I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Ten-Tenkuuji-kun!?"

Chapter 50 A Date with Mizuhara Chizuru

They looked at each other, and Mizuhara Chizuru seemed to have a lot to ask but didn't know where to begin.

Tenkuji Yu put the hat on the table and took the initiative to start a conversation: "I didn't cause you any trouble yesterday, did I? I smelled like barbecue and I was so close to you, and you didn't show any disgust at all."

After a long silence, Mizuhara Chizuru brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said with a wry smile:

"I'm sorry, I was focused on acting at the time and didn't pay attention to the smell at all."

"That's good." Yuu Tenkuji picked up the menu, glanced at it a few times, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Chizuru Mizuhara. "What would you like to drink? It's on me."

"Ah, thank you." Mizuhara Chizuru nodded, somewhat flattered, her long eyelashes drooping as she glanced at him casually.

Like a cat cautiously raising its body slightly when facing an unknown creature, her movements were no longer as open and cheerful as before, but rather a little awkward.

"Mizuhara-san, you're in charge of deciding today's date itinerary, is that alright?" Seeing Mizuhara Chizuru's expression, he didn't waste any more time and got straight to the point.

In order to find out how "rent-a-lovers" choose their dates and what they do during those dates, Tenkuji Yu invited Mizuhara Chizuru over—because he had never been in a relationship before and couldn't find someone to date in a short period of time.

The only option is to pay for tutoring.

“No problem, I’ve listed a few itineraries. Take a look and see which one you prefer.” At this point, Mizuhara Chizuru’s attitude instantly became professional, and she took out a small notebook and pushed it to Tenkuji Yu.

"However, with only four hours in the afternoon, including travel time, there aren't many places to go... so it's best to stay in the vicinity and try not to take a bus too far."

After saying that, she raised her hand and beckoned to the waiter.

"A cold brew, please..." He hesitated for a moment, then changed his mind, "No, a hot coffee will do."

Holding the menu, Mizuhara Chizuru turned to look at the sky and asked, "Tenkuji-kun, what would you like to drink?"

"Iced latte, please."

As he answered casually, Yuu Tenkuji looked down at the pages of his notebook. The date itinerary, written in neat handwriting, made him realize something with each page.

Truly a professional...

Because I didn't know what his interests were, I made careful arrangements for visiting attractions, exhibitions, aquariums, amusement parks, and even video game arcades around Chiba City. I even provided several highly-rated restaurants online for afternoon tea and added notes (all of the above are for reference, mainly to go to places my boyfriend wants to go).

She spent the entire morning preparing for the four-hour date, trying her best to consider the customer's needs—that's the professionalism of renting a lover.

In contrast, he was merely being dragged along by the rich woman; he didn't even consider her feelings, let alone show any mercy, unlike Sai who would simply pin her to the ground and beat her up...

Well, even though he wasn't a professional to begin with, Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't be treated like a regular customer.

That twisted guy, it was probably just a fluke that he ended up facing him, right? And now that Yukinoshita Haruno sees him as her 'boyfriend,' her attitude might change, so he has to change accordingly.

"Studying"—Tenkuji Yu's mind raced as he memorized and analyzed the contents of his notebook.

While he was focused, Mizuhara Chizuru sized up the boy in front of her, who was also her date and temporary boyfriend for the day.

She wore casual clothes in a similar style to yesterday, had regular features and fair skin, and although her eyes were somewhat sharp, her temperament was very easygoing and calm, making her seem approachable.

The average person's first impression of him is that he's quite handsome, but the moment he steps onto the 'stage,' his presence becomes so strong that it's as if he's a completely different person.

Thinking of this, Mizuhara Chizuru suddenly exclaimed, "Tenkuji-kun, Morikawa-san said that the scene we performed yesterday might not be broadcast. Did you know about this?"

"I only found out now... Oh, what a pity." Putting down her notebook, Sora sighed as she waited to see him make a fool of himself, while Tenkuji Yu looked completely indifferent.

"You acted very well back then. If a discerning producer had seen you, they probably wouldn't have missed out on such a promising talent."

"Haha, it sounds sarcastic coming from you..."

With a helpless sigh, Mizuhara Chizuru roused herself and asked cautiously yet unable to suppress her curiosity:

"Although it's a bit rude to ask... Tenkuji-kun, your acting is so amazing, are you from some big theater company? Shiki? Takarazuka?"

"It's not that exaggerated. I'm just an ordinary person with some talent."

Tenkuuji Yu clapped his hands, looking at her with amusement: "Alright, let's leave the matter of 'Ichinose Chizuru' here. I invited 'Mizuhara Chizuru' to a date with me, 130 yen per minute."

Mizuhara Chizuru snapped out of her daze and quickly bowed her head in apology:

"I'm so sorry, I was just too concerned and accidentally... well, cough cough!"

