Chapter 13 Blowing Off Steam

No one's POV

With the summer break over, Nhazul is about to start his second year in collage and currently he was registering for his classes for the semester, when he received an email.

Nhazul: Hmm?

Opening the email, Nhazul would see it's for an upcoming event. An event he hasn't seen in awhile, surprising him.

Nhazul: Huh? They're having it here this year?

(Timeskip)

It's the next day and after getting off of work, Nhazul meets with Chizuru and they go to a cafe bar, getting seated inside.

Waitress: Are you ready to order?

Nhazul: Yeah, medium iced coffee, please.

Chizuru: I'll have what he's having.

As the waitress takes their order, Chizuru would look towards Nhazul, making him roll his eyes.

Nhazul: ...-_-... I'm assuming you want me to pay, right?

Chizuru: No...

Hearing this, Nhazul raised an eyebrow.

Nhazul: No?

Chizuru: Yeah. This one is on the house.

Hearing this, Nhazul looked at Chizuru, now more suspicious.

Nhazul: Since when do you have dates that are on the house?

Chizuru: Would you like me to charge you?

Nhazul looked at Chizuru's expression and could easily tell she wanted to say something smart, however she didn't, still in "Girlfriend mode".

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... Ah, Girlfriend mode...

Chizuru: While we're here, there are some concerns I wanted to speak to you about.

Nhazul: Concerns?

Chizuru: Mami... She wants me to stop seeing you.

Hearing her name, Nhazul just thought back to the conversation she had with Chizuru awhile back.

(Flashback)

Mami: Drop this fake couple business right now.

Chizuru: What?

Mami: I mean, the people at college seriously believe it's real. I can't watch it go on. And I feel sorry for Nhazi. As long as he has a rental girlfriend, he'll never find a genuine one. Also, Nhazi isn't the type of person to just spend money to pretend he has a girlfriend. Girls were all over him in high school, so there has to be more to the story, but I just don't know what, but honestly I really don't care. This "loveless relationship" of yours... Your fake ass smoke...

Mami looked at Chizuru irritated.

Mami: It really, really pisses me off...

(Present)

Chizuru: If she were to see us here like this, who knows what she'd think?

Nhazul: You say it as if I'd care what she thinks. But I see where you're coming from. It wasn't much of an issue before since you were going to quit anyway.

Chizuru: There's also Ruka as well.

Nhazul: What about her?

Chizuru: She did understand and accepts us meeting.

Nhazul: ...-_-... "Accept " is a strong word...

Chizuru: That's exactly my point. She barely accepts it and meeting up too often runs the risk of upsetting her. As someone who helped you hook up, I'd like to avoid that.

Nhazul: ...-_-... "Help"...? That's another strong you're using...

Without warning, Chizuru stepped on Nhazul's foot, all while keeping the same expression.

Nhazul: Owww! Will you stop doing that?!

(Timeskip)

After leaving the cafe, Nhazul and Chizuru would leave and started walking down the sidewalk together, before Chizuru looked back at Nhazul with a smile, still in "Girlfriend Mode".

Nhazul: ...-_-....This is getting old... At this point...

Chizuru: Huh?

Nhazul: I'm far past a "normal" client for you. So can you drop "Girlfriend Mode"?

Chizuru: I can't. I told you, this is acting practice for me. It'd be pointless if I wasn't like your ideal girl.

Nhazul: Well, you should know that I don't really have an ideal girlfriend. Especially one pretending to be.

Upon hearing this, Chizuru would look at Nhazul, realizing he was right.

Chizuru: I guess that's right I suppose. Since this is on the house, I suppose we can cut it short.

Chizuru would then look down at her phone, looking at the time.

Chizuru: It's still pretty early, but there shouldn't be many people there.

Hearing this, Nhazul would raise a brow in confusion.

Nhazul: What are you talking about?

Chizuru: Since I'm off work now, are you free?

Again, Nhazul would raise a brow, from the request to essentially hang out outside of being in her "Girlfriend Mode".

