April 15th, three days since that morning
Pile
I should really take out the trash.
Mizuhara!
That startled me. Don't throw the door open while I'm walking by.
Your very existence is loud, isn't it?
G-Good morning!
Morning.
She's being kinda... distant?
A-Am I just imagining it? Either way...
I'll never get used to how cute she is!
Opened the door to a drop-dead beauty
She's like an alternate dimension in this run-down apartment complex.
Does she have no makeup on? Are you kidding me?
Her skin looks so smooth
If that's how she looks au naturel,
And so clear, too. I might prefer this, actually.
it makes you doubt the very purpose of makeup.
She's not exactly dressed to kill,
and yet look at this aura!
Is she really the same species as me?
I wanna look, but I gotta hold back!
What a freaking pervert
I-I'm thinking I'll rent you out again next week.
I found a good place in Ikebukuro.
Has good clams, apparently!
Oh?
Okay, something's off.
What about Ruka-chan?
Huh? Ruka-chan?
I mean, didn't she stay over the other night?
See you, Kazuya-kun! Thank you!
She heard all that!
Rent-a-Girlfriend
It means the two of you... Right?
"Birthday and Girlfriend"
N-Nothing happened, really.
She just stayed the night.
She came over saying she'd make me dinner...
And I had no idea there was a typhoon coming.
Remember how it was raining cats and dogs?
While we were arguing, the trains stopped running, too.
And I didn't have the heart to throw her out by herself.
I gotta state my case... The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
Though, well, it's only natural that she'd misunderstand, after what she heard.
Lies.
It's fine. You don't have to lie to me.
Sorry if I've made things awkward, but you don't have to walk on eggshells.
I do have some understanding of what boys are like.
No, wait!
I'm the one who told you to date her,
and Ruka-chan is cute. I don't blame you.
M-Mizu...
As a hired hand, I can't tell you not to rent me out,
but you should really know where to draw the line.
H-Hey, Mizuhara-san?!
S L A M
No way... Are you kidding me?
Came back with the trash
I tried so hard to hold back,
and she still thinks I did it! What is this torture?!
I didn't sleep with Ruka-chan! I kept it in my pants, honest!
After all,
I... love you!
I won't let you take these kids.
See you, Kazuya-kun! Thank you!
I won't let you take these kids!
I'll forever remember the joy I felt last night!
Focus, focus!
Turn Turn
Walk Walk
What do I do about this?!
Ruka-chan did stay over,
She's got the wrong idea...!!
and given how I've always acted, nothing I say is convincing.
Should I rent her out next week and try to explain then?
Feels like she won't even hear me out unless I do.
Huh?
Wh... Wha?!
Her birthday's this week!
Mizuhara Chizuru Birthday - April 19 A pure and refined high-class girlfriend
Oh, man! I almost let it pass without noticing.
I haven't repaid her for the Christmas gift yet,
so I can't ignore this.
She's already in a bad mood over this whole Ruka-chan thing.
I'd better do something for her and clear the air.
But... what should I get her?
I have zero idea what to get a girl for her birthday.
Birthday Presents for Girls 1 2 3 4 5
Top 5 Ranking
Necklace Holiday Watch Ring Bag
The number 1 present girls want... a necklace.
Number 2... a holiday?!
Nope. Too needy!!
Are these girls for real?!
She gave me a phone case, so something priced similarly would be good.
But you can't really throw a stuffed toy away, so it might be annoying.
They don't really feel like "presents."
And daily-use items would be like, "What?"
Not too expensive, not too cheap,
not too casual, not too serious,
not too special, and not too commonplace?
Does such a thing exist?
The most complicated thing in the world
Mizuhara Memo The most complicated thing in the world is deciding what to give someone you're in a complicated relationship with!
is deciding what to give someone you're in a complicated relationship with!
I'm checkmated!!
Man, I don't even know what Mizuhara would want.
Oh, right!
I could ask her!
Accept the terms & conditions and book.
Booking complete.
m 0 0 l 50 0 l 50 150 l 0 150
April 19th
I gotta settle on a present for Mizuhara today.
Remember me? It's Kinoshita. Looking forward to our date.
Sumi-chan
I bet she can help.
Kazuya-kun!!! I'm so happy! I can't wait for our date either! Where shall we go?! Can we meet up in the same spot as last time?
Wow, she talks a lot over text, huh?
Still cute...
Pedestrians and Bicycles Only
Like hell you and I are the same!
