Chapter 16 Presents

No one's POV

3 Days later...

Currently, Nhazul was gathering up all his garbage and was preparing to take it out, when he encounters Chizuru who is doing the same, surprising her.

Chizuru: That startled me. Don't throw the door open while I'm walking by.

Nhazul: ...-_-... How was I supposed to know you were walking past?

Chizuru: ...

Not saying anything else, Chizuru would take her garbage and start walking down the stairs, causing Nhazul to raise a brow in confusion.

Nhazul's thoughts: What's with the distance attitude?

Taking his garbage and following her to the disposal area, Nhazul would be the first to speak up.

Nhazul: Leo has been asking me to take him down to Tokyo Dome City next week. He wanted you to tag along, will you be free?

Chizuru: Oh?

Nhazul's thoughts: Okay, something's definitely off with her.

Chizuru: What about Ruka?

Nhazul: What about her?

Chizuru: I mean, didn't she stay over the other night?

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... Of course she heard her... Or did she see her leave?

Nhazul: Yeah. She wouldn't take no for an answer when she wanted to cook for me. By the time she was about to leave, that typhoon had hit and the trains stopped running, so I had to let her stay the night.

Chizuru wouldn't say anything for a moment, before rubbing her arm and looking away.

Chizuru: So... It means the two of you... Right?

Immediately seeing where she was going, Nhazul just looked at her annoyed.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Wrong. Nothing happened.

After looking at him for a few moments, Chizuru would again speak up.

Chizuru: Lies.

Nhazul: I'm sorry?

Chizuru: It's fine... You don't have to lie to me...

Nhazul hearing this just looked at Chizuru dumbfounded.

Nhazul: Huh?

Chizuru: Sorry if I made things awkward, but you don't have to walk on eggshells. I do have an understanding of what boys are like.

As Chizuru began to walk away, Nhazul continued to look at her confused.

Chizuru: Ruka is cute and it was my idea for you to date her, so I don't blame you.

Nhazul: ...-_-... But nothing happened...

Chizuru wouldn't respond to him, continuing to walk away, leaving Nhazul.

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... Why the hell is she acting like a jealous EX...? Even if that did happen, why would she even care...?

Elsewhere, with Chizuru, she was sitting on her bed practicing for an upcoming performance she had gained, however couldn't focus as she keeps thinking of Ruka leaving Nhazul's apartment.

(Flashback)

Ruka: Bye bye! Thanks for having me over!

Nhazul: Yeah.. Just be careful on your way home.

Ruka: Right!

(Present)

Chizuru: ...

Elsewhere, back with Nhazul after taking out his garbage and returning to his apartment, he was currently laying down on his bed, scrolling through social media when he received another notification for the upcoming event had gotten an email for awhile back.

Nhazul: Now they're sending me texts about it? Do they still have my number from all the way back then?

While looking at the notification, Nhazul soon gained another one, this being a text from Sumi.

Nhazul: Sumi? I haven't heard from her in awhile.

Opening the text, Nhazul saw that Sumi was asking him if he was free on the 19th so she could practice more of breaking out of her shell.

Nhazul's thoughts: Eh, I'm not busy, so who not doing anything today.

Upon replying to her text, not 20 seconds later did Sumi answer back, saying how excited she was to see him again and to meet up at the spot they met for their rental date, surprising Nhazul by how much she texts.

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... Wow, she's a lot more talkative over text...

(Timeskip)

It's now the 19th of April and currently Nhazul was leaning against a wall waiting for Sumi, when soon heard someone walk up to him, seeing it was her, as she smiled and waved at him.

Nhazul's thoughts: Wow, walking straight up and not hiding? Definitely a far cry from the first time we met.

Nhazul: Shall we get going?

Sumi would just nod as the two would start walking down the sidewalk together, before stopping at a crosswalk. As they waited for the light, Sumi looked at Nhazul and thought back to when she last saw him, walking home form Chizuru's play and saw him and Chizuru speaking and what he said to her.

(Flashback)

Nhazul: Are you done?

Chizuru: Huh?

Nhazul: This pity party. Are you done?

Hearing this, Chizuru looked at Nhazul annoyed.

Chizuru: Pity party?!

Nhazul: That's right. I understand not getting chosen sucks and it's alright to be upset about it. But beating yourself up about it, belittling yourself and your dream won't make it come true. A lack of talent? The way you can switch between girlfriend mode and your normal, blunt and annoying personalities at the snap of your fingers isn't something someone without talent could do. Your performance today was amazing and everyone in that audience agreed. I saw them, all eyes were on you and you alone. The best actor on that stage.

Upon hearing this, Chizuru's eyes widened hearing Nhazul's words, tearing up a bit, before he continued speaking.

Nhazul: So you best pick yourself up, get over it and keep moving forward towards your dream. Don't stand here and tell me you're going to give up over a setback.

