WHERE ARE YOU?
NAGOMI-SAN: AT THE WATER PARK NOW
NUMA: SETUP COMPLETE!
RENT-A-GIRLFRIEND
"STRINGS AND GIRLFRIEND"
Um, sir?
- Get in. - R-Right!
Whoa!
I don't think I've ever seen Mizuhara's back up close before!
It's fair and toned, and it's glistening with water droplets!
And the barely visible pores only make it look more tempting!
You idiot! I just told you not to get too weird!
Oh, but we're not clinging to each other. I can get through this.
Oh, not like that, sir.
Slip your legs under your partner's armpits in front.
I-In front?!
Yes, for safety!
Uh, you gotta be kidding me!
Armpits?! Under the pits?!
S-So my legs are gonna be in front of Mizuhara?!
Miss, spread your elbows out for a second.
O-Okay.
OPEN POSTURE
You sure, Mizuhara?
E-Excuse me.
L-Like this?
Yep! That's perfect!
WE'RE GLUED TOGETHER... "PERFECT," MY ASS
Now you lock his legs in.
Got it.
Nope, nope! I can't, I can't!
Seriously, what is going on here?
I can feel her skin wrapped around my legs!
She was cold to the touch on the outside, but she's so warm here!
I can really feel the texture of her skin... and even her pulse?
My sanity can't take this!
Everything is way too close!
Off you go, then!
My brain is in my feet right now.
Is she really okay with this situation?
I'm this close to exploding!
I wanna touch her back!
I wanna grab her waist!
Nope! My mind is a total mess!
SQUEE♥ SQUEE♥ GOING BACK FOR ANOTHER TURN
My mind seriously went blank back there.
Y-You okay, Mizuhara?
Yep, totally fine.
SO NORMAL...
I guess that wouldn't make her heart skip a beat.
I'll save you from Kazu-kun.
I just sent you a friend request.
Sorry for ambushing you like that.
But this is a serious matter, so I thought I should act fast.
Being a rental girlfriend must be so hard.
Given how pretty you are,
this has probably happened several times.
THINKING ABOUT IT
I think you're misunderstanding.
Kazuya-san isn't stalking me or anything.
You're being naïve! He's taking advantage of that!
I can't believe it. You're too nice for your own good.
I assumed a rental GF would be more cynical.
You gotta be more careful.
Sure, you may feel like you owe him for the movie thing,
but this is a whole different matter.
Give him an inch, and he'll take a mile!
You've got other clients to worry about.
You can't give him special treatment. You really ought to set things straight.
No, but...
- Do you like him? - Huh?
Kinda sounds like you do.
You should be careful!
You backed him up because he was your "boyfriend,"
but the terms of service exist because people like him get the wrong idea.
If you take it too far, you and your agency won't have a leg to stand on.
I mean, if you keep taking his side, other clients may think you really like him.
No, it's not like that.
Right? You seem like you take everything upon yourself.
You need to let others help you at times.
Don't worry. I'll take care of you.
I'll be in touch!
Huh?
BLUSH...
Wait, what?
You're kidding me!
No way! My top's gone!
Did it get swept off when we hit the water?
I don't see it around here... and I can't look for it in this state!
I can't stay here forever, but I also can't step out with all these people here!
Ugh, what do I do?!
What's with Mizuhara? She's taking her sweet time.
Wait, is she sick?!
Y-You okay, Mizuhara?
That was pretty scary, huh?
Did you get dizzy? I know how that feels.
Take a break, yeah?
It's gone.
Huh?
My bikini top.
What?!
It... It... It's...
It's gone?! What, her top?!
So she doesn't have it on right now?!
S-Sorry!
What am I apologizing for?!
H-H-H-Hang on a second. You mean Mizuhara's...
- in her birthday suit right now?! - I was born.
UH, SHE STILL HAS HER BOTTOM ON.
That was fun!
I actually fell off once!
I thought my top was gonna come off.
Any boyfriend would do this. Any boyfriend would do this.
RAH RAH
Gotta look for it while I can.
If it came off when we hit the water, it must be around there.
M-Mizuhara!
FOUND IT! HOLDING THE STRING
Th-Thanks.
Nope! Can't look at her straight!
Y-You good over there?
GOT IT ALL TIED UP?!
I don't know...
I just bought this, and its strings have felt loose the whole time.
Yeah, it feels like it'll come off again.
Wha? Come off again?
She got away with it once because she was in the pool,
but if it happens poolside...
Eek!