You were great today, too.
You were the best actor on the stage!
So don't tell me you're gonna give up!
Why would I need your help that badly, anyway?
You really need to take a long, hard look at reality.
Well, we have plenty of time,
Booked for 2 hours
so I can ask about Mizuhara toward the end or something.
Besides, there's no way I could ask Ruka-chan.
I'd be diving right into hell...
I think Sumi-chan and Mizuhara are friends, so she probably knows.
I seriously thought that typhoon would rip my run-down building outta the ground!
Yo, check her out.
What a cutie!
Sumi-chan's frighteningly cute again.
Yeah, she's painfully shy,
but if you didn't know that, she'd just look like a pure, well-mannered beauty.
She's basically a girl ripped straight out of a fairy tale.
She nailed her outfit today, too.
While she mostly wears cutesy stuff, it's not like she lacks sex appeal...
No, stop! You're debasing this innocent girl again!
Shall we get going?
Yup.
Couple Mode
Next, hug her from behind.
And eyes on the camera!
H... Hug?!
Three... two...
4/19 Date
Damn, I look gross.
Eyes wide open, skin glowing
And Sumi-chan looks no different at all.
Her face is so slender!
This is the difference in potential between us.
Damn it! I wanna show her off as my girlfriend!
Though she's a rental...
Mizuhara probably wouldn't like a stuffed toy too much.
She's too down-to-earth
I wish they taught you how to pick presents in college.
What's up, Sumi-chan? You want the hat?
Oh, for me?
Well? Do I look good?
Clap Clap
R-Really? Yay.
...l.
You look... cool.
For real?!
Whoa, it's just 500 yen! Guess I'll buy it!
So cheap
Gimme the positive reinforcement! All of it!
I can feel it!
PUFF PUFF
Hehehe♥
My dried-up sense of self-esteem
Hup Hup
is being brought back to life by cute little Sumi-chan!
I say this without a doubt: this feels so good!
Patch
Almost terrifyingly so!
PUFF PUFF
The walls of my common sense are starting to creak!
Smile Smile
I'm falling into my old ways again...
But...
She's totally acting like a real girlfriend right now.
Slowly but surely, she's making progress.
I gotta move forward, too.
Man, that hour just flew by.
Y'know, there was something I wanted to ask you today.
Oh, you don't have to get all serious about it.
You know today's Mizuhara's birthday, right?
She's always helping me out, so I wanna give her something.
But I'm not good at this kinda thing. I don't know what a good gift would be.
You and she seem to talk often,
so I figured you might know what she'd want.
Gloom
Fluster
A-Ah, it's fine! It's fine if you don't!
Huh? What now!?
Tap Tap
She's typing it out?
Show
Three Kingdoms. Chizuru-chan loves the Three Kingdoms.
BAM
The Three Kingdoms?
Not very "birthday present"-like, though.
It's a little clichéd.
Teary
I'm sorry! Thanks!
That was super helpful!
There's that thousand-yard stare again!
Oh, flowers?
Flowers, huh?
These are for you. Happy birthday.
Lame!
Have you tried looking in the mirror?
Yeah, that's a nope from me.
It's so not me.
You're overthinking it! I'd be happy!
Sorry, I'm a real fool, aren't I?
Who do I think I am?
I know Mizuhara's a popular girl.
She won't think anything of a gift I give her.
But...
Still, I can't bring myself to just pick something at random.
Wh-Whoa!
What's gotten into Sumi-chan all of a sudden?!
fuu fuu
Rent-a-Girlfriend
Th-This is...
a department store?
Department store to department store?
Abnormal Situation in Play
What? What's going on?
Glance
Should I say something?
Like, "Sumi-chan, all we've done is move department stores."
"It hasn't changed anything!"
Probably not these things
Or is there something we can only buy here?
Ah!
Huh? Where are we going?
Oh, the elevators?
Huh? The roof?
Not the stores?
Is there something up there?
Punch Punch
Impossible to decipher
Okay, I don't get it.
Kick Kick
Guess I should just shut up and follow her.
She seems super serious
Huh? What are those voices?
Kids?
S Seats on Sale
Those Rent-a-Fighters, that ragtag group of heroes has come to Nerima!!
Ragtag Heroes
Rent-a-Fighters
Oh, hey!
Ragtag Heroes Rent-a-Fighters
Hero Show
A hero show? This takes me back!
Take this! Rent-a-Lock!
So?
What does this have to do with the present?
She looks super happy!
