Chapter 26 One's Feelings

No one's POV

Currently, within her apartment, Mini had came over to help Chizuru with choosing items for rewards. Chizuru had gathered some old accessories, t-shirts and books. Mini likes them, but states its not enough. They need more unique items as she will be making each of them into an own tier. Mini shows a hair tie she found in her bathroom, noting that since it touched her skin it will be priceless.

After gathering more accessories, Mini proceeds with Chizuru's closet and is impressed by her clothes. Looking inside, Mini finds a Chinese dress. Chizuru feels embarrassed and states a friend gave it as a joke present and wants it back, but Mini wants to use it as an reward, stating it will be quite a premium item. Mini agrees to leave it, if Chizuru plans on wearing it, which causes Chizuru to give up. Mini then sees some pink dot drawers and realizes its her panties drawer. She attempts to open them, but Chizuru stops her. After fighting for a bit, Mini gives up. After collecting about 50 items, Mini states they need to clean them up and take pictures.

However, Mini would ask Chizuru if she has a boyfriend, but Chizuru denies it. Mini then wonders what Nhazul is doing and Chizuru guesses that he is talking with them crowdfunding manager as Mini told him to. Mini suggest Nhazul as a boyfriend for Chizuru, noting that he is doing everything for her and is kinda fate that they end up living next to each other.

Chizuru states that Nhazul is a nice person. At first he was annoying, spiteful and rude, however spending time with him, she learned he acted that way and in reality despite the facade he puts up, he's very kind, thoughtful and honest. She is grateful for his help, but he is only doing it for her the actress, and not as romantic thing. Mini then goes on to state that Nhazul likes her and loves her as a woman, surprising her and catching her off guard.

However, Chizuru doesn't believe it, but Mini tells her that she shouldn't expect him to tell her the truth. Chizuru still doesn't believe it, since she thinks Nhazul isn't that stupid to fall for a rental girlfriend. Mini states that humans aren't that simple and since Chizuru is so beautiful anyone who goes out on a date with her, will wish that she is his real girlfriend.

After getting the items, Mini prepares to leave stating she will create tier reward levels for each one of them. She still tells Chizuru that Nhazul loves her as doing all this for her as an actress and her grandmother, isn't enough of a motivation. Mini also believe that a true love can start from something fake, before taking a picture of her and running back to her apartment.

Mini: That's a violation of image rights!

Chizuru: Hey, wait.. Sheesh...

Nhazul: What was that about?

Hearing his voice, Chizuru would look back to see Nhazul walking up the stairs, before she looked away.

Nhazul: I asked Shimizu to put us on the recommended page, however he was still a bit skeptical.

Chizuru: Oh.

Chizuru said as she  coldly closes the door, causing Nhazul to raise a brow.

Nhazul: Alrighty then...

(Timeskip)

The next day, as Nhazul prepares to go to class,  he closed his door and looked back at Chizuru's door, thinking back to last night.

Nhazul: Hmm.

Mini: Master!

Looking over, Nhazul would see Mini walking out her apartment happily.

Mini: Top of the morning to you!

Nhazul: Oh, morning.

Mini: What's wrong, Master? You seem down.

Nhazul: Not really. More the lines of curious. Why she's giving me the cold shoulder out of nowhere.

Looking back over to her, Nhazul notices Mini acting suspicious, making him sigh annoyed.

Nhazul: ...-_-... What did you do...?

Upon leaving the apartment complex, Mini then reveals that she told Chizuru that he loves her, believing the two would start dating. Upon hearing this, Nhazul simply pinched the bridge of his nose, very irritated.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Why...? Why are you like this...? Why the hell would you tell her that?!

Mini: I apologize! I had no idea this would happen!

Nhazul: The hell did you think was going to happen?!

Mini: I got emotional and didn't think through! I was just hoping you two would get together!

Nhazul: When have I ever said I was in love with her?!

Mini: I mean, you're a virgin, so...

Nhazul: Stop saying that...!

Mini: I have no excuse...

Nhazul would just sigh again, face palming himself.

Nhazul: I swear... You are such a pain in the ass... Now I have to try and fix this...

Mini: I mean... She shut the conversation down, saying you'd never fall for a Rental. So I couldn't tell if I got through to her.

Nhazul would just sigh again.

Nhazul's thoughts: I don't know how seriously she took it, but that would explain her attitude last night.

Suddenly, Nhazul receives a message from Chizuru, stating that she wants to talk with him tonight along with Mini, surprising him.

Nhazul: Huh?

Mini: She's not mad at you! Good for you!

Nhazul just looked at Mini annoyed, before she just looked down nervously.

Mini: I'll be quiet now...

Nhazul's thoughts: What does she want to talk about?

(Timeskip)

That night, Chizuru reveals that she asked her friend Umi to promote the project and that he had 230,000 followers.

Mini: 230,000 followers?!

Chizuru: Yeah. Apparently, Umi is famous on social media.

Looking at his profile and a post, Nhazul and Mini saw he had over 1k replies for a simple "good morning" tweet and saw a vast majority of the comments are from women attempting to get his attention.

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-.... The amount of pick me girls in this comment section is absurd... But I guess we can use that in our favor.

Nhazul would then look over towards Chizuru, seeing she wasn't anger anymore.

Nhazul's thoughts: At least she doesn't have the attitude anymore. Guess she disregarded what Mini said.

