He left the hospital with Chizuru Mizuhara.
They casually found a coffee shop with a quiet atmosphere.
“Hello, I'm glad to see you again. ” Kazuya Kinoshita glanced at the menu and handed it to Chizuru Mizuhara: “Also, do you want me to call you Chizuru Mizuhara, or Ms. Chizuru Ichinose?”
Kazuya wouldn't be like his former self, blinded by beauty. He truly wasn't interested in making a move on Chizuru Mizuhara. Although he didn't know why Ichinose's grandmother was also matchmaking them, they didn't need to put in any effort on the aspect of family approval. However, they could be friends, but not lovers.
“Whatever Mr. Kinoshita prefers. But it’s best to call me Chizuru Mizuhara.” Chizuru Mizuhara casually glanced at the menu, then continued to stare at Kazuya Kinoshita's expression.
“A cappuccino.”
“Same for me.” Kazuya didn't know what to choose, so he followed suit with Chizuru Mizuhara.
“Then that’s it. Ms. Chizuru Mizuhara, do you have anything you want to say to me?” Kazuya Kinoshita checked the time on his phone while pondering what to eat for lunch.
Kazuya: ‘I remember that the shop where the fairy girl was is nearby. She looked like a high school student. I wonder if she's working today.’
“First, I want to ask Mr. Kazuya Kinoshita to keep my renting a rental girlfriend a secret from my grandmother.” Chizuru Mizuhara had never encountered a man who remained indifferent, or rather, uninterested, even when she dressed normally.
“Okay. Don't worry, Ms. Chizuru Mizuhara, I'm not someone who leaks secrets.” Kazuya Kinoshita had already guessed Chizuru Mizuhara's purpose, so he answered without much enthusiasm.
It made one wonder if he was just saying it casually, raising doubts about his credibility.
“Thank you, Mr. Kinoshita.” Chizuru Mizuhara seemed sincere as she thanked him: “Also, even though it's a coincidence, I still hope that we don't interfere with each other at school. It's best if we act like strangers.”
Understanding that her request was a bit rude, Chizuru Mizuhara looked embarrassed, but for the sake of what she wanted to do, she still had to plead.
Chizuru Mizuhara seemed like a serious person, and it wasn't an excessive request.
“Okay.”
“Thanks.” Upon hearing Kazuya Kinoshita's answer, Chizuru Mizuhara's expression, which she had been using to mask her awkwardness from making an unreasonable request, finally relaxed.
“It's nothing. And this request isn't excessive either. Since both of our grandmothers hope we get along well, it's okay if we become friends. In any case, even though we first met as renter and rented girlfriend, we can still get along well afterward.”
After finishing their coffee, they arrived at the store's entrance.
“It's already noon. Ms. Chizuru Mizuhara, do you want to go eat together? There's a restaurant nearby where you can see the fairy employee.” Kazuya Kinoshita casually invited.
“Fairy employee? Ha…” Chizuru Mizuhara was a little surprised, wondering if they had entered different life games.
…
“Why didn't I see the fairy employee you mentioned?” Chizuru Mizuhara sat in the same hamburger steak specialty store Kazuya went to last time.
She remembered its slogan was “Fairy’s Shop,” which had made Kazuya almost believe the white-haired maid was a fairy from the forest when he first saw her.
“It looks like the fairy girl isn't working today. But even though we can't see the fairy girl, this place's hamburger steak is still pretty good.” Kazuya scanned the store but didn't see the maid fairy.
“I want a beef hamburger steak, what about you? Ms. Chizuru Mizuhara.” Kazuya directly made his choice first.
“Curry vegetarian hamburger steak, please.” Chizuru Mizuhara's order seemed a bit unwilling.
“If you don't want it, you can switch to something else.” Kazuya cared about her.
“No need, I'm managing my figure.” Chizuru Mizuhara glared at Kazuya with cat-like eyes, as if she was saying, “Clearly, I've made up my mind. Why are you saying such hurtful things in front of me? Don't I know how delicious big chunks of meat are?”
After the server brought the food.
“I'm starting to eat.” *2
Kazuya Kinoshita and Chizuru Mizuhara didn't seem to have much to talk about.
Soon, they finished their lunch.
“Hello, guests, the total is… yen.” Kazuya Kinoshita wanted to pay together.
“Please, we'll pay separately.” Chizuru Mizuhara requested the server.
“No need, this time, consider it a treat from me.” When a guy eats with a lady, it seems normal to pay the bill.
“No, last time was a date, but not this time. It's best to go Dutch.” As Chizuru Mizuhara spoke, she opened her wallet.
Kazuya Kinoshita recalled that it seemed quite popular in Japan to go Dutch. He stopped insisting.
After leaving the hamburger steak shop, it was already noon.
“Kazuya Kinoshita-kun, goodbye.” Chizuru Mizuhara put her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and her voice was gentle and soft.
Kazuya Kinoshita was expressionless, his heart unmoved.
Seeing Chizuru Mizuhara in this state, he would think of the perfect girlfriend's posture, think that she was a rental girlfriend.
“Goodbye.”
After waving goodbye to Chizuru Mizuhara, Kazuya Kinoshita walked onto the street.
It was broad daylight, and it was the weekend. He didn't want to stay in his dorm, but he didn't know where to go either.
As Kazuya Kinoshita walked, he discovered a library.
It was noon, and the library was eerily quiet.
After all, in this era of restless hearts, fewer and fewer people could calm down and read physical books.
Walking into the library, Kazuya Kinoshita found that the lending desk was empty. However, he soon saw a white-haired, short-haired high school student writing something at a desk.
Kazuya Kinoshita now began to believe in fate. He hadn't seen the white-haired fairy girl when he actively searched for her, but he encountered her by chance in a library he randomly entered.
Kazuya sat opposite the fairy girl, observing her carefully for the first time.
Today, she wasn't wearing glasses, naturally revealing her pair of dreamlike gem-like eyes, as if they were used to unlock the sealed door to heaven. She exuded an atmosphere with the fragrance of a garden of flowers, and the bright sunlight shone on her like a light angel.
Because Kazuya Kinoshita's previous action was so natural, the fairy girl opposite him didn't seem to have noticed him yet.
Seeing the fairy girl relax after finishing a sheet of paper, Kazuya seized the opportunity to speak: “Hello, fairy shop employee, nice to meet you again.”
“Eh!” Suddenly spoken to, the fairy girl was startled: “It’s the previous customer. Hello.”
Then, neither of them knew what to say. They were just an ordinary employee and customer who had met once, so it wasn't appropriate to say anything.
For a moment, a peculiar silence flowed.
“Are you writing a novel? Fairy girl.” Kazuya’s eyes focused on the fairy shop employee's freshly written work.
The fairy girl’s face turned red, and she replied shyly, “Yes, but I haven't published it yet. It’s just for my own amusement.”
With her slender figure like that of a forest fairy, she had an unimaginably shy smile like a fountain of light, illuminating the entire library: “Also, my name is Fūka Kikuchi. You can just call me by my name.”
“My name is Kazuya Kinoshita. Nice to meet you.” Kazuya smiled playfully.