Wait, does she just like this stuff?
Not related to my present thing?
Did she forget all about helping with the present?
B E A M
Oh, well. As long as she's having fun.
Huh... So this is how hero suits are designed these days.
Man, how many years has it been since I last saw one of these?
Hey, that Pink is pretty awesome.
She's got a great body, and she moves great.
Go, Rent-a-Pink!
Is it just me, or is she really standing out?
You okay, Pink?!
Yes.
I won't let you take these kids!
Huh?
What?!
Give it up and get lost!
That voice...
Ugh... Curses!
I-I knew it.
It's Mizuhara!
Rent-a-Fighter!
Ugh, my powers are...
Pink!
As a Rent-a-Fighter, I must defend the Earth!
I get it.
Sumi-chan brought me here thinking I might get some kind of hint from watching this.
Mizuhara...
Kids! Cheer them on with all you've got!
It's not just the rental girlfriend gig. She's taking these jobs, too.
Hang in there!
Don't lose!
She barely has any time, but she's still here doing this.
Just how hard on herself is she?!
So I at least want my grandma to see me performing on screen.
That's my dream.
Hang in there,
Mizuhara!
It's time to go, huh?
Rental time was until 6 PM
Thanks for showing me that.
I'll take it into account and try one more time to think of a gift to give her.
Show
Presents are all about the sentiment
Tap Tap
Awkward intervals
If you put your heart into it, I'd be happy with anything you gave me
Sumi-chan...
Yeah, you're right.
I feel a lot more confident now!
I'm glad I rented you today.
Thanks, Sumi-chan.
Take care on your way back!
I'll go look for a present!
So don't tell me you're gonna give up!
Okay, time to start searching in the cosmetics department on the first floor...
Wait.
Sumi-chan?
S-Sumi-chan...
Okay, I'm waiting! What's up?
Didn't think this through
Uh... erm...
She's not saying a thing.
She stops me and gives me the silent treatment?
But she's blushing up a storm. She must be trying to say something.
D-Did you forget something?
Wait, was the payment short?
What is it, then?
Why this silence...
I wanna know, too...
Like, your birthday, Kazuya-kun.
Huh? My birthday?
It's June 1st, why?
An inexplicable gaze...
New event Kazuya-kun's birthday Event added to calendar
What got into Sumi-chan back there?
Got me all worked up
Huh? What's with the ring, Yuuko?
B-day gift from my BF.
Sparkle
Sigh
Gloom
Man, what do I even get Mizuhara?
Pressing Issue
Neverending Issue
Something not too expensive, not too cheap,
not too casual, and not too serious?
Something Mizuhara would like to receive from me?
The more I think about it, the more I feel like it doesn't exist.
If you put your heart into it, I'd be happy with anything you gave me.
"Heart," huh?
Welp, I just gotta tough this out!
I love you, Mizuhara!
No, I'm fine. Just felt a little chill, is all.
You didn't have to call me to tell me happy birthday.
Should you really be up and about, Grandma?
Dinner?
I'm worn out today. No appetite.
What can I do about it?
Anyway, I need to take a shower, so I'm hanging up.
Yeah, thanks.
Shi-chan
Happy birthday!
Shi-chan
Happy birthday! I wanna perform with you again, Chi-chan!
Shake Shake
Thanks! Same here!
Happy Birthday
Because you're always helping me out, and also in return for the phone case.
Sheesh. I told him it was a token of apology.
I know you're working really hard to be an actress.
I hear these things alleviate fatigue, so I hope they help.
Box within the box
Pickled plum? Why?
P.S. Nothing happened with Ruka-chan, I swear!
A small part of the letter, but it has a threatening aura
Sheesh, what an idiot.
So sour!
Guess I'll cook some rice.
Gah!
Wriggle Wriggle
Has Mizuhara looked at it yet?
Maybe pickled plums were the wrong choice!
Am I some kind of geezer?
But then, what was the right one?!
Time for Mizuhara Memo #2.
If you gift an accessory to someone you're on complicated terms with,
it'll likely find itself on some auction site before long, so be careful.
Then what even is a good gift?
It's always a good idea to pick a safe option.
But that won't convey my feelings.
Mizuhara!
What I really wanted to give you as a present
was my lifelong buddy, my v—
Rent-a-Kick!
Anyway, next time on Rent-a-Girlfriend:
"Booze...
...and Girlfriend."
"Booze and Girlfriend"
Alcohol is for adults only!