YOU SEE THAT? IT'S OUR LUCKY DAY
We gotta prevent that at all costs!
W-Want me to help?
I CAN FEEL HER GAZE...
Yeah.
CUTE...
Stay calm, stay calm.
Stay calm!
D-Don't worry. I'll keep my eyes shut.
It's okay. But don't get any funny ideas.
YEAH, IT IS LOOSE EYES ARE OPEN
Guh, my hands are trembling.
Mizuhara's back and nape are so close to me!
I'm sure it's just my imagination,
but I can feel the weight of her chest through these strings.
Is this okay? Am I really allowed to do this?!
Hey, if she disliked me, she'd never let me.
Am I in? Are we in, boys?
No, no! If I ask her out now, it'll look like I'm thinking with my dick!
Yep, that is kinda hard to tie.
But it's all good now. I tied it up nice and tight.
WITH ALL MY MIGHT
Thanks.
I-It's all good.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NOT LIKE THAT WAS MIZUHARA'S FAULT!
Do you two need help?
Nah, we're getting out!
Wait, why aren't you moving up?
N-No reason, really.
I don't think my heart's ever raced that fast ever before.
I can still feel Mizuhara's softness in my fingers!
What did she make of all that?
Did she just make the rational call in letting a guy tie it up nice and snug?
It wasn't anything special at all?
Wait a second.
Tell me now.
Huh?
TELL YOU WHAT?
RENT-A-GIRLFRIEND
Tell you what?
You're taking too long.
No comments on my swimsuit?
Say something.
C-Comments?
We're working on your boyfriend game, remember?
Any girl would prefer a guy who can be thoughtful like that.
I-It's cute! Super cute!
I-It's peak! So perfect that I forgot to say something!
The design is super trendy.
Wh-What is that color called?
It's a refreshing light blue, like the blue devil fish.
The elaborate lacy design, or pattern, is very se... serene and fancy!
Whoa! I nearly said "sexy" out loud!
Your hairdo's different... and it's fancy, too!
Seriously, you look perfect from every angle!
SO LOUD IS HE DECLARING HIS LOVE?
Crap, I panicked and got too hyper!
I took it way too far!
DID I WEIRD HER OUT?!
What the heck? Blue devil fish?
Never heard of it! But I guess it must be pretty.
I'll take it as a nice compliment.
I love her...
She was totally acting like a girlfriend there.
I wonder if she'd ask her real boyfriend the same thing.
If I could get in on those times, I'd ask for nothing more.
I can't pop the question out here, though.
Where's your grandma?
Oh, yeah. She's somewhere nearby, probably.
So carefree. Mami-san's coming too, right?
Y-Yeah, so I heard.
Let's look for her, then.
R-Right.
She's even warier than I am.
Where are the others?
Dunno. Maybe they got hooked on the slide.
Did something happen with Ruka-chan?
What do you mean, "something"?
Well, if there's nothing...
FOR MY FIRST TIME
that's fine.
Wait, what? What is she talking about?
Why'd she suddenly ask me that?
RUKA-CHAN?!
You can share everything with me. You don't have to hold back.
I want to know about any progress you make in your dating life.
So what happened that night did bother her?
Is that why she was ignoring me for a bit?
But if that's so, why'd she say I could share anything with her?
She really must feel nothing for me.
- There she is. - Granny Nagomi...
Wha? Mami-chan?!
She's alone with Gran? What are they talking about?
Is she actually telling her about the rental business? That can't happen!
I can't be exposed like this!
G-Grandma!
There you are. I didn't see you poolside.
Mizuhara... She really is more on edge than I am.
Wh-What were you two talking about?
My angel...
Sh-She's crying?!
D-Did Mami-chan seriously snitch on us?
I'm so touched!
How precious my angel Chizuru's vivacious swimsuit look is!
Not only that, but I got to see you waving and running toward me!
It is the kind of beautiful sight I have waited my entire life for!
It will be there when my life flashes! I'll take it with me to the afterlife!
- Actually, I feel like I'm already in heaven! - That wasn't it.
Wh-What were you talking about?
Oh, Mami-dono was showing me photos of your beach trip.
She really insisted.
She is such a Chizuru-san stan.
You make me blush.
They were just chatting...
'Kay, I think I'll go for a swim, too.
That so? Have fun, Mami-dono.
See you later.
- Go back to your room and chill. - Come on, don't be so scared.
I won't expose the rental thing without telling you.
You were making a scary face back there.
Oh, okay.
She said what she said, but that doesn't mean she's out to destroy everything.
