before.'
"Alright, Sato-san, is there something you need from me?" I ask, moving the conversation.
"W-Well... I was hoping you could... Um... Be my boyfriend for the school festival this weekend!" she said outloud, finally mustering the courage.
"Wait. A school festival on late January??"
"Well... The author made some poor timeline choices, but he didn't want to put this off for later."
"Oh, fair enough." I nod, accepting her explanation.
"So, you want to rent me out for a date at your school festival?" I ask, clarifying her request.
In response, she hurriedly nods twice. "Yes! To be precise, I want you to pretend you're my boyfriend." she says.
'So pretty much a regular rental date.' I thought.
Bringing my fingers to my chin, I go into thought. 'She seems harmless enough... As for suddenly dragging me into an alley, I can chalk that up to youthful recklessness.'
"Hmm...." A low hum escapes me as I simmer in thought. 'A school festival date, huh? That'll be interesting.' The corners of my lips rise as I imagine what it will be like to experience a school festival setting. The likes of which I've only seen through a screen.
However, while Andy is immersed in his thoughts, Izumi grew more and more restless by the second. 'No- Is he going to reject me?!' she thought.
'No, no! I can't let him refuse! Not when I already told everyone my boyfriend is coming for the festival!'
"Alright. I'll-"
"If-" Izumi suddenly cuts me off. "Huh?" I look to see that she's holding a phone, and on the screen are two familiar faces.
"If you say no, I'll spread this picture online!" She says outloud.
"That's-"
'Me and Karina in the shinkansen??'
The photo on screen is undeniably me and Karina when we were riding the shinkansen. My head resting on her shoulder, our fingers intertwined on the arm rest; an affectionate couple no matter how you look at it.
'Judging from the angle, it was taken from a seat across the isle from ours.'
I take a look at my blackmailer's face again, and that's when I finally remember. "Wait- You're the girl from the shinkansen!"
My mind reels back to that memory. Karina's sly smile as she opened the bathroom door, and how I locked eyes with Izumi standing outside. Her expression frozen as she watched Karina place her hand at my side in a display of dominance, of ownership.
'Wait. Am I being blackmailed right now?' I think. Looking at the situation again, it really seems like it.
'But... is it really that bad?'
Rental boyfriends aren't common, sure, but they aren't rare either. Being one isn't anything to be ashamed of in this world.
I know because I've read posts, even searched for articles talking about it before actually making the decision to become one.
Most people here generally don't think much of it. Having accepted it as a job only a guy can do.
Unless they're the type who are obsessed about purity and chastity to the point of being unreasonable.
'But I can't say the same for the women who rent us.'
Though it may sound ridiculous, there are people who look down on women who've used such a service.
'I don't know what Karina does for work, but I don't want to be a stain in her career.'
"S-So?! I'll really post it! I swear I will!" Izuki says, bringing the screen closer. Though her attempt to look threatening is hardly working. Judging by how nervous she looks.
"Alright, alright." I say, my hands raised to my chest. "I'll take the request. No need to bring others into this."
Hearing that, Izumi went wide-eyed. "Y-You will?! Thank you! Thank you!" Izumi's face quickly shifted from nervous to overjoyed in mere seconds. 'Is this what they call a simple-minded person?'
"If you don't mind me asking, why were you so desperate to rent me out?" I ask. After the supposed threat has passed, it will do me good to learn more about my new client.
"About that..." Izumi awkwardly scratches her cheek. "It started when my friends were talking about bringing their boyfriends to the festival, and then they started teasing me for not having one. And without thinking, I went and told them I have a boyfriend..." she says, her gaze trailing to the side with an awkward expression.
Hearing her reasoning, I couldn't help but sigh. "Then they pressured you into bringing your "boyfriend" to the festival, I assume." And almost immediately, Izumi flinched.
Instead of a verbal response, she simply nodded twice.
'Seeing her like this reminds me of Isami... Their names are kind of similar too.'
"Wait. Aren't you worried of getting caught after? I can't keep covering for you after the rental date is over."
"Oh, that's okay." Izumi responds soon after. Her features transforming into a relaxed- or rather, one of resignation. And honestly, the speed at which her expressions change has me wondering if this is normal for highschool girls in this world.
"How is that okay?? Won't your friends make fun of you for using a rental boyfriend?"
"Hahah. It's fine. They won't make fun of me- much- If they find out." she says, muttering something under her breath mid-sentence.
'What a strange girl...'
.
.
(Bonus)
"Wait. How old are you?"
"Oh, I turned 18 last November."
'Safe...'
"Oh, and here's my hourly rate."
"HUH?! 15,000 YEN!?!?"
"C-Could I ask for-"
"No discounts. ♥"
"Geh..."
'After blackmailing me earlier, you expect a discount? No way, José!'
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