Chapter 4: The Job Is a Rental Boyfriend
Sakurai Saki was very satisfied with his current job.
From Monday to Wednesday he tutored Nakano five sisters, on Thursday and Friday he did smile-selling work, and on the weekend he could rest — if he wanted to earn more, he could also take extra jobs.
It was currently after school hours, four thirty in the afternoon.
Not joining any clubs, Sakurai headed to the Shibuya district.
Today's client was a high school girl, seemingly wanting to avoid the awkward atmosphere of going to karaoke with her best friends, so she was looking for a temporary boyfriend to hold the line.
The list of demands wasn't short either — appearance was the most basic requirement, followed by personality: had to be the "puppy" type but not too clingy, cheerful but not talkative, gentle but had to step up bravely if the girlfriend was being bullied.
If you didn't know, you'd think Miss A was looking for a bipolar lamp.
Brightly black in all colors — she might not even find one.
But those above requirements, Sakurai could still meet.
( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
Although the client laid out many demands, as long as the appearance met the standard, the rest could be overlooked.
This was a world that lived by the face, especially in the smile-selling industry.
He gently tugged at the collar of his coat, making the previously neat look a bit messy — too neat would look stiff.
Sakurai Saki lifted his head and looked up at the sky, waiting for the client to arrive.
A few minutes later.
Out of the crowd stepped a figure — necklace, blonde hair, school uniform — probably just finished club activities?
Ordinary face, but the gyaru-style outfit matched Shibuya quite well.
"Hey there! You're Yuuto, right? You're even more handsome in person than in your photos. I really hit the jackpot this time!"
ヾ(＾ ∇ ＾).
Sakurai Saki nodded, Yuuto was his stage name.
The rental boyfriend website didn't allow using real names.
All to prevent staff from being tracked down.
Even so, harassment was still unavoidable.
However, Sakurai's luck seemed pretty decent?
He'd been doing it for over half a year and never ran into a "stalker."
The type who acts too sincerely, gets too deep into the role — he really couldn't take that.
If it's a job, then don't bring in personal feelings. That's the best for both sides.
"Eri-san, let me confirm once again with you: the rental service this time is a total of three hours, the content is to accompany you for the full duration of a karaoke gathering, correct?" Sakurai confirmed.
"That's right~! Yuu-chin."
ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ)
Yuu-chin?
That kind of pet name… whatever.
It wasn't the first time he'd been given a nickname like that anyway.
"Last time I bragged to them that I'd find a super amazing boyfriend within a week, so that's why I hired you." Eri explained.
"You don't need to tell me the reason. That's the client's private matter."
"Oh~."
"Confirmation complete. Then, for the next three hours, I will be your temporary boyfriend." Sakurai said, following the company's protocol.
The contract prohibited intimate physical contact with the client. Hugging and hand-holding didn't count, but anything from kissing upward was not allowed.
Even if the client paid extra — not allowed!
( ＾◡＾)っ NO
…
In a place where the two of them were strangers — in front of a KTV.
A few gyaru-styled girls were chatting.
"Why isn't Eri-chin here yet? We've been waiting for over ten minutes."
"She didn't bluff us last time, did she? Said she'd find a hot boyfriend in a week. That was hilarious~"
"Ryouta-kun, what do you think? Is Eri-chin messing with us or what!"
The blonde guy called Ryouta took a drag on his cigarette in frustration.
"Where's Hayasaka? She's not coming this time?"
If not for that blonde high schooler, who'd bother coming to hang out with a bunch of gyaru like this?
A bunch of ugly chicks!
"Eh! Ryouta-kun, don't tell me you've got a thing for Hayasaka-chin?"
"Hilarious~!"
Look at your own damn face in the mirror, dude.
ꉂ (≧ヮ≦)
They waited a few more minutes.
"Ohya~ isn't this Ryouta-kun~ Long time no see, your blonde hair is still as ugly as ever, cracking me up~"
Eri and Sakurai Saki had arrived in front of the KTV.
Eri leaned on Sakurai's arm, her face full of smugness.
Seeing the jealous faces of her friends at that moment, she felt the money she spent hiring a boyfriend was totally worth it!
"Hello everyone~ I'm Eri's boyfriend, just call me Yuuto," Sakurai smiled brightly, looking toward the group of gyaru girls not far away.
(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
Their faces were all average — if scored on a scale of ten, maybe around five?
Just barely above average.
The blonde delinquent Ryouta threw his cigarette to the ground and crushed the butt a few times with his foot.
"Who the hell are you? Acting all high and mighty!"
Darth Vader, your father, Luke-kun!
Sakurai Saki didn't bother paying attention to this clown jumping around.
"Is everyone here? If so, shall we head in first? Everyone's been waiting quite a while, so I'll cover the cost this time," Sakurai Saki offered.
"Eh, no need Yuu-chin, I'll pay later, okay?" Eri responded in sync.
The whole group rushed inside together.
The gyaru girls walking behind whispered among themselves.
"With a boyfriend that handsome, Eri-chin is seriously super lucky!"
"And he's super gentle too."
"So what about Ryouta-kun? Anyone gonna go get him? Leaving him out there feels kinda sad. But seriously, it's hilarious. He got completely ignored by Eri-chin's boyfriend."
ꉂ (´∀｀)ʱªʱªʱª
One of the three girls went back to call the blonde delinquent, while the remaining two went with Sakurai and Eri to choose a room.
After the room was selected, a short while later the delinquent and another gyaru girl also stepped in.
"Alright, alright! Let's start picking songs! Even though we're still missing someone, we can't just sit around waiting forever," one heavily made-up gyaru clapped and took the lead in choosing a song.
◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
Sakurai Saki chatted with the gyaru girls — mostly they talked, and he replied accordingly.
If no one spoke to him, he would talk with the client privately.
"Yuu-chin, aren't you going to sing?" Eri leaned close to Sakurai and softly asked.
"Rather than singing, I'd rather listen to you sing," Sakurai Saki looked her straight in the eyes, his words like a drifting cloud, making Eri feel a little light-headed.
Eri felt like she was 'ovulating'.
(=♡ ᆺ ♡=)
"Okay~!"
Eri picked up the microphone, preparing to show off her voice in front of her 'boyfriend.'
"Kataomoi - Aimer."
A song about unrequited love.
Sakurai tilted his head, eyes fixed on her, his face full of happiness, as if he were genuinely enjoying it.
( ˊᵕˋ )♡.°⑅
To others, this looked like a very affectionate couple.
'Not that good, went off-key,' Sakurai thought silently.
Too high by one note here, too low over there.
The song ended.
Sakurai clapped his hands, cheerfully saying: "Eri, that was great singing!"
(∩˃o˂∩)♡
On one side, the delinquent blonde took a sip of soda.
Everyone in the room was underage, so no alcohol.
Drinking soda at KTV — so lame!
Couldn't be more embarrassing.
But if this guy was Eri's boyfriend, then no one would be trying to fight him over Hayasaka anymore.
Thinking that, Ryouta's gaze toward Sakurai softened a little.
That girl looked way better than the gyaru girls in the room anyway.
...
Midway through the gathering—
The KTV room door swung open.
A girl with a side ponytail, blonde hair, jacket tied around her waist, walked in with a tired expression.
In just a split second, the entire KTV room fell silent.
Hayasaka Ai swept her gaze around the room.
Her eyes very quickly stopped on Sakurai Saki.
At first, she had only planned to come to this gathering to maintain her gyaru image.
She didn't expect to encounter something this interesting.
ヾ(｡✪ω✪｡)ｼ