Become increasingly a “cheater” by interacting with the heroine.

Akira watched as the hologram displayed a familiar sight: a gachapon machine, just like the ones he often saw in anime and YouTube videos. Without any input from him, the animation began, showing someone turning the crank of the gachapon. The sound design was remarkably realistic, capturing the soft clicks and whirs as the balls inside tumbled before one was released.

[You gained a song called Ifuudoudou by Umetora, with 4.7M views on YouTube.]

Oh, I got music too. So this is what a random gacha item from my cheat abilities looks like, Akira thought, watching the hologram as it finally faded. All the gifts he had received flowed into his body, integrating down to the very level of his cells. Even though he had never studied or understood music, the knowledge of how the song was created became clear to him.

Such a powerful cheat ability, Akira mused, his grin growing wider as the possibilities continued to unfold in his mind.

Chizuru finally led Akira to a secluded spot, her frustration evident as she spoke in a stern tone, her voice rising almost to a shout.

"Listen to me! You better not tell anybody about this—no one knows except you! We have nothing to do with each other, understand? Promise me!" Her strict demeanor left no room for argument, and her piercing gaze underscored just how serious she was. Chizuru's frustration seemed to deepen as she noticed Akira's inexplicable smile, which only added to her irritation.

"Yes, of course," Akira replied softly, nodding in agreement. "I have no reason to tell anyone."

"Ah, really?" Chizuru responded, her confusion evident as she noticed Akira's unsettling smile. She couldn't help but wonder if this guy was some kind of creep who had followed her to her university.

"Yes, really. I know you keep your job a secret," Akira said quickly, trying to ease her suspicions. "I don't know what you think of me, but I swear, I'm a student here too. This meeting was just a coincidence, and I was so surprised I almost called out your alias. Look..."

To prove his innocence, Akira pulled out his university ID card and handed it to Chizuru. She examined it carefully, and after a moment, her tense expression softened as she let out a small sigh of relief.

"Hm, that seems fair. Even so, I hope you won't bother me. I'm very happy with the life I've built, so please repeat after me: Keep this a secret, and you and I have nothing to do with each other." Chizuru's tone remained firm as she addressed Akira. It was clear she didn't want to appear vulnerable in front of someone who knew her secret. She worked hard to project an image of strength, refusing to let her guard down.

If Akira hadn't received a reward from their encounter, he would have agreed to her terms without hesitation. After all, he had more pressing matters to attend to, especially concerning Ai Hoshino. However, the prospect of gaining valuable rewards just from interacting with Chizuru was too enticing to ignore. It was an easy opportunity to acquire something that could make him rich, intelligent, or even powerful in the future.

It was unthinkable for Akira to let an opportunity like this slip by, especially when he had a unique advantage: the chance to interact with Chizuru without paying her fees as a rental girlfriend.

"Sorry, but if I really think about it... I can't agree to that," Akira finally replied, his tone calm yet resolute.

"Eh?" Chizuru's expression shifted instantly, her face tightening with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"I'll keep your secret, but not for free. If I'm going to keep quiet, I expect something in return. Consider it an exchange," Akira continued, his gaze steady despite the tension in the air.

"What... what exactly do you want?" Chizuru asked cautiously, her voice quieter now, laced with apprehension. She hated the idea of being cornered, but she needed to know his intentions.

"I need your help with something. Thankfully, I came prepared," Akira said, opening his bag and pulling out an envelope. He handed it to Chizuru, who took it with a curious expression.

"This is...?" Chizuru asked, her eyebrows furrowing as she glanced at the contents—twenty pages of manga artwork.

"It's a manga I'm working on. I'd like your input and assistance with it," Akira explained, his tone calm but purposeful. He gestured subtly toward a different direction. "Let's find a more comfortable place to talk about it. There's a family restaurant near campus where we can sit down and discuss it in detail."

Chizuru hesitated for a moment, glancing at the envelope again before nodding reluctantly. "Alright, let's go," she said, her tone still cautious but less defensive.

Upon arriving at the family restaurant, Akira ordered a drink and a snack before inviting Chizuru to review the manga he was creating. The project was still incomplete, as he had only drawn twenty of the fifty-plus pages planned for the first chapter of Rent-a-Girlfriend. Akira knew that the characters in his manga, including Chizuru and other potential protagonists, were real people in this world. Because of this, he had taken care to alter their appearances and change their names slightly—a task that was simple enough but undeniably tedious.

"Alright, I'm not an expert on manga," Chizuru said as she picked up the pages, "but I'll do my best to give you honest feedback." With that, she began to read, her expression a mix of curiosity and focus.

"It's fine. You'll understand after reading it," Akira said confidently in response to Chizuru's comment. She nodded slightly, then looked down and began reading the manga.

For Akira, this was the first time someone was reading his work right in front of him. Even though the manga was essentially a recreation of one from his past life, he believed it had the potential to be just as successful here, given the quality of its storytelling. Also in the most of stories and fanfiction he had consumed in the past, this kind of stuff when people writing something popular in his world and it always been popular in another world too.

Still, a twinge of nervousness lingered as he watched Chizuru flip through the pages. This moment was more than just about her feedback—it was a test of whether a story that had captured hearts in his world could resonate in this anime-like world as well.

[author]

Schedule; 1 chapter every monday to friday

If you want you favorite girl in this fanfic, just comment and I may think of it, especially for you… if I can…

[/author]