Tokyo: Becoming the Perfect Male God Starting with a Rented Boyfriend

……

Accompanied by soothing classical music, Miyazawa Itsuki and Asahina Naomi sat down in a corner of the café.

This was the location chosen by Miyazawa Itsuki, who had frequented it many times as a rented boyfriend.

"The pancakes here are delicious, and they're made with calorie-free sugar, so you don't have to worry too much about gaining weight even if you eat them. Naomi can try them without worry."

Miyazawa Itsuki handed her the menu.

"Um……"

Asahina casually ordered waffles and coffee, looking distracted, as if she was still struggling to find the right words.

Miyazawa Itsuki didn't rush them. Only after their coffee and snacks had been served and he was sure no one would disturb them did he slowly speak:

"So, what is it that Naomi wants to tell me? Can you tell me?"

Naomi Asahina hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice:

"Miyazawa-kun, do you have any very close friends?"

"Huh?" Miyazawa Itsuki hadn't expected her first words to be like this.

"It's friendship, a friendship you want to maintain for a lifetime, a friendship you don't want to waver," Naomi quickly added.

The phrase "to live a lifetime" is too heavy a burden.

However, if it's just a hope for a stable and long-lasting relationship.

"It happened before... I think."

Miyazawa Itsuki pondered for a second.

"It seems Miyazawa-kun understands me." Asahina Omi felt relieved.

She paused for a moment to think it over: "...It all started because I have a very important friend."

"My friend introduced me to a friend of a friend. We formed a group and often did things together."

Miyazawa Itsuki listened quietly.

"There is a boy in the group who is very outstanding. Most importantly, he takes good care of everyone, so he is implicitly the core of the group."

"That boy is very popular at school and often receives confessions of love. But he rejects them all." Naomi gave a wry smile. "He told us it's because he already has someone he likes."

"I initially thought that the person he liked was my best friend. After all, they've known each other for a long time. In other words, they have a so-called 'childhood sweetheart' relationship."

Miyazawa Itsuki paused slightly as he tapped the coffee cup with his fingertips.

"...and my best friend also had feelings for him."

After saying this, Asahina fell into a brief silence.

"Ah... I think I understand now." Miyazawa Itsuki said carefully, "It turns out that Naomi discovered that the boy's crush wasn't your friend, but someone else."

"In a worse scenario, the target is Naomi."

Naomi Asahina gave a helpless smile, which could be considered an admission.

Miyazawa Itsuki pressed his brow with a melancholy expression.

What a classic love triangle.

He loves her, she loves him, and she cares about her.

"May I ask a question?"

"Of course, since I was the one who asked Miyazawa-kun to listen to my troubles first."

"Does Naomi have feelings for that boy?"

Naomi Asahina shook her head decisively without giving it much thought.

"no."

It seems the arrow broke off at Naomi's point.

Miyazawa Itsuki took a sip of coffee and concluded:

"So, Naomi couldn't reciprocate the boy's feelings, and she didn't want to cause a breakup in the group because of a relationship issue, so she thought of finding a rental boyfriend."

"I hope to use the fact that I have a boyfriend to make that guy back down."

"All correct." Naomi smiled. "It's really easy talking to the clever Miyazawa-kun."

"But Naomi said before that you weren't originally planning to tell me about this."

"Because this plan was come up on the spur of the moment," Naomi said somewhat embarrassedly. "Thinking about it later, having a stranger pretend to be your boyfriend just to reject someone you know seems a bit too frivolous."

Miyazawa looked at her but didn't say anything.

The girl looked displeased: "Don't let my appearance fool you, I've never actually been in a relationship before."

"She's never been in a relationship, so why would she need to offer this kind of service? Naomi doesn't seem like the type who can't find a boyfriend."

Naomi Asahina said confidently:

"That's because... I've already paid the money, and 'renting a boyfriend' sounds pretty interesting, doesn't it? Since I've already paid the deposit, I might as well go for it and have some fun. I'll never have this experience again in my life."

She gathered the toy gift box in her arms and said with a smile, "And it was good that I kept my appointment, so I was able to meet Miyazawa-kun."

No, you just want to find a limited edition magic wand.

"So, the problem now is that Naomi wants to restart this plan," Miyazawa Itsuki said, "which is to have me play the role of her boyfriend and make her give up on the idea."

"Yes!"

"...No need to be so imposing."

Naomi Asahina feigned ignorance.

Miyazawa Itsuki: "Do I need to ask one more question... Did that boy confess?"

"Not yet." Asahina hesitated for a moment. "The new semester starts after spring break. I was thinking that if we were separated into different classes, the problems might resolve themselves, but on the class assignment list, we're all in the same class..."

With the new semester starting and classes being divided, it seems Naomi and he are actually the same age.

Miyazawa Itsuki suddenly remembered that he would also be facing a new class. The class assignment list had been posted before spring break, but he was too busy with his part-time job to check it.

But it doesn't matter anyway, I don't know any friends at school, so it's the same wherever I go.

"...And, that boy's birthday is coming up soon. I have a feeling he might confess around that time. So, I hope Miyazawa-kun can come and help me on his birthday."

Naomi looked at him with pitiful eyes.

"What is the date of your birthday?"

"Next Thursday."

Miyazawa Itsuki frowned almost imperceptibly.

Thursday.

During his school years, he usually had other part-time jobs and did not work as a boyfriend rental agent.

"In principle, I only take orders on weekends..."

"Please, Miyazawa-kun!" Asahina hugged his hand tightly. "Please be lenient. Just come over for a little while after school, and I'll pay double!"

He had to admit that the offer of paying double did tempt him for a second.

Unfortunately, the firm has rules against negotiating prices privately.

"Let's waive the double fee," Miyazawa Itsuki considered for a moment. "I can try to free up some time, if it's not too long."

"Thank you so much! I knew Miyazawa-kun was a good person!"

Naomi Asahina was almost moved to tears.

……

The two discussed some details about playing boyfriend, then finished their coffee and snacks and left the cafe, thus ending their date.

Miyazawa Itsuki saw Naomi off at the station, and only after seeing the message from Naomi on LINE confirming that she had arrived home safely did he officially turn off his work phone.

He boarded the tram for the return trip, calling up the control panel as he did so.