Rental Boyfriend

May 23, Thursday

It was already time to go home. Most of the students were rushing off to attend the study group, and Xiao Mako and Shinsuke were no exception.

That left me sitting alone in the classroom, staring into space.

The midterm exam was tomorrow, but the test papers still hadn't been distributed. Were they planning to hand them out tonight?

"Gojo-kun, do you have a moment?"

My thoughts were interrupted by someone calling to me from behind.

I turned around and saw a girl from my class looking at me.

Mori Nening?

She seemed to be part of Karuizawa's group. I was rooting for Karuizawa and Kiyotaka-kun, so I hadn't interfered with their relationship.

At the moment, just like in the original story, Karuizawa was pretending to be Hirata's girlfriend.

Shouldn't Mori Nening be at the study group right now?

"If I remember right, you're Mori Nening from our class, aren't you?

What can I do for you?"

I hesitated for a moment, but still managed to say her name.

Seeing that I remembered her name, Mori Nening grew a little excited. Her previously nervous mood eased, and her worried expression turned into a smile.

She didn't answer my question. Instead, she slowly came over to Gojo Satoru, her face a little flushed. She seemed to want to say something, but couldn't bring herself to speak.

She had thought about this for a long time, but standing in front of the person she liked still made her feel embarrassed.

Seeing her act like that, Gojo Satoru was a little surprised.

This wouldn't happen to be a confession, would it?

But he and Mori Nening had never really spoken, and she hadn't appeared much in the original story. Besides, it wasn't necessarily a confession. Maybe she just needed help? Probably.

"Um... Gojo-kun, you're dating two girls right now, aren't you?"

After a long hesitation, Mori Nening finally spoke.

But what kind of question was that?

It seemed like the whole of Class D knew he was dating two girls. Even students in other classes had heard about it, more or less.

Though he was a little puzzled, he still smiled and answered,

"That's right. Is there a problem?"

Hearing him admit it himself made Mori Nening even more excited. She rubbed her hands together restlessly, her gaze shifting back and forth between the floor and Gojo Satoru.

As though she'd finally made up her mind, Mori Nening bowed in front of Gojo Satoru and extended her right hand. Still bowing, she said,

"P-please! Gojo-kun! Please go out with me!"

She stumbled over her words at first, but in the end she shouted them out loud.

Seriously, you're doing this?

As though she'd noticed his silence, Mori Nening immediately straightened up and waved both hands in front of her chest as she hurried to explain,

"N-no! That's not what you think!

Just for one day! We only need to date for one day!

I want to experience what being in love feels like!"

????

"Huh?"

Gojo Satoru was even more confused after hearing her explanation.

Was this some new kind of pickup line?

"Could you explain that a little more clearly?

My brain's having a bit of trouble keeping up."

"Ah! Right, sorry. Give me a moment to collect myself."

Mori Nening realized she might have been too hasty and hadn't explained herself clearly.

"Phew... phew!"

She pressed her left hand over her heart and took a few deep breaths, calming herself down a little.

Only then did she carefully explain the reason,

"The thing is,

I've never dated anyone before. But from what my friends have told me and what I've observed myself, I really want to experience being in love at least once.

Gojo-kun has plenty of experience, and you have two beautiful girlfriends. You wouldn't get involved emotionally in a situation like this, right?"

She had just finished speaking when something suddenly occurred to her, and she added,

"And I won't waste Gojo-kun's time for nothing. I can pay you points!"

His confusion turned to shock. He hadn't expected her to have this in mind.

But it didn't seem like she was telling the whole truth. If that was all, there'd be no need to be so awkward about it. It almost sounded like a lie.

Still,

This sounds pretty interesting!

"Sure. Let's do it today. I happen to have time."

As he spoke, he took her hand and set off for the Amusement Park.

"Huh?! Today?"

Mori Nening was startled when he suddenly took her hand. She hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, or for him to be ready to go so quickly.

"Of course. The midterm exam's tomorrow, and my girlfriends think I'm distracting them from studying. I can only go have fun by myself."

"That's true, but it kind of feels like we're sneaking around."

Feeling the warmth of his big hand and thinking about their situation, Mori Nening's face turned even redder.

Gojo Satoru, however, didn't seem to mind. Instead, he stopped and turned to look straight at her, asking with a mischievous grin,

"Doesn't it feel exciting?"

With him looking at her like that and asking her such a question, even Mori Nening's ears turned red.

She turned her face away and answered in a tiny voice,

"Yeah!"

Inside the Amusement Park,

Most of the people there were second- and third-year students. The first-year students were basically all working hard to prepare for tomorrow's exam.

That was probably because they didn't have enough information. Most of the older students knew they could cheat by using test papers left behind from previous years, but very few of the first-years knew about it.

"Where should we go first?"

Looking at all the rides and attractions, Mori Nening wasn't sure where to start. She usually came with her friends, but this time she was here with her "boyfriend."

There were plenty of attractions she liked, but she still wanted to hear what he thought.

"Then how about the Haunted House?"

"Huh?! That right off the bat?"

She'd thought they would take a little time to get in the mood first. She hadn't expected him to head straight for one of the park's most iconic attractions.

"Are you scared?"

Seeing her react so strongly, Gojo Satoru teased her with a smile.

"Isn't it normal for girls to be scared of that kind of thing?"

Mori Nening was a little indignant. What normal girl wasn't afraid of a haunted house?

"Then perfect. If you weren't scared, it wouldn't be any fun."

With that, he continued pulling her along by the hand.

Mori Nening, meanwhile, was a little speechless. Was this really how he acted toward his "girlfriends," too?

As they walked through the dim passageway, Mori Nening seemed to be frightened, because this time she clung tightly to Gojo Satoru's arm with both hands.

Smelling his scent and feeling their close contact, Mori Nening began to lose herself in the moment.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to cling to him like this all day.

Bang!

A ghost's face sprang out from the wall.

"Ah!"

She'd only been holding his arm, but the sudden scare made her throw herself right into Gojo Satoru's arms.

Now, now, behave yourself.

Though the scare had made her press herself against him, the corners of her mouth seemed to be turning up. His hands weren't exactly staying still, either.

But he wasn't losing out, so there was no need to call her on it.

He stroked her head with his right hand and supported her back with his left, softly reassuring her,

"It's okay, it's okay.

Don't be scared. It's just a little prop."

But Mori Nening didn't seem to hear him. She tucked her head into his chest.

"No! I'm still really scared after all!"