My Rental Boyfriend Is My Boss?! - Chapter 31

Chapter 31. The Truth

One, two, three… One, two, three…

It’s been more than ten years, but Michiru could still remember the steps she was practicing.

At that time, there was a boy whose house was in her neighborhood, and they often went home together because they were going in the same direction. The day before the party, Michiru said to him, “If you don’t have anyone to invite, I’ll dance with you.”

It was a small suggestion, a preliminary confirmation. Michiru was aware that she was not a conspicuous person, so she took precautions by jokingly telling the only boy she could talk to.

The boy thought about it for a moment and then said, “Okay,” which made her happy, though Michiru didn’t show it.

Michiru gave a small laugh.

She asked the lead girl to dance first. Of course, the other boys didn’t ask her to dance either. He either asked another girl or else he was playing a game with his friends at the end of the line. So while the music was playing, all Michiru could do was stick to the wall and look at the big Christmas tree in the center. It was kind of… miserable to watch her classmates dancing happily underneath it.

The big, sparkling tree decorations and the big star stuck in the top of the tree. Michiru looked at these things and waited in a daze for this time to end.

But it was impossible to prevent the sounds from coming in. Laughter, talking, music. It’s a joyful time, just a few feet away from her.

There was a girl next to Michiru who didn’t get asked out as well, so she wasn’t lonely yet. But suddenly, a boy nervously asked her out. At that moment, the girl, who had been as dull as she was, blushed like a heroine in a shoujo manga and grabbed the hand offered to her. That’s when Michiru kind of understood that that’s what was going on.

Oh, that kind of thing would never happen to her.

It didn’t make sense for them to ask her out. Michiru was sure she wasn’t even in their idea of what a girl should be.

Michiru instinctively understood that the exciting events of manga, novels, and movies would never happen in her life.

She didn’t know if that was the trigger, or if it was a latent element in her that came out clearly at that moment. Either way, ever since then, Michiru had unconsciously avoided trusting others. It was because she didn’t want to get her hopes up and be disappointed.

That’s why she paid to hire a rental boyfriend rather than trusting the goodwill of others. It was easier, and it was just for the moment. As long as it was businesslike, they didn’t have to step in each other’s shoes. No expectations.

But Michiru was aware of her own contradiction now.

‘Why am I talking about this right now?’

Why was Michiru talking to Kamijemori about something she had never told anyone before?

‘Because I’m fed up?’

He kept asking her, as if he didn’t understand, so Michiru thought she would tell him. But was it because he was her boss and she wanted to answer questions? Or was it something else?

‘Did I think it was okay to talk?’

Kamijemori didn’t say anything. When Michiru slowly raised her gaze, she saw that he had turned his downcast eyes to Michiru.

“That girl from the ballroom dancing class…”

He seemed to have noticed too. Michiru nodded. Then she realized the obvious reason why she had told him. Guilt.

“It’s Nakamura, the woman who married Kimitaka.”

That’s why Michiru had a hard time with her. When she found out that Kato was the one she was going to marry, she was shocked. Michiru thought it was like watching a continuation of a Christmas party.

“I was too drunk to remember, but it was Nakamura who invited me to the upcoming intimate party, right? Or maybe she invited you because I acted like a jerk at the after-party.”

At the after party of the wedding, Michiru talked about her memories with Kato and showed her friendship and played Nakamura, the bride. No wonder she was offended by this and wanted to get back at Michiru.

Michiru was convinced when she saw the details of the informal party that arrived later. It was a gathering of students from a ballroom dance class, and there would be time for dancing.

“So it’s actually my fault that I was invited to the party. Minoru shouldn’t feel any responsibility. I’m sorry for not telling you.”

The only reason Kamijemori had gone along with her so far was because he felt responsible for the fact that he was probably suspected for his lack of acting.

But the truth was different. Michiru was aware of this from the moment she heard the story. But she didn’t say anything. She wanted to continue playing the lover’s game with Kamijemori for a little longer.

Even if it was just a pretense, she wanted to experience a world that she had no connection with. Holding hands, dating, calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend, talking. Michiru wanted to continue our relationship in secret.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

To the downcast Michiru, Kamijemori made it clear.

“As I said before, I’m doing that job because I wanted to change. I don’t know if I’m making the changes I want, but… I accepted your request because I have my own goals. So don’t apologize.”

Michiru was not sure if she was being helpful to him in his desire to change. But Michiru nodded vaguely, knowing that this was his own clumsy way of comforting her.

A strange atmosphere filled the room.

A calm and comfortable silence. But there was a hint of guilt, and Michiru’s heart was complicated.

As Michiru’s gaze drifted restlessly, Kamijemori gave a small cough.

“You are not in elementary school anymore. You don’t have to become a wallflower yourself.”

“I’m not that brazen, even now.”

Michiru retorted, and Kamijemori gave a small laugh.

“Yes, you’re right. But… there are people who would be happy to lend a hand if you ask them. Maybe a lot more than you think.”

Kamijemori’s gaze caught Michiru’s. It’s not a mere consolation or ad hoc words, his sincere eyes told her.

It was because it was said by Kamijemori, no one else, that the words reached deep into Michiru’s heart.

‘That’s…’

How was Michiru supposed to take it?

There was no way she could suddenly release the distrust she had built up over the years. Still, as Michiru looked into Kamijemori’s eyes and listened to his gentle voice, she began to feel nervous in her chest. It was like the day before a date, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

Up until now, the person she saw at work, Kamijemori, was a perfect human being. Like a robot or an artificial life form, he seemed to have suddenly appeared in this world one day in this form. He was a machine-like creature who never showed any emotions, never showed any personal feelings, did his job without a care in the world, and worked on a schedule on time.

But after meeting him as a rental boyfriend, Michiru learned about Kamijemori’s humanity. She learned that he liked cute characters, that he had a weakness for alcohol, and that he had expressions and kindnesses that she had never known before.

‘But now, he’s not my rental boyfriend.’

As a boss, his clumsy but straightforward words to Michiru were more meaningful than any other words she had ever heard.