The job I use to survive. (POV Mio)

Meisei University is one of the best universities in Japan.

Top 3 in Tokyo, according to all the rankings they like to repeat in their brochures.

I study there.

My name is Kanzaki Mio, I am 21 years old and I am studying Fashion Design on a scholarship.

My dream is simple, at least in theory.

I want to be a model.

But simple dreams often require complicated sacrifices.

At home, it's just the three of us.

My mother, Yukari , my nine-year-old little sister, Aoi , and I.

My mother was a fashion designer.

Good. Talented.

Until three years ago, when she was diagnosed with a serious disease that slowly erodes the bones.

She takes medication every day.

Smile even when it hurts.

He never complains.

That's too kind for someone who carries so much weight.

Aoi is the opposite of that .

She is noisy, curious, and too observant for her age.

She loves movies, plays, anime, manga …

And he looks at me like I'm a hero.

Perhaps that's what hurts me the most.

At university, I have two friends.

Takahashi Rina and Kawahara Emi .

We talked about fashion, jobs, difficult teachers, dreams that seem too big for our budget.

With them, I'm just Kanzaki Mio.

But that doesn't pay the bills.

That's why, two years ago, I signed up with the Golden agency.

Girlfriend for hire.

It wasn't easy to accept that at first.

But I needed the money.

And I needed to improve my acting, something I learned from a woman named Nakahara Nagomi .

She appeared in my life like a stranger at the market.

A woman with too many shopping bags and too much pride to ask for help.

Then she became a teacher.

Then he became too important to simply disappear.

When I signed up for Golden, I used a different name.

Kurokawa Mio.

A fake last name.

A life apart.

I didn't want my family to find out.

Not even my friends.

Not even anyone from Meisei .

And ironically, I was good at it.

Five stars.

Rank Gold 5.

To this day.

Today was Sunday.

And today, Riku Aoyama rented me.

Famous.

Beautiful.

Too polite for someone in the arts.

At first, I only saw a strange customer.

Nervous.

Desperate.

He was talking about a dinner.

From controlling parents.

From an arranged relationship.

I accepted it for the money.

And because he insisted.

But I made it clear, we studied at the same university.

No contact outside of the contract.

No confusion whatsoever.

No reporters.

He accepted.

That night, I went to his house.

Too big.

Too luxurious.

A world I had visited before... but one that would never be mine.

Smile.

I pretended.

I answered everything correctly.

And, strangely enough, it worked.

His mother was watching me.

His father was testing me.

But nobody found out.

Nagomi 's name .

The weather changed instantly.

Only then did I realize that she meant much more than I had imagined.

After that, the house felt heavy.

And then Midorikawa Sakura arrived.

Too kind.

Too beautiful.

Too attentive.

She looked at me as if she were sizing me up.

I knew nothing about her past with Riku .

But I knew something the instant she said she was going to study at Meisei University .

My secret was in danger.

That's why I left.

He said everything was fine.

Lie.

Yukino​ Himari , one of the housemaids, insisted on accompanying me home.

I refused.

She insisted even more.

And I ended up accepting.

Now, we were walking together down the street lit by the lampposts.

The silence was comfortable… until it wasn't anymore.

Himari turned her face towards me suddenly.

"So…" she said, too casually.

"What's it like working as a rental girlfriend?" she asked me with a smile on her face.

My body went cold.

(Does she know?) — I thought doubtfully.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Even so, I forced a smile and tried to sound normal.

— Yukino-chan … What are you talking about? — I asked .

Himari smiled.

Not a malicious smile.

A smile that was too calm for someone who already knew the answer.

"There's no need to try to hide it," she said.

" Riku told me everything. He even asked me to help you if I noticed you were tense at the Aoyama house ," she continued.

(So that was it... that's why she helped me with dinner.) — I thought, finally understanding her question.

I took a deep breath.

— I understand… — I said.

"Thank you so much for your help with dinner," I said .

"No need to thank me. It's an honor to be able to help Riku ," he replied . Himari , excited.

I looked at her for a second longer than usual.

"What was it?" he asked. Himari .

— Nothing — I replied quickly.

"Let's go straight to my house," I concluded.

— Okay. — he said Himari .

We continued walking.

We went down to the station, took the train, and walked a little further after getting off.

Aoyama 's house to mine, it took about ten minutes.

When we stopped, I looked at the simple facade in front of us.

My house.

Small.

Old.

But... mine.

"We've arrived," I said.

"Then this is it," said Himari .

— Well, I'm going now. — he continued . Himari .

Before she could take another step, I grabbed the sleeve of her shirt.

— Hey… — she began.

When he raised his face, he realized.

I was blushing.

"Could you... come in with me? That way I can make up an excuse for my mom and not worry her . I can say you're my friend from university who brought me here," I asked .

Himari blinked a few times.

— I understand. I'll help you. — he replied .

I let go of the sleeve and breathed a sigh of relief.

I opened the door.

I went in first.

Then, Himari .

I turned on the living room light.

At that very moment…

Piii !

"Where were you that you took so long?!" shouted a high-pitched, lively voice.

I turned around.

It was Aoi .

Dressed up as a police officer.

Crooked cap.

Whistle in the mouth.

An excessively serious demeanor.

"If you don't answer my questions, I'll arrest you next weekend!" she continued .

Himari immediately started clapping.

— Great performance!

— Aoi … — I sighed.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

She looked me up and down.

"Hey, sister…" she said, curiously.

"Who is that girl in the maid's uniform? I have a feeling I've seen her before..." Aoi asked.

My body froze for a moment.

Before I could answer, I heard slow footsteps.

The metallic sound of something hitting the ground.

When I turned around, I saw my mother emerging from the hallway.

Walking slowly.

Leaning on crutches.

— Mio…? — she called Yukari , with a soft voice.

"You're late today," my mother said.

My chest tightened.