Rent-A-Boyfriend in A Reverse World

The next day, Andy's room.

"Yosh! I think I look good enough!"  Andy commented after observing himself in the mirror. The young man wore a lavender tee under an open dress shirt, and a pair of jeans that clings just enough to still be comfortable.

"Hm.. I debated wearing boxers instead of briefs, but it's not like I'll be showing them off to anyone. And I personally find briefs a bit more comfy."

As to why I'm dressing up nicely, it started after I finished relieving myself.

While lazily sprawled across my bed, with a satisfied expression on my face, I decided to finally download the rental boyfriend app called "Dreamers" and set up my profile.

To my surprise, the app didn't ask for too many details. Just an alias, age, height, bio, and a fresh, unfiltered photo.

"Couldn't a woman pose as a guy on here..? They're not even asking for any sort of ID."  however, that worry was later dispelled after reading the notice claiming that the company behind the app reserves the right to sue users who fake their identity. And that they use some sort of highly-trained AI to check if the photo sent is real or stolen.

"For a rental boyfriend app, they're pretty serious, huh.."

I then began filling out the details for my profile.

"Let's see.. I'm 20 years old, my height is 167cm (5'6), and as for my alias..."  I trailed off. Stuck on what alias I should choose for myself.

I pondered on this for way longer than I'd like to admit.

Until finally, a name spoke out to me.

"Adam. I'll use 'Adam' as my alias."  the name felt.. right. 

"I will be the Adam to my Eves (clients)..."

======================================

[Alias: Adam]

[Age: 22]

[Height: 167cm (5'6)]

[Bio: First dates only. No repeat dates. If you're fine with that, then hi! I'm Adam and I'll try my best to make you happy during our short time together. Ah, but no kissing and anything lewd, okay? Handholding and hugs are A-OKAY with me, though! Oh, and no private areas like hotels either. If you're a good soul, then for one date, I'll be the Adam to your Eve.]

======================================

"....."  I stare blankly at my profile.

"........"

"Eeeee!!"  I let out a high-pitched noise out of first-hand embarrassment. Kicking and squirming around too.

"Why is this so embarrassing?!"  I yelled, yet I didn't change my mind.

"Fuu... Okay. Confirm.."  after a deep exhale to calm my nerves, I pressed the 'Confirm' button on the profile creation page.

[Welcome to "Dreamers!" You have registered as a 'Dreamweaver.' Dreamweavers are men who have volunteered to make the dreams of women come true. We thank you for your service, Dreamweaver.]

"Okay.. do I just wait for rental notices now? Surely there's a Help page somewhere..."  I begin exploring the app. Getting myself used to the app's contents.

"A.. client filter feature? No way.. is this so certain women can't rent me? That's kind of messed up.."  I recoiled at the thought.

"Should I..." 

I quickly shake my head. "No! I shouldn't discriminate! I'll trust my gut and when I see my clients face to face."  

After that, I continued exploring the app, but didn't find anything useful.

"Huaa~"  a yawn escaped me. "I should go to bed now.. it's getting late."  since I'm starting to get drowsy, I decided it's time to hit the sack.

I turn off my phone and place it to the side.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll get a request.."  I muttered before closing my eyes.

Releasing all the tension in my body, I begin to fall asleep. The pleasant void wrapping its arms around me in a soothing embrace...

It wouldn't take long for me to knock out, but....

*ding~*

A bell-like sound came out from my phone, waking me up right from Hypnos's door.

"That's not my ringtone. No, it couldn't be.."  I reach for my phone and search for the cause of the peculiar sound.

[(Dreamers): Dreamer "Hinano Takamine" wishes to chat with you.]

Upon reading the notification, I rise from my slumber and sit up. Eyes widening awake

"Already??"  I'm puzzled that someone is already interested in me. 

"Can the women filter by join date or something?"  I wondered, but I soon let go of the thought.

"I'm sure it's just as late for her as it is for me. Scrolling for rental boyfriends at this hour, though... She's either a degenerate or a late worker. I shouldn't assume, though."

Tapping on the notification, I open the chat room between me and Takamine-san.

[Hinano Takamine: Hello! Are you new to the app?]

"Yeah. There has to be some sort of filter that lets women search by join date."

[Adam: Hello. I wasn't expecting a request so soon. I just joined less than an hour ago. This is actually my first time downloading an app like this.]

