I Really Don’t Want a Girlfriend Anymore

"This shopping center was just built. It's like a mini amusement park."

Stepping off the shuttle bus, Chizuru led Yuu to a shopping center called "Mitsui."

The holiday crowd was as expected. Western-style buildings lined up like a chessboard, crisscrossing along bright orange-tiled streets.

The scorching midday sun turned the distant Ferris wheel into a mirage. Occasionally, mist from the rooftops cooled visitors, and every time they passed an open shop door, the blast of air conditioning felt like salvation, making people linger.

"Though it mostly sells boutique items, there's also an electronic gaming area like SEGA and virtual reality attractions… Boys like this kind of thing, right?"

After explaining based on the notes she'd prepared, Chizuru sighed, tugging at her thin shirt collar, wiping sweat from her smooth chin.

She shaded her face with one hand, looked up at the sky, and exclaimed with slight relief: "Honestly, thank goodness you didn't choose mountain climbing or a historical site tour. In this weather, that'd cause heatstroke… Thanks, Yuu-kun."

Chizuru turned and giggled, giving off girlfriend vibes.

Yuu glanced at her, adjusted his hat's brim, and suddenly said: "Wait a sec."

"Huh?"

Before she could react, Chizuru saw him jog to a nearby convenience store. Moments later, he returned with an unopened folding umbrella.

"A hat that only shades a bit costs two or three times more than an umbrella…" Grumbling casually, Yuu handed it to her.

"It's just a cheap one I grabbed, but it should be enough to block the sun."

Yuu flicked the brim of Chizuru's hat, smiling casually: "Even with sunscreen, direct sunlight's still uncomfortable, right?"

"Oh… thank you."

Chizuru, slightly surprised, took the umbrella and gave him an odd look.

Yuu asked, puzzled: "What's up?"

"Nothing, just… you're really thoughtful."

"This much?" Yuu frowned, confused. "My sister hates sunlight. When we went out, if she didn't wear a hat, I'd hold an umbrella for her… I thought this was normal."

"It's not normal, how do I explain it…" While pondering how to phrase it, Chizuru opened the umbrella.

"Girls are really touched by unconscious kindness like this. If you're always like this with clients, you don't need to ask me anything."

"Unconscious kindness, huh…" Yuu rubbed his chin, nodding thoughtfully. "I just didn't want a pretty girl like Mizuhara-san to get dizzy from the sun, so I grabbed an umbrella from the nearest store… Even though it's cheap, Mizuhara-san would be touched by it?"

"Uh… yeah, something like that."

Her face suddenly flushed. Chizuru abruptly grabbed Yuu's hand, standing beside him so the umbrella's shade covered them both.

"Come on, let's share it." She tilted her head and smiled, like wind chimes tinkling in summer.

"I'm wearing a hat…"

She stood on her tiptoes, snatched Yuu's hat, and hid it behind her back.

Then, leaning forward slightly, her crescent-shaped eyes gazed at him, smiling flirtatiously.

"See, now it's gone~"

"…"

Yuu froze, then rubbed his chin, nodding thoughtfully.

"So, in love, the one who takes the initiative wins… Is love a war?"

Chizuru looked confused: "What kind of epiphany is that…"

"If that's the case…" Ignoring her complaint, Yuu suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her closer unintentionally, and took the umbrella.

"Kyaa—" Her squeal caught in her throat as Yuu's gentle voice interrupted.

"I'm taller, so I'll hold the umbrella. You just walk comfortably."

Lowering his head, Yuu looked at her with a meaningful smile: "And don't stand too far, or you'll get hit by the sun."

"…"

Is this acting?

Chizuru pursed her lips, forcing a smile to thank him, but her heart felt complicated.

(Weird, he's the one paying to date me…

(In this situation, is he looking for a rental boyfriend or an actor for roleplay?)

(The money's spent, why can't he just enjoy the girlfriend service?)

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Chizuru wasn't the No. 1 rental girlfriend for nothing.

Her black hair was soft and beautiful, shimmering under the sun like elegant tassels, tied into small crescent-shaped braids on the side, giving off a cute, girlish vibe.