(Present)

Sumi: ...

Both Nhazul and Sumi end up going to the mall, however they had found a Photo Booth that Sumi wanted to use, with the two taking pictures together. Afterwards they stopped for lunch before going to clothing store, with Nhazul watching her pick out different clothes. As he did, Nhazul would think back to his practice date with her.

Nhazul's thoughts: She still isn't really talkative in person, but definitely an improvement then before. Seems like she's really enjoying herself.

Being brought out from his thoughts, he noticed Sumi had walked over to him holding a jacket.

Nhazul: Hmm?

Sumi would nervously outstretch the jacket towards Nhazul, surprising him.

Nhazul: You want me to try it on?

Sumi would nod her head, as Nhazul tries it on for her.

Nhazul: How does it look?

Sumi: Co...

Nhazul: Hmm?

Sumi: You... look cool...

Sumi said blushing a bit. Hearing this, Nhazul would just chuckle and take off the jacket.

Nhazul: I've been meaning to look for another jacket and it's on sale. So I guess I'll buy it.

Hearing this, Sumi would smile happily hearing Nhazul sat he'd buy the jacket. However suddenly, Nhazul would feel his phone vibrate, looking at the notification and saw it was from the rental app, letting him know Chizuru's birthday was today.

Nhazul: Her birthday's today?

Sumi: Huh?

Nhazul: Did you know Chizuru's birthday was today?

Sumi confirms and nods that she knew. Looking back at his phone, Nhazul pondered if he should get her something, knowing she really doesn't have many friends or relatives to celebrate with.

Nhazul: I guess I should get her something. Any suggestions on anything she'd like?

Sumi wouldn't say anything and would get all gloomy, causing Nhazul to just sigh.

Nhazul: Its fine if you don't have any suggestions...

Quickly rebounding, Sumi recalls and types on her phone that Chizuru loves the Three Kingdoms, causing Nhazul to raise a brow.

Nhazul: Three Kingdoms? That's not very "birthday present like", don't you think?

Hearing this, makes Sumi tear up, causing Nhazul to sigh again.

Nhazul: Thanks, that was very helpful.

Hearing this, Sumi would look away from Nhazul, giving him the "thousand yard stare".

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... There's that thousand year stare again...

Sumi then gets an idea and takes Nhazul to a department store. Nhazul is confused, but Sumi decides to take him to the roof. He wonders where she is taking him, but can't decipher what Sumi is saying. At the roof, there is a kid hero event show about Rent-A-Fighters, a ragtag team of heroes. Nhazul can't connect what this has to do with the present, but seeing Sumi enjoy it, he wonders if she likes stuff like this and had forgotten about the present. As Sumi likes it, Nhazul decides to watch as well and ends up impressed by the Pink hero.

As the Pink hero starts talking, Nhazul recognizes the voice of Chizuru. He realizes that Chizuru is taking more jobs and not just the rental girlfriend, in order to fulfil her dream. To this, Nhazul would just chuckle.

Nhazul's thoughts: I swear... Just how hard on herself is this girl...?

Nhazul would look towards Sumi and give her a small smile.

Nhazul: Thanks, Sumi. I think I have an idea what to get her now.

To this, Sumi would just smile, texting something out to him, telling him that presents are about the sentiment and if he puts his heart into it, she will be happy with anything he gives her. Seeing this, Nhazul just chuckled.

Nhazul: It's not like I'm her boyfriend or anything. I'm not trying to impress her, but you're right. Thanks.

After the show, Nhazul walked Sumi to the train station and about to leave, however Sumi follows him and stops him, however, as she didn't think this through, she stands embarrassed and silent, confusing Nhazul.

Sumi: W-Wait...

Nhazul: Sumi? What is it?

Sumi: ...

Nhazul: Is everything alri-

Sumi: I wanna know, too...

Nhazul: Know?

Sumi: Like... Your birthday, Nhazul...

Nhazul: My birthday? It's June 1st. Why?

Hearing this information makes Sumi smile

and then leaves, waving goodbye to Nhazul as he did the same.

Nhazul: Alright then...

(Timeskip)

Heading home, Chizuru receives a call from her grandmother , who congratulate her on her birthday. Going home, Chizuru feels tired and has no plans for dinner as she has no appetite and takes a shower. After that, she replies to some happy birthdays message from acting friends and goes to her balcony.

There she notices a bag with happy birthday message. She finds a note and reads its from Nhazul, who wanted to thank her for helping him out. He knows she works hard as an actress and brought her something that alleviate fatigue.

She finds a box inside and is surprised to see a box of different kinds of dark chocolate, along with different flavors of tea. Looking at the gifts, Chizuru gained a small blush and smile, as she takes a piece of chocolate.

Her mood changes, stating the chocolate is bitter and decides to cook some rice for dinner.