Nhazul: This is out of left field for you, but sure.

Chizuru: Good. Now follow me.

Chizuru said, leading Nhazul to where she wanted to go and that place was a Batting Center, much to his surprise. After paying to get in and going inside, Chizuru was the first to start,

hitting some balls, causing Nhazul to whistle impressed while leaning on his bat.

Nhazul: Color me impressed. Wouldn't take you as someone who enjoyed this type of thing.

Chizuru: I come here often when I'm in a bad mood. But when I come alone, I attract attention.

Hearing this, Nhazul just looked at Chizuru annoyed.

Nhazul: ...-_-.. So essentially you're using me as "Guy Repellent"...

Chizuru: More or less.

Nhazul: ...-_-... At least you're honest about it...

Nhazul said, getting in position and hit his first ball.

Nhazul: So.

Chizuru: So?

Nhazul: Given what you just told me, I'm assuming you're still in a bad mood from the Play, right?

Chizuru: ...

As the next ball came towards, she didn't attempt to swing, causing her to get a strike.

Nhazul: I take that as a yes.

Chizuru: Yeah... I am. So I want to blow this steam off, and move forward.

Chizuru said, hitting her next ball dead on, causing Nhazul to speak up.

Nhazul: Well, that's good. Sulking over it isn't going to change the outcome. But on another note, you sure you're fine with this?

Nhazul said, hitting his ball.

Chizuru: Huh? Fine with what?

Nhazul: Us being here together. Despite using me as repellent, this a pretty far cry from what you told me last year.

(Flashback)

Chizuru: Don't you dare tell anyone! You don't know me at all! And there's nothing between us!

(Present)

Hearing this, Chizuru looked away with a small blush before speaking up.

Chizuru: Well, it's like you said. You're far past a "normal" client for me. Besides, it's not like you're some weirdo or anything right? I just figured it was a bit late to keep fussing over it. It isn't like you chose to move next door to me. It be mean to treat you like some kind nuisance. We should be equals.

Chizuru looked towards Nhazul with a smile, surprising him, before he would chuckle.

Nhazul: Wow, took you a whole year to come up that conclusion.

Nhazul said, hitting his next ball, annoying Chizuru.

Chizuru: Definitely need to work on your attitude.

Nhazul: Wow, look at the pot calling the kettle black.

Chizuru looked at Nhazul even more annoyed, before hitting her ball, resulting in hitting the marker to signal a Homerun, surprising her.

Chizuru: Yay! A Homerun!

Nhazul: Oh? Nice.

Chizuru: Did you see that?!

Nhazul: Yeah. Nice job.

Chizuru then raises her hand for a high five, surprising Nhazul, but after a moment he would just chuckle and does the same,

as she high fives him, a smile on her face.

Chizuru: You know, you're also a far cry from last year as well.

Nhazul: Huh?

Chizuru: Would the you from last year willingly be here with me?

Upon hearing this, Nhazul's eyes widened in realization. It's as his animosity towards her and women now as a whole is almost essentially nonexistent.

Nhazul: ...

Chizuru: Hey.

Being brought out of his thoughts, Nhazul looks towards Chizuru who still had a smile her face.

Chizuru: There's somewhere else I'd like to go.

Nhazul: Hmm?

(Timeskip)

After leaving the Batting Center, Chizuru takes Nhazul to the hospital, explaining that her grandma wanted to see him and she couldn't talk her down. She didn't want them to stay for too long, so she was killing time at the batting center until there are like 15 minutes of visiting hours left.

Nhazul's thoughts: She wants to see me? Why?

Once the two would enter, Sayuri would smile happily, greeting them, mainly Nhazul.

Sayuri: Oh, welcome, Nhazul!

Nhazul: Yeah, it's nice to see you.

Sayuri: Come, take a seat. Have you had dinner yet?

Nhazul: Oh, not yet. I plan to once we leave here.

Sayuri: I'm sorry, I only have some bread and Riceballs to offer you.

Nhazul: It's quite alright, ma'am.