I'm so nasty. I assumed the worst about her.
Grandma will be mad at me.
Maybe I'm overthinking it, and this is just gonna be a fun trip to the pool.
Hey, Chizuru-san! Where were you?
S-Sorry.
- Kuri-kun, you're all skin and bones! - Huh?
Am I?!
This wave pool takes me back to my childhood!
Hey, Ruka-chan!
Take that!
Now you've done it.
Mami-chan.
Can we talk for a bit?
What's the matter, Kazu-kun?
S-Sorry about this.
They're gonna leave us behind.
Just gimme a bit. This will be over quick.
Wow, cute.
THE GUY'S NOTHING SPECIAL, THOUGH
Mami-chan's gorgeous up close!
Seeing her in a swimsuit is exciting enough,
and only a hottie like her could pull that white bikini off.
I can't believe I'm here on this trip with three beauties like them.
Stop, stop! I have bigger fish to fry right now!
SHAKE SHAKE STAY OUT OF THE PIG MODE
Hey, Kazu-kun?
Well, here's the thing.
Uh, I'm really sorry, Mami-chan!
Sorry I lied about not seeing Mizuhara anymore.
Something was wrong with me back then!
Kazu-kun, you only live once.
You're losing out if you don't get a girlfriend for real.
I was probably ashamed of myself.
You were looking out for me,
but I kept running to a rental girlfriend.
I just couldn't bring myself to admit it.
I'm sure you were like, "What the hell?"
But I brought this on myself.
I could never blame you for getting mad at me.
You know what my Gran's like.
I just didn't have the heart to break it to her.
This is all on my pathetic head.
I'm trash that can't admit he lied. A total child.
So please, don't do anything that would hurt Mizuhara.
No, I should be the one apologizing for scaring you.
I mean, yeah, I was hurt when I found out you two were still meeting up.
And thinking back to how you lied to me back at the beach,
I wanted to smack you for real.
Yeah, of course.
Heck, I'm amazed you two pulled that off.
I-It was a miracle.
But more than anything, I was sad.
Sad that you didn't trust me at all, even though we dated once.
Mami-chan...
You thought I'd snap at you immediately if you told me the truth.
Nah, I didn't!
That's why I played a little surprise prank.
I deserve this.
You're going to tell your grandmother the truth, right?
Y-Yeah.
I will, after I ask Mizuhara out!
Then I'm sure you've got lots on your mind already.
You may feel differently, but I still cherish it.
It was only for a month, but we went on lots of dates and talked lots.
However short it was, I still consider it a fun chapter of my life.
M-Me, too!
I want you to be happy.
I'd never do anything to ruin your life.
Oh, is that how she felt?
I guess she wouldn't gain anything by ruining things.
And yet I acted like she was dangerous and doubted her intentions.
I'm such a nasty guy, seriously.
Kazu-kun?
Yeah, I get it now. Sorry for being weird.
Thanks!
Sh-Shall we head back?
Ugh, the guilt's crushing me!
Lol. Lmao.
Wow, doctor fish? Sounds fun.
Wanna give it a shot?
So many tiny fish!
My feet are sensitive...
They're licking between my toes!
IT'S LIKE B*******ITY PORN!! MY D**K'S TINGLING!! / NOT SAYING A WORD
Wow, I've never felt anything like this!
They keep coming!
I feel so guilty!
Thinking about it, Mami-chan gains nothing by keeping a dumbass like me in her life.
I should be grateful she even still talks to me.
She's such a nice gal.
I have nothing to worry about anymore.
It's all in my hands now.
By the way, since when have Chizuru-san and Sarashina-san been friends?
FRIENDS...
What's gotten into you, Kibe?
Huh? That was a perfectly normal question.
I-I guess we go quite a ways back.
THAT'S MY MIZUHARA
Oh, yeah? Do you two hang out with Kazuya, too?
Y-Yeah, sometimes.
Y-Yikes! I was afraid Ruka-chan would say something.
I'm his girlfriend!
Huh...
The doctor fish thing was so ticklish, huh?
Yeah. I can still feel them on my feet.
What's wrong, Kazu-kun? Why are you hunched over?
Oh, no reason. I'm fine.
Does your tummy hurt? Can you get up?
I am up. Don't worry about me.
Yeah, Kazu-kun always gets it up.
Aw, shucks.
N-Next time on Rent-a-Girlfriend:
- "For My First Time and... - Girlfriend."
- You're always up for it, Kazu-kun! - Phrasing!
"FOR MY FIRST TIME AND GIRLFRIEND"