Fair skin, tall and slender; full chest, slim waist.

Add her long, straight, toned legs under a short skirt—her physique wasn't perfect, but it matched the general standard of beauty.

Not only was her appearance stunning, but her aura was calm and elegant, occasionally showing the lively cheerfulness of a young girl, as if fulfilling every man's fantasy of the word "girlfriend." Walking down the street, she was a magnet for attention.

Comments like "She's so pretty," "Is she a model?" and "Her boyfriend must be so happy" were common.

For the guy beside her, it was both painful and blissful—fearing a mob's jealous beating, yet immensely satisfying to his pride.

Thus, even without perfect acting, Yuu would never lose to her!

"Look quick, that plushie is so cute~ Yuu-kun, wait a sec, I'll try once!"

"Alright, I'll exchange some coins. Check how to grab it first."

"No need, I've got some! Watch me!"

The girl flashed a spoiled, happy smile.

The boy showed a doting, resigned smile.

Like an affectionate couple, they locked eyes, then quietly shifted their gazes to the claw machine.

The girl tried two or three times without success, then leaned down to inspect the machine from left to right, her face scrunching in frustration.

"It's so hard… Yuu-kun, wanna try?"

"Sure."

"If you get it, I'll give you a reward~"

"Got it."

"So fast?! …Ahem, no big deal."

The girl hugged the seal plushie, hesitated for two or three seconds, then stood on her tiptoes, pressing the seal's head against the boy's face.

"Here's your reward!"

Her small face flushed slightly, giggling mischievously yet shyly.

The boy gently patted the seal's head, his smile bright, saying to the girl word by word:

"Thanks, I'm really happy!"

"…" The girl's brows twitched twice, her lips curling into an equally happy smile.

A male passerby witnessing the couple's interaction felt his initial jealousy fade, as if cleansed by something. He paused, rubbed his chest, and sighed.

"This is true love… We, the FFF Group, don't burn true love."

He waved, and a large group of black-robed people with bright red "F"s on their heads, holding crosses and torches, followed him out of the arcade.

Then, security guards quickly chased them, tackled them to the ground, tied them up, and dragged them away.

"Our holy war… will never end!" the man roared, as if crying blood.

"Hm?"

Chizuru turned, confused, frowning as she asked Yuu:

"Did you hear something?"

"No, what's up?"

"Hm, nothing." She shook her head, spotting a vending machine nearby. Her eyes lit up, she said, "Wait a sec!" and jogged over.

Soon, Chizuru returned with a sports drink, proudly handing it to him.

"Here! Thirsty, right? This time, I was faster."

Yuu, slightly surprised, smiled and took it.

"Thanks, I was thirsty."

The next second, he pulled an identical sports drink from his sling bag.

"But I'm still faster."

Chizuru: "…"

A flurry of question marks popped up in her head.

"Mizuhara-san, even in this heat, you switched from a cold brew to a hot coffee at Starbucks… Why's that?"

As if Conan's background music played beside him, his eyes narrowed sharply, lips curling casually. Yuu shook the room-temperature sports drink in his hand, explaining calmly:

"Plus, you were clearly thirsty too but only bought a drink for me at the vending machine, not even grabbing a can of cold water for yourself—that's the decisive evidence."

"From all this, I'm almost certain—Mizuhara-san, you're not feeling well today and can't drink cold things, right?"

"So, when I bought the umbrella, I also grabbed a can of sports drink and kept it in my bag, waiting until I was sure you needed it."

Yuu smiled, gently slipping the room-temperature sports drink into her hand.

"As a boyfriend, does this pass?"

"…"

Chizuru fell silent.

She looked at the slightly smug Yuu, then at the sports drink in her hand. Her lips twitched, but in the end, she couldn't force a smile.

Like a loser in a war, she crouched down in surrender, covering her face, letting out a muffled sigh.

"This is the first time I've felt a date was so exhausting… You win."

After just a year in the business, Chizuru only now realized.

Nowadays, some people pay to compete with a rental girlfriend…