Sayuri said, pulling Nhazul over, as Chizuru just rolled her eyes.

Nhazul's thoughts: VIP treatment like always.

Sayuri: Would you like something to drink? You must be thirsty.

Nhazul: No, I'm fine.

Nhazul's thoughts: I forgot she's always like this. But I'm glad she's doing fine.

Chizuru: Jeez, Grandma. You haven't replaced the water in the vase. I reminded you too.

Nhazul and Sayuri looked over to see Chizuru picking up a vase of flowers.

Sayuri: Oh, dear. Say, Nhazul.

Nhazul: Hmm?

Sayuri: How's college treating you?

Sayuri asked , clinging to Nhazul's arm.

Nhazul: Oh, uh, it's been good.

Sayuri: Good for you for taking it seriously. Attaboy.

Nhazul: Thanks.

Chizuru seeing this, soon began to get annoyed.

Chizuru: Hey, Grandma. Quit hanging all over my boyfriend...

Hearing this, Nhazul looked at her confused.

Nhazul's thoughts: Huh? I couldn't tell if that was "Girlfriend Mode" or not... Is she actually annoyed?

Sayuri: What's the problem? I love my young men.

Chizuru just rolled her eyes and left to Chang the water in the vase. However, the moment Chizuru leaves, Sayuri tells Nhazul that she wants a favor from him.

Nhazul's thoughts: A Favor?

Sayuri states she heard that he went to see Chizuru's play. As she couldn't make it, she wonders how was the play. Nhazul starts explaining how amazing she was. Sayuri wonders if he told her that and Nhazul confirms. Nhazul believes Chizuru is quite strong and truly has what it takes to make it as a actor. Sayuri laughs that Chizuru is strong and states that she has always been a needy girl. When older kids were making her cry, she would crawl in Sayuri's bed, saying she felt all alone, surprising him.

Nhazul's thoughts: Her...? Needy...? A needy girl...?

Sayuri believes that Nhazul is much stronger. No one is perfect and we make mistakes, but learn how weak we are, but we keep standing up and pursuit happiness again. Sayuri states that since Nhazul can admit that others are amazing and admires them, it shows that he has a big heart. She goes on to state Chizuru is awkward in recognizing and accepting her weakness, so she covers herself in armor of ice, to display strength.

(Flashback)

Chizuru: There's no one alive who doesn't get lonely. Just a lot of people good at hiding it. They all fill the void in their heart with work, significant others, or in your case, being a complete ass hole.

(Present)

Nhazul: ...

Sayuri goes on and says one day, she will need someone who sees her for who she is. Sayuri then begs Nhazul that he is that for Chizuru. Seeing Sayuri beg Nhazul, along with her hands trembling, Nhazul would soon close his eyes and answered.

Nhazul: I'll try my best.

Seeing Nhazul's eyes and how honest they looked, Sayuri would soon smile happily.

Sayuri: I'm satisfied hearing that.

(Timeskip)

After leaving the hospital, Chizuru and Nhazul head home. Chizuru wonders what they talked about, but Nhazul states it was nothing special. Once returning to their apartment, they said their goodbyes and Nhazul would go inside and lay down on his bed, thinking about everything.

Nhazul's thoughts: It's still a lot your head around... Chizuru a needy girl. Usually she's the one offering help, instead of receiving it.

Nhazul then thinks back to his conversation with Sayuri and sighed and wonders if he could really be that kinda support for her. A moment later, the doorbell rings confusing Nhazul.

Nhazul's thoughts: Who the hell could that be this late?

As Nhazul got up and opens, he sees Chizuru blushing, confusing him.

Nhazul: Yes?

Chizuru: ...

Nhazul: ...

Chizuru: ...

Nhazul: ...-_-... Are you just going to stand there and not say anything...?

Chizuru again didn't say anything, still blushing and looking away embarrassed.

Chizuru: Key...

Nhazul: Key?

Chizuru: I lost my Key...

Upon hearing this, Nhazul would just give her a look.

Nhazul: ...-_-...Huh...?