[Hinano Takamine: Wait is this your first time being a rental boyfriend???]

"Huh? Well, yeah."  I shrug my shoulders. "Wait..."  I paused. A mischievous grin slowly crept up. 

[Adam: Mhm. If you rent me now, you'd be my first, Hinano.]  I messaged. Directly calling her by her first name instead of her last name.

"Heheh.. I wonder how she'll react to this."  I chuckled. Imagining how effective that line is.

"Ah, I should check out her profile so I can see what she looks like."

I tap on Hinano's picture and bring up her profile.

======================================

[Name: Hinano Takamine]

[Join Date: 1 day ago]

[Age: 28]

[Height: 177cm (5'8)]

[Hobbies: Anime, manga, and cosplay conventions.]

[Date Preferences: Hotpot & movies]

======================================

"Huh.. She's literally a female otaku. Or just otaku in this world. Join date is 1 day ago? Is she new to renting? Hm~ She'll be fun to tease.."

*ding~*

[Hinano Takamine: Please please please please please let me rent youuuu]  her desperation can be felt from her text.

"Pfft! Oh, she's gonna be so much fun~!"  my lips tugged into a smirk.

[Adam: Okay. When and where do we meet? I'll leave the date plans to you, Hinano~ Ah, perhaps you're uncomfortable with me calling you by your first name? I can use "Takamine-san" instead, if you'd like.]

[Hinano Takamine: No no please keep calling me by my first name! As for the date details I'll send a request now!]

*ding~*

[Dreamer 'Hinano Takamine' requests a dream.]

[Place: X Shopping Centre]

[Time: Tomorrow, 10 AM]

[Meeting Spot: The tall white standing clock with benches around it.]

[Accept/Decline]

After briefly reviewing the details, I pressed Accept on my first request.

[Adam: Accepted. Well then, I'll see you tomorrow, Hinano. Good night~]

[Hinano Takamine: Thank you thank you I can't wait for tomorrow! Good night Adam!]

I then turn off my phone and put it away before laying back down.

"Heheh.. I can't wait for tomorrow too, Hinano."  I giggle to myself with a smile on my face.

.

Back to the present date. 

"Alarm pen on my front pocket, alarm keychain attached to my bag, stun pen in my right pocket, and stun gun inside my bag..."  I equipped my self-defense gear all over my person. As for my bag, I went with the only bag old Andy has; a gray shoulder bag.

"If there's an opportunity, then I'll take her along when I go shopping for clothes and such."

I then look myself in the mirror one more time. 

A lavender tee under an open white dress shirt, jeans, and a gray shoulder bag slung across my chest.

"Hm.. My clothes are lacking, but with this face and body, I still look amazing."  I admired my appearance for the nth time this morning.

"Okay, that's enough, narcissius."  I joked.

Since I have everything I need to bring, I went and left room, making my way to the living room where mama¹ is waiting for me.

"I'll be going now, mama."  I bid farewell to my mother sitting at the table.

"... Okay. Don't forget to send me a picture of your client, okay? And please, Andy, keep yourself safe."  worry evident on her face.

"Yes, mama. I will."  

At the door step, I put on my white & black sneakers.

After that, I place my hand on the door knob and look back at my mother still gazing worriedly at me.

"I'll see you later, mama."  I said with a smile hoping to reassure her.

".. See you later, Andy."  Hana's expression still that of worry.

 The young man then proceeded to leave the nest for his first ever client as a rental boyfriend.

With a faint electronic sound, the door closed itself.

"......"  Hana stared longingly at the door that Andy left through.

Later, Hana grabbed her phone and turned it on. She then opened her contacts and tapped on one named "Touka Hayashi."

The sound of the call echoed throughout the quiet apartment.

"Hello? Hana? You haven't called me for a while. Are you doing well now that your son has been discharged?"  a mutually mature woman's voice came from Hana's phone.

"Touka.."  Hana muttered.

"Hm? Yeah?"  

Hana paused for a couple seconds before she opened her mouth again.

"... What are the signs of high genetic compatibility?"  

X Shopping Centre. 9:30 AM

"Hmm.. The security lady said it's in the middle of the shopping centre, so it should be around.. Ah, there it is."   after some time, I finally found the meeting spot Hinano sent me.

"I wonder if she's here already."  with that thought, I walked closer until the people near the clock were more recognizable.

I look closer and try to spot my first client- no, my first "girlfriend."