Clearing her throat, Mizuhara Chizuru's expression suddenly changed. She tilted her small head slightly, smiled sweetly, and spoke to him in an equally adorable voice:

"Should I call you Souji-kun or Yu-kun now?"

"Is this what it means to be in girlfriend mode?" Tenkuji Yu looked at her curiously.

"Tendou Souji is just a username I came up with randomly. Just call me by my real name."

“Okay, then it’s Yu-kun!” She nodded and smiled happily, then stretched out her hands, her eyes and gestures full of implications.

"Then, could I trouble you?"

"of course."

Tenkuji Yu took out 39,000 yen from his wallet and placed it in her hand.

The hourly rate is 32,000, the name selection fee is 5,000, and the transportation fee is 2,000—adding up to nearly 40,000, it's that expensive.

If it weren't for the system's generosity and his serious attitude towards tasks, he would never have bothered with this den of iniquity.

Wouldn't it be better to spend that money on your younger sister? Spending 40,000 yen on a rented girlfriend would only result in holding hands at most. If it were Sora...

Cough cough, maybe I can play FF14 with her in the same bed?

"Thank you~" Mizuhara Chizuru smiled as she put away the money, continuing to speak in her perfect sales voice, cheerful and cute.

"Then please take care of me today, Yu-kun!"

"...If the two of you are alone, you can use your usual routine, that's fine."

After thinking for a moment, Yuu Tenkuji said, "Knowing that you are 'Chizuru Ichinose' makes this appearance even more incongruous to me."

"Uh... if you don't mind, then let's leave it at that."

It felt so awkward because the customer was someone I knew...

Muttering to herself, Mizuhara Chizuru abandoned the business mode, interlaced her fingers, stretched them forward, and relaxed.

"To be honest, when I found out that you were the customer this time, I was a little worried that you might have targeted me and were deliberately trying to get close to me in this way~"

He was speechless: "Hey, that stalker was just acting."

"I know, but who told you to act so well? It still gives me chills when I think about it now."

She chuckled a few times, then showed him the goosebumps on her fair forearm before casually putting it back under the table.

The movements were indeed much more comfortable and relaxed than before.

"Well, we agreed not to talk about yesterday!"

"Yu-kun, you should be quite popular, and you don't seem to lack a girlfriend. Why do you want to rent a girlfriend?"

She paused, then added seriously, afraid he might misunderstand, "I just wanted to talk to you. If you don't want to talk, we can go on a date now."

The waiter approached and placed a hot coffee and a latte on the table.

Tenkuuji Yu took a sip of his latte and said slowly:

"I suppose I could also be considered a rented boyfriend."

"Rent a boyfriend...wait, what?!"

Chizuru Mizuhara's mouth gaped open, her expression as astonished as Gin's when he saw Vodka pull out his FBI badge.

"You're saying you're renting a boyfriend? My colleague? Here to rent a girlfriend?!"

"That's it."

Yuu Tenkuji nodded, sipping his latte and enjoying her incredulous expression.

After a while.

"what……"

She pressed her fingers to her brow, slowly exhaled, and calmed herself down, but the way she looked at him became very strange.

"May I ask... what is the purpose of this?"

"I just want to know how real 'rent-a-love' couples actually date their targets."

Tenkuji Yu smiled modestly at her:

"I'm still a newbie, and I hope my seniors can give me a lot of guidance."

"...You're a customer, so I'm hardly a senior."

Rubbing her cheeks to smooth out her slightly stiff expression of surprise, Mizuhara Chizuru couldn't help but sigh:

"Someone with such amazing acting skills is actually doing rent-a-boyfriend work, and even paying to rent someone else just to learn how to date..."

She paused, then suddenly felt something was off: "Wait a minute, you have perfect acting skills and good looks, why don't you just become an actress? Wasn't yesterday a great opportunity...? Even if it's just for money, isn't it easier to make money this way?"

Seeing Mizuhara Chizuru's puzzled expression, Tenkuji Yu smiled faintly:

Everyone has their own ambitions.

—Mainly, even working in the entertainment industry is probably not as easy as working in the system.

Moreover, compared to money, skills, special conditions, and physical fitness, anyone who isn't excessively greedy knows which are more important.

"……Yeah."

She pursed her lips and stared at him, as if watching someone wearing the clothes she had always dreamed of, yet carelessly doodling on them.

After taking a few deep breaths, she finally withdrew her envious and complicated gaze and revealed a gentle and cheerful smile.

"Well, I'm sorry for asking you so many questions."

"As compensation, let me, as your girlfriend, give you an unforgettable date!"

Chapter 51 I'm Faster Than You—No, I'm Faster Than You

"This shopping mall was recently completed and seems to be designed as a semi-theme park."

After getting off the private bus, Mizuhara Chizuru led him to a shopping plaza called "Mitsui".

The holiday crowds were predictable, with Western-style houses arranged in a grid pattern, crisscrossing the road paved with light orange tiles.