Visiting My Girlfriend's Rental House

Night had already fallen when I returned home.

My body felt heavy.

My head is even worse.

As soon as I entered, I saw my mother in the living room with the two maids.

"Hello, my son," Ayane said, with that calm smile that always seemed to see more than she showed.

"How was the outing?" my mother asked.

"It was great. I'm even exhausted," I replied automatically.

(Exhausted from the confusion.) — I thought.

"I'm going to take a shower and rest in my room," I said.

Takemura called . Masashi wants you in the next play, which premieres in a month. — Ayane commented before I left.

"I understand," I said.

She stared at me for a moment longer than usual.

"I hope nothing interferes with your performance. Do we understand each other?" she said.

My stomach gave me a knot.

"We are," I replied.

I went upstairs quickly and headed straight for the shower.

The hot water trickled down my shoulders as images from the day flashed back into my mind.

the beach,

Kanzaki 's gaze ,

Sakura 's calculated smile ,

The emptiness when it's all over.

(I thought Izu was going to fix something… but it only got worse.) — I realized, worried.

I got out of the shower with a towel around my waist and went to the bedroom.

I opened the door.

— …?!

Himari was sitting on my bed.

instinctively closed the door and whispered:

"What are you doing here?!" I asked.

"Cleaning your room," she replied, too casually.

" I know, you want me to tell you everything that happened on the beach on the Izu Peninsula in Shimoda . I'll tell you," I said, understanding the real reason she was in my room.

I sighed.

I sat on the bed and started from the beginning.

I told them about Kanzaki ,

about Sakura ,​

about the feeling of being watched all the time,

about how everything seemed about to fall apart.

Himari listened without interrupting.

"This could turn into a huge snowball," she said at the end.

"But it's good that you're going to sort everything out this weekend," she continued.

— Yes. I won't need to rent Kurokawa anymore . — I nodded .

She blinked.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I have it. I'll sort things out with Sakura . That way, everything will be over," I said , overconfidently.

Himari did not smile.

But he didn't contest it either.

Shortly after, my father arrived.

We had dinner.

Each one went to their room.

I lay down on the bed.

(That day was far too long.) — I thought.

The next morning, I woke up to my cell phone vibrating.

A message on LINE.

— … Kenta ? — I murmured .

I opened it.

Kenta :

Hey, Riku !

super cool girl named Reina Akabane and we're dating 😁

I had a thought: how about we schedule a couples' get-together?

Me with my Akabane and you with your Kurokawa . What do you think?

My heart stopped.

(No… this can't be happening.) — I thought.

I stared at the screen for several seconds.

Yesterday, I was sure of it.

Absolutely certain.

I thought the beach had been the final act.

The last time.

The end of the contract.

But, apparently…

No he would be .

The cell phone was still in my hand.

Kenta 's message remained there, as if it were staring at me.

I sighed deeply.

(Running away won't help.) — I thought bravely.

I typed the answer.

Riku :

All good.

Kurokawa and I are going on the couples' outing.

I sent.

At that same instant, I felt as if I were sinking a little deeper.

I went down to the dining room.

Himari was there, as always, organizing a few things.

— Himari — I called her.

"Huh?" she replied, turning her face away.

— Kenta texted me. He met a girl… Reina Akabane . And he wants to set up a double date. I… agreed. — I told her.

Himari raised an eyebrow.

"And you really think this is going to be simple?" she asked.

"I don't think so. But I can't refuse without raising suspicion," I replied .

She remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he sighed.

"Since you're going to continue getting involved with Kanzaki ... I think it's time you learned a few things," he said . Himari .

I looked at her.

"What things?" I asked, confused.

Himari leaned lightly on the table.

— Her family. — he replied. Himari .

— …?

"Mio has a little sister. Her name is Aoi . A very cheerful, curious little girl... and very attached to her sister," she continued .

My chest tightened a little.

"And your mother?" I asked.

Himari 's smile disappeared.

"Her mother's name is Yukari . She's ill, Riku ," he replied . Himari with a sad expression.

"Sick... what do you mean?" I asked, worried.

"It's a serious bone disease," he explained.

"It's degenerative. She takes strong medication and even has difficulty walking," Himari finished explaining.

I remained silent.

" Kanzaki works as a rental girlfriend because of that. To support the household. To pay for medicine. To keep her sister from going hungry," Himari continued.

