"I want to stop working as the rental girlfriend."
"...."
As they had their breakfast together, Chizuru suddenly made a declaration.
Nifuji was stunned for a moment before he nodded. "I don't mind, but have you made other plans?" While there was part of him that also wanted her to stop working as a rental girlfriend, he didn't urge her, since he could trust her.
Yes, trust.
The others might feel possessive and didn't want other men to get close to her, but Nifuji felt it was too much to think so, since he knew that when a woman had already fallen in love, her heart was too full to be entered by another.
Some women might be bitches, but he knew that Chizuru wasn't one of them.
Moreover, how could she fall for someone so desperate to get a girlfriend that they would rent one on the apps?
The moment one decided to rent a girlfriend, it had already been decided that it was impossible for the women to fall for the men.
There might be some troublesome guys who might resort to something, but the apps get their money from the rental girlfriend. If they can't even protect their workers, how could they continue to stay afloat?
Frankly, Nifuji wouldn't even be surprised if the rental girlfriend apps had a certain connection with the yakuza or gang, so it could protect their workers better, which would result in more money.
It might be rude, but in their eyes, the rental girlfriends were commodities, goods, so if they didn't want to be at a loss, they should take care of the rental girlfriends, right?
Regardless, Chizuru's decision to suddenly stop surprised him, as he had never expected that he would have to wait for a short moment for her to do so, especially when he knew that the reality wasn't so easy for her.
Whether it was her only family, her grandmother, who was at the hospital and needed money, or her education at the university, or her daily life, and all other matters, Chizuru needed money!
Where could she get all of that money if she didn't work as the rental girlfriend?
"It's fine. I can get a part-time job at the convenience store or restaurant."
"Can you manage all of that with your income from the convenience store?
Chizuru flinched, but she had made up her mind, as she asked, "Are you okay for me to go out with all of those men? Even if my relationship with them is nothing but a fake, we are still going on the date, is that okay with you?"
"Of course, I am not okay!"
Was he okay for her to go out with all of those men, even though they were fake?
Of course not!
Yet, the reality was that she needed money!
"Then, don't worry about those things since I will definitely manage!" Chizuru held his hand and said, "Our relationship might be like this, but I have thought of you as my only one, so it won't be fair, and I don't want you to see me as dirty."
Yes, dirty.
She felt like her body and heart were tainted when she had made up her mind to be with Nifuji, yet even so, she went out with all of those guys. Yes, it was her job, and they were all fake dates, yet she just didn't feel it was right for her to keep doing so, especially when she loved him.
He might not say anything, and didn't complain about it, yet she knew that if she didn't do so, it was impossible for her to beat his girlfriend, nor did he even put her into serious consideration, and just thought of her as a fling, and when he was bored... he might leave her.
That was... the only thing that she didn't want to do, and because of that, she knew she had to stop.
"What about your dream? You want to become an actress, right?"
When Nifuji was at the hospital, her grandmother told him that Chizuru wanted to become an actress, and when she finished with her university, she would go to the acting class to hone her skills and search for a better chance, so she could become an actress.
If she chose a normal part-time job, could she chase after her dream like before?"
Yet, Chizuru only took a deep breath and said softly, "You are more important than that dream."
"....." Nifuji.
Becoming an actress who would appear on the TV show or the movie was her dream, especially after she learned that her grandmother, Sayuri Ichinose, was also an actress.
When Chizuru saw Sayuri on the show, she also wanted to do the same, and chase the same dream as her grandmother, even if her grandmother didn't support her, but her deceased grandfather had supported her, and wished for her to succeed, yet for now, that dream no longer mattered.
No, it was still important, but Nifuji was her priority.
By having a normal part-time job, Chizuru knew that she had given up her dream, but it was fine since, when she thought of it deeply, she knew well that what she wanted the most was a complete family where her children had no need to have a similar feeling as she had in the past.
She wanted her children to be happy, and that happy family wouldn't be complete if there were no Nifuji around.
So, after she thought for so long, she knew that she had to stop, and she didn't regret it since by doing so, she could show him her determination.
Yes, her feelings might not be reciprocal, yet it was fine, wasn't it?
This world wasn't easy, and if she wanted to get something, naturally, she had to give up something.
"That's why it's fine. As for my education, I have enough savings, and there is still the pension, compensation, and also the insurance from my grandfather, so whether it is for my grandmother's hospital fees, or my daily life, I can manage."
"...do you even need to stop her dream with all of that?" Nifuji asked speechlessly.
"..." Chizuru.
She fell silent for a while, then muttered, "Hmm... it seems... I don't need to give up?"
As the number one favorite rental girlfriend, of course, she didn't lack money, and sometimes, those who rented her even gave her a bonus, so did she even need to stop her dream as an actress?
"...so, I don't need to stop my dream of being an actress?"
"There is no need to do so." Nifuji was speechless, but he explained, "Moreover, I am also quite busy with my work. If you are doing nothing, and just spending time at your university, house, and grandmother's, won't you be bored?"
In most cases, many women couldn't just stay at home, and would spend their days outside for so long till they went home and just fell asleep, since they had nothing to do, they felt like they would be at a loss.
How could he tell?
Well, he had an experience, that's it.
"...." Chizuru.
"I won't do any romance movies with others!"
Yup, even if she could continue to chase after her dream, she had made up her mind not to do any romance movies!
"...let's talk about that if you can even get a chance to become an actress."
"...."
Chizuru was speechless, then pouted since she knew well that she was just a baby in the entertainment industry.
Or rather, did her career ever begin?
After all, all her time was spent on the acting class!
Still—
"If I am given a chance, will you watch it with me?"
"Sure."
"It's a promise ~!"
Chizuru smiled sweetly, making him helpless, yet also feel relief, but—
"By the way, can you share your bank account with me?"
"Eh? Sure."
Chizuru wasn't sure why, but she agreed and sent him her bank account number before—
---
Deposit Received.
An individual transfer. A transfer of ¥1,000,000 has been received from Nifuji Hirotaka.
---
"...."
As Chizuru was at a loss, Nifuji also received many notifications.
---
Deposit Received.
Corporate transfer. A transfer of ¥10,00,000 has been received from ABC Co., Ltd.
---
[Congratulations, as you have spent ¥1,000,000 for Chizuru Ichinose, you have received an "Acting Mastery".]
As Nifuji received all of those things, he had to say that, instead of being a company owner, being a sugar papa was more profitable.