Nhazul continued to look at her and feels there is something with her and asks her. Chizuru states its personal and doesn't want to share it, but he insists. Chizuru then explains that the last day of the project is July 28th and Umi had invited her to go see a play that day.

Chizuru: He was planning to take his girlfriend, however she can't make it. It's a popular troupe, so getting tickets is hard. And we can learn a thing or two about acting from them. But we decided we'd all hand out flyers that day. So I very much want to turn him down, of course, but it would be awkward after asking him to retweet our campaign. I just said I'd think about it.

Hearing this, Nhazul would quickly pick up on what Umi's intentions are.

Nhazul: Ah. So this is exchange for the retweet, huh?

Chizuru: Huh? Don't be stupid. Like I said, he has a girlfriend.

Nhazul's thoughts: It's not like I don't believe a guy and girl can be just be friends, but that's clearly not this. If that were the case, he wouldn't have asked her in exchange for the tweet and just done it. But it's not like I really care, I can just that's what's most likely going to happen.

Nhazul: If that's the case, you should go.

Hearing this surprised Chizuru.

Chizuru: You really think so?

Nhazul: It's like you said, turning him down after asking him to retweet our campaign would be awkward. It's not like we can't handle handing out flyers without. The four of us can handle it.

Chizuru: I see... Well, it'll only be a few hours. I  can come help afterwards.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Then why even bring this up...?

Chizuru just looked at Nhazul annoyed.

Chizuru: Because I thought you should know.

As the two continue to look at each other, Mini would just smile at the two.

Mini's thought: Ah, young love. It's so great.

(Timeskip)

On the last day of the project, Chizuru meets with Umi and they head to see the play, meanwhile, Nhazul , Mini and Ruka get ready to hand out flyers, with Ruka very happy.

Ruka: Okay, yeah. It's for the best that she went. One look at guys, good example being that creepy guy with brown hair at your college show that boys and lust go hand and hand. Even the most pleasant hot guys are sure to have ulterior motives.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Why do I feel like I'm insulted...

Ruka would quickly hug Nhazul happily.

Ruka: Expect you, of course. You're all the gentlemen, even despite your smart and sarcastic attitude.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Thanks...

Ruka: Anyway, where's Leo? I thought you said he wanted to come and help.

Nhazul: He was, but he had a doctors appointment. So he couldn't make it.

Ruka: Is he alright?

Nhazul: Yeah. It's just a check. He's been doing great after he'd been discharged.

Ruka: That's great. I'm glad.

Nhazul: Yeah. But let's focus on handling out flyers.

Ruka and Mini: Right!

(Timeskip)

After the play, Chizuru is quite excited and can't stop talking about it. Umi is glad to see that as she is usually quite focused, but after seeing a play, she turns into a girl brimming with joy. Umi states he loves this side of Chizuru. She warns him to watch what he is saying as his girlfriend Nanaho may get angry and wonders if he will be going to see her, since she is sick and couldn't come today. Umi then reveals that he lied about her being sick and that he already broke up with her.

Recently Umi realized that he finds girls who are into acting to be more appealing. Chizuru's alarm then rings, reminding her of the flyer hand out and she excuses herself, telling Umi that she wish to hear about Nanaho, but can't right now. Umi then asks her if she wants them to go and eat something.

He had already made reservations at a place that is hard to get and where some actors go. Chizuru declines, explaining that today is really important day for them and she should help her friends, however Umi would stop her with another question.

Umi: Do you like him? That Nhazul guy.

Hearing this would surprise Chizuru as she looked back at him.

Chizuru: Huh?

Umi: Do you like him?

Chizuru: W-What are you talking about? Stop it! We just go to the same college. Yeah, we're spending more time together these days, but that's because we're making a movie for a film festival.

Umi: Feels like you do.

Chizuru: Huh?

Umi: Looking at you, it feels like you do like him. Awhile ago, you didn't seem excited about anything. But thinking back now, probably around when the whole movie thing started. That was when you returned to your usual self. I thought your grandmother was feeling better or something, but I guess it was because you decided to chin up.

Chizuru: ...

Umi: So, do you like this guy who changed things for you?

Chizuru: ...

Chizuru would soon begin to once again think back to her time with Nhazul, and all they been through, beginning to truly contemplate her feelings for him.

Chizuru: I...don't like him... But... I don't not like him either...

Umi: I see...

After Chizuru leaves, she then joins Nhazul and the others, and starts handing out flyers. As they did, Nhazul would look towards her and smirk.

Nhazul: So, how was your date?

Chizuru just looked at Nhazul annoyed.

Chizuru: Please don't make any weird assumptions. Like I said, I was simply a sub.

Hearing this, Nhazul just chuckled.

Nhazul: Right.

Chizuru: By the way, pick up the pace, you still have more flyers then me, even though starting before me. You suck at this.

Hearing this, Nhazul looked at Chizuru annoyed.

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

As the four would hand out flyers until midnight, Teppei would added the project to the recommended page, along side Umi retweeting it.

At the time limit, they ended up succeeding and going with 60,000 yen over the goal, as they began to celebrate. Elsewhere, within her room at home, Mami was laying on her bed, looking through her phone, scrolling through old pictures, before stopping at one with her and Nhazul.

Mami: ...

As she continued to look at the picture, she would soon get a notification and tapping it, she would be brought to a retweet, the one Umi had did, seeing Nhazul and Chizuru's Crowdfunding, making her eyes widened before she narrowed them.

Mami: ...