I felt a lump forming in my throat.

(So that's it…) — I thought, looking downcast.

While I was complaining about my own mess, she was carrying all of that alone.

"She never complained. She never used that as an excuse. She just did what she needed to do," Himari added.

I clenched my fists.

(All along… she was helping me.) — I thought.

" Himari ... do you have her home address?" I said quietly.

She looked at me in surprise.

— Why ? — he asked Himari .

"I'll go there tonight," I replied .

— Riku … — she was preparing to give me a lecture.

— Not as a customer. Not as a famous actor. Just as me. — I said firmly.

Himari remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he picked up his cell phone.

"I'll give you the address. But think carefully about what you're going to do," he said . Himari .

"I've already thought about it," I replied.

She sent me the message.

Meisei University .

The classes went by in a blur.

My mind was elsewhere.

( Kanzaki … how many times have I complicated her life without even realizing it?) — I thought worriedly.

At night.

18:25.

I was standing in front of a simple house.

Small.

Discreet.

Nothing like my world.

I looked at the number again.

(It's here.) — I thought when I saw the message.

I took a deep breath.

And I knocked on the door.

A few seconds later…

The door opened.

— …?

Kanzaki Mio appeared.

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me there.

" Riku ...?" she said.

(There's no going back now.) — I realized.

We stared at each other for a few seconds.

The silence between us was strange. Heavy.

" Himari gave you my address, didn't she?" Mio asked bluntly.

"It's over," I replied.

She sighed, as if she had been expecting it.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"First, go inside," I said, pointing inside.

"It's kind of rude to leave a visitor outside, you know?" she said ironically.

"Stop this nonsense," she said angrily.

"I'm serious about that... your little sister would love to meet me in person," I continued .

Her eyes wavered for a moment.

Mio looked away and sighed again.

"I'll let you in," he said finally.

"I promised her I'd introduce you to her in person someday," she continued.

The door opened completely.

I went in.

The house was small. Simple. Everything was very organized, but clearly cramped.

(This is the house where she lives…) — I realized when I looked.

— Aoi — Mio called out loudly.

"We have a very special visitor here," she said.

Hurried footsteps came from the hallway.

A little girl came running up… and froze in place.

— And this is Aoyama. Riku ?! — he shouted To my surprise.

He smiled instinctively.

"It's me. In flesh and blood," I said, somewhat awkwardly.

— Hehehe . — I laughed.

"Wow! So you two are friends?!" Her eyes sparkled.

Mio and I looked at each other.

(Damn... how do I explain this?) — I thought.

" Y-yes . We're friends. And we studied together at the same university," I replied .

— Seriously?! That's magnificent! — Aoi seemed even more excited.

Before I could say anything else, I heard slow footsteps.

A woman appeared, leaning on crutches.

I can't believe it... it's really Aoyama. "Riku at my house?" she said , surprised.

"It's me. It's a pleasure to meet you," I replied , bowing slightly.

"What a polite young man... I'm Yukari , Mio's mother." She smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Yukari ," I said.

Mio cleared his throat.

"There you go, Aoi . I've fulfilled your request. Now Riku needs to go," she said.

"Hey! Are you kicking him out?" Aoi pouted.

"That's not it," I hastened to say.

"I just didn't tell my parents I was coming. But I can come back other times if you want," I continued.

I looked at Aoi .

"What do you think?" I asked .

She broke into a huge smile.

"I loved that idea!" she replied happily.

Yukari nodded, satisfied.

"You'll always be welcome," Yukari said.

We said goodbye.

When I left, Mio accompanied me outside.

The door closed behind us.

"Thank you for your attitude today," she said softly.

"I should have done this sooner," I said.

There was a brief silence.

" Kanzaki ... Kenta has found a girl. He wants to go on a couples' date," I began .

She already seemed to know what was coming next.

"And she asked you to bring Kurokawa ," she said.

"Yes, I wanted to know if I could... rent you one more time," I confirmed .

Mio sighed.

"I don't mind. As long as you pay on time," he said .

I nodded quickly.

"Also... I want you to come visit Aoi for me. At least two Sundays a month," she continued.

I was surprised.

— Me... of course. It will be a pleasure. — I replied.

She stared at me for a few seconds.

We said goodbye.

As I walked back home, something wouldn't leave my mind.

I thought I was being helped all this time…

But maybe…

…as if I were the one receiving far more than I deserved.