My Rental Boyfriend Is My Boss?! - Chapter 46

Chapter 46. What I Didn’t Tell You

“You said that you are doing this because you want to change and you want to work as a rental boyfriend. I don’t know if you can become what you want by going out with me… but still… can’t I be the only one?”

How difficult it was to put her feelings into words.

The words Michiru uttered while thinking and hesitating were like the words of a sulking child.

Afraid of the words that would come back to her, Michiru stood still. Only her ears were extremely sensitive and she could tell that she was trying not to miss his movements.

Kamijemori let out a short sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

The words that came back to him were short. Before he could look up, a large hand touched Michiru’s cheek.

“There’s something I haven’t told you.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve never been on a rental boyfriend date with anyone but you.”

“Hmm…?”

Michiru let out a dumb sound and look up. In front of her was Kamijemori’s awkward-looking face.

“What about…?”

“That’s why I couldn’t answer when you asked me before. As I said before, I used to fill in the gaps on the website, so it was rare that I was asked to do anything, and I used to turn them down for whatever reason. But when you asked me to do something, I thought I’d take it.”

“Why is that?”

“I overheard you talking in the cafeteria, and I knew why you needed a rental boyfriend… Even before that, I knew that you were a dedicated, if unaccomplished, worker, so… I just wanted to give you a little help.”

To be honest, it was complicated to be told by a man who had been Michiru’s boss for a long time that she was not doing a good job. After hearing that poor evaluation, Michiru managed to inspire herself as she was about to collapse. But that wasn’t the point now.

“Of course, I wasn’t looking at you that way from the beginning. But at the after party, when you were drunk… I asked you a mean question.”

“A mean question?”

Michiru didn’t remember any of this. When she tilted her head, Kamijemori bit his lip slightly.

“How… you don’t really like me.”

“What did you say?”

“I was told that you wanted to be like me. I know it sounds silly, but… it made me a little bit happy, and… so I thought if I could keep dating, if I had a chance to change, it would be with you.”

“Is that…?”

As Michiru stared at him, Kamijemori nodded.

“I’m not trying to get back at you. I was the one who first asked you to go to that dance party.”

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.

“So this whole thing was really my way of getting you involved. This is the one I’ve been planning to return to you on the day of the party all along.”

“This is… no way.”

Michiru took it in her hand, nervous about its thickness, and looked at the contents, and as expected, it was a wad of cash.

“I can’t have this.”

“It originally belonged to you. It’s all the money you transferred to the company every time you hired me.”

“Yeah…”

Michiru stared at the contents of the envelope and at Kamijemori, surprised and unsure of what to do.

Kamijemori looked relieved, perhaps because he had told the truth, or perhaps because he felt a sense of freedom after paying back a large sum of money.

He was returning it all.

Michiru couldn’t push him back if he looked at her like that. She felt uncomfortable holding it, so Michiru put the envelope on the table.

“Well, then, is that woman…?”

If it wasn’t a rental boyfriend date, then who was the woman walking with him?

In response to Michiru’s question, Kamijemori huffed and turned his gaze away, looking embarrassed.

“She’s a… dance instructor.”

“What?”

“I’ve never been to a dance before, and since I was going as your partner, I’m going to have to practice at least a little bit so I don’t embarrass myself.”

“Dance… practice…? In a hotel?”

“A hotel?”

At the look of wonder on Kamijemori’s face, Michiru realized that she had slipped up.

“Oh, no, I just thought I saw you walking in that direction.”

“Oh, there’s a classroom a little further down the street. It’s definitely a hotel area, but… you know it well.”

“No, that’s just because Chie said so…”

As she hurriedly made her excuses, she noticed that Kamijemori’s eyes were narrowed with awful amusement.

“You were teasing me about… weren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Michiru’s sulky tone made Kamijemori chuckle without feeling bad.

“I’m sorry. I was just thanking you for your help last time… But if it bothers you, we can go together next time.

“I don’t care about that.”

When Michiru reflexively denied it, he tilted his head slightly.

“Right.”

“I used to… but I don’t… anymore.”

“Yeah.”

‘Was I such a naive woman?’

Michiru was vulnerable to Kamijemori’s gaze. She couldn’t help but confess when she was stared at. She’s not a good liar by nature, but when she’s with Kamijemori, she feels it all the more.

As Michiru tilted her head as she discovered this side of her she never knew, Kamijemori smiled at her.

“Don’t look at me like that. It would be helpful if you could tell me what you really think.”

“Helpful?”

“I’m not good at sensing people’s emotions, so if you don’t honestly tell me how you feel, I can’t help you.”

“… As long as it helps you.”

“Yes. So if you feel something, please let me know. Whether it’s something you don’t like or something that makes you happy, of course.”

Michiru glanced at Kamijemori and he broke into a soft smile.