Rental No More - Chizuru Ichinose [Mizuhara] X Reader (Kanojo, Okarishimasu)

Episode 4: The Ordinary Introduction Of The One Nicknamed "SaRu"

A Couple Of Months Ago

"Oh, you must be Ruka."

Ruka: "Yeah, that's me!"

The journey to reach the goal of a special girl like Ruka Sarashina had become a predictable one. She would be chosen on the rental girlfriend website, she would go to the meeting point, spend the day with the lonely soul that had chosen her, and just go home.

There was no flair to it, nothing that could possibly help her with what she was looking for. There were zero cases where true love was found through a rental girlfriend service, as far as she's aware.

But maybe today would be different for Ruka, or maybe not. Either way, it didn't hurt to try.

Y/N: "So... a girlfriend huh? You're really... I mean you're... sorry, I haven't really done this before."

You could've done your research...

She could already tell it would be another one of those days for her, so she just nervously smiled, hoping that something would make it better.

Y/N: "I'm being weird, sorry. Actually, there was this place that I've been meaning to go to. An arcade that's right... there."

When Ruka looked at the place she realized it was the Game Station. She had been meaning to go there forever, but due to her school and rental girlfriend services, which she would eventually quit, she never had any time. Maybe this arcade would make the date a bit better.

Ruka: "Let's go then!"

It wasn't the miraculous place that she thought it would be, but Ruka had a lot of fun regardless. You and Ruka spent almost all day playing together and sometimes conversing, but overall you two had such a great time together that when it finally came time for the date to end, Ruka was taken by surprise.

You weren't exactly the person that Ruka was looking for, but you definitely had the potential to become a great friend.

There was the typical hand-holding in the end, the goodbyes, and with all of that, Ruka thought she wouldn't see you again, like any other customer before you.

Or at least that's what she thought.

Y/N: "Hey..."

Next week, right on the same day, you chose to go on a date with Ruka again.

Ruka: "It's Y/N!"

Y/N: "I'm sorry, I just... really liked you. There was something about last time that caught my attention, and I just can't describe it but I really wanted to go out with you again."

You smiled, which threw her off a bit, and then it was happening again. Her heart started beating faster, although it wasn't that big of a change it was still something, and that was better than nothing.

You seemed like an innocent and honest person in her eyes, and in that moment it was like Ruka had finally realized that maybe that's what she needed.

Or maybe she was a bit too desperate, but then again, something was a lot better than nothing.

Y/N: That was... weird. Let's just go now."

Ruka: "S-Sure, let's go!"

A date with the same person that just made her heart beat faster should have been one to really help her come close to obtaining what she had been working so hard to get, but nothing special happened.

In the end, Ruka held your hand and stopped you from walking, staring at you with a serious expression. You couldn't take the short girl seriously when Ruka looked extremely cute when serious, and that was most likely not her intention.

Ruka: "Wait! Are you gonna choose me next week as well?"

Y/N: "I mean... yeah, I was planning on doing that since I got nothing else to do and I kinda like going out with you."

Ruka: "T-Then why don't we just get each other's phone numbers? That way, you don't have to pay extra if you wanna go out, which is better for you."

Y/N: "Yeah, I guess you're right. Wait, aren't you like, not supposed to share your personal info?"

Ruka: "Just trust me on this one!"

After you had obtained Ruka's phone number and she got yours, she left, and it did take a couple of seconds for you to realize you actually managed to get a girl's number. It was an exciting moment, and you thought it could only get better from there.

You didn't call her to go out next week.

There was something that was stopping you, but you weren't exactly sure what it was.
Maybe it was your inexperience that led to not calling someone like Ruka, but the good thing was that you two did text each other from time to time.

Ruka thought you were scared of actually taking the initiative to ask her out, but it's not like she was going to do it, since she wasn't very confident either.

What now?

Ruka <You wanna just be friends?

Yeah that would be nice> Y/N

And so, that's how your strange relationship with Ruka Sarashina started. It was a very confusing start, sure, but at least you had obtained a 'friend' thanks to this experience.

And right now, that's exactly what you needed.

Today

The ringing phone surprised the young girl, and she could have hung up so she could go back to eating and enjoying what was left of her lunch break, but after seeing the name displayed on the screen, she answered so quickly she almost dropped the device

"Hi, sorry for calling out of the blue like that."

Ruka: "N-No, it's okay Y/N! I'm surprised you would call me, are you okay?"

Y/N: "Yeah... I need your help solving a problem... it's about this girl I might have blackmailed."

Ruka: "Wait, what do you mean you might have!?"

By answering that phone call, Ruka Sarashina had set forth a chain of events that will either help her finally get what she's been looking for or give her absolutely nothing at all.

Great...

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