"Found ya~"  I playfully grin upon spotting an anxiously standing Hinano blushing heavily and looking down at her feet.

"Hm~ I just got an idea.." 

Meanwhile Hinano...

"Oh gosh. I really hope he's coming.. Two of the three guys Yokoyama-san recommended me straight up blacklisted me.. The third guy was good, but it was so painfully obvious he just forced himself to be with me.."  Hinano recalled her past rental boyfriends that were anything but enjoyable.

"This one, Adam, seems to be a good guy from his profile. A-And unless he's lying, then I'll be his first client! Heheh.. I've never taken any of a guy's 'firsts' before..."  Hinano held her flushed cheeks and squirmed in place. Not realizing she's coming off as a weirdo to onlookers.

"Oh, and he's so cute and handsome!! Like a 2D boy came to life! He would look amazing if he cosplayed! From his looks, he'd effortlessly pull off a soft little brother character o-or maybe a cheeky little devi-"  before Hinano could finish her rambling, a pair of hands slipped under her round glasses and covered her eyes.

"W-Who!?"  she yelled. Surprised by the sudden action.

"Guess who~"  a soft, but playful voice tickled her ear.

"Um- um- A-Adam!?"  Hinano's tone frantic.

The pair of hands then retracted. Hinano turned around to see the perpetrator. 

"Good morning, Hinano."  I greeted with a cheeky smile, hands behind my back.

'A cheeky little devil!!'  Hinano internally screamed.

"G-Good morning, Adam!"

'Hm.. she's wearing the same outfit from her profile picture. Except for one thing..'  my eyes traveled to the out-of-place black backpack Hinano is carrying.

"Hinano?"

"Y-Yes, Adam?"

I point at the backpack behind her.

"What's in the bag?"  I asked, curious of its contents.

"A-Ah! I swear this isn't anything suspicious!"  Hinano said while waving her hands in front of her.

'Well, now I can't help but be a little suspicious..' 

*staarrrreee*

"I-It's my camera gear!"  Hinano confessed, unable to take any more of my staring.

"Camera gear? What for?"  I slightly tilted my head.

"I.. I thought maybe we could take pictures together.. If you're fine with it that is..."  Hinano shrinked mid-sentence.

'That's it?'  

"Sure, I don't mind. But isn't a camera overkill?"

To that, Hinano gave a weak nod.

"It is.. I'm just really passionate about photography, so I couldn't help but bring it for this date..."  her voice low, like a child caught doing something bad.

'.. Passionate, huh..'

"Alright. You can use your camera to take pictures of our date. Letting you preserve the moments forever."

"Y-Yeah! That's the magic of photography!"  Hinano brightened at my words.

"For the first picture.. Hm.. Could you take a photo of us together right here? With the standing clock behind us."  I said while pointing my thumb at the tall white standing clock surrounded by benches. Hinano nodded eagerly in response. "Great idea! I'll set my camera up in just a moment!"  Hinano began setting up her camera to capture our first memory together.

"Could you make it so it takes a second shot after a 3 second delay?"  I asked as Hinano fixed her camera on its stand.

"Huh? Sure, I can. But why?"  Hinano asked back. Confused about the specific request.

To that, I simply smiled. 

"You'll see~"  my tone playful. 

Hinano stared absently at Andy for a few seconds after that.

'This already makes up for all my horrible rental boyfriend experiences...'  Hinano thought to herself, a slight blush on her cheeks.

[5..]

As the camera began counting down to its first shutter, Hinano rushed to stand by my side.

'Too far..'  Hinano kept her distance from me, even though this is a date, albeit a paid one.

Not wanting the photo to turn out like this,  I quickly link arms with Hinano.

"Eep!"  Hinano shuddered from the sudden contact. Standing straight and stiff like a soldier.

"Say cheese~"  I said with a cheeky smile and a peace sign with my free hand.

"C-C-Cheese!"  Hinano said with a goofy smile.

*click!*

The camera took the first picture of our date.

"S-So why did you tell me to set a second shot?"  Hinano turned to me and asked. Cheeks still a little red.

[3...]

The camera began counting down once more.

"Oh, I wanted to do this again."  I quickly reach behind Hinano's head and cover her eyes the exact same way as earlier.

[2...]

"T-This is!"  Hinano's cheeks reddened again.

[1...]

"Mhm~"  I flash a mischievous smile at the camera.

*click!*

And captured the second memory of our date.

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