I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 86: Hazuki's Lover-For-Hire ④

“Shiba-kun’s hand… it’s calming. It makes me feel really at ease.”

“I-Is that so? No one’s ever told me that before.”

“Really? Am I the odd one, then…?”

“I think it’s probably because I haven’t had much experience holding hands.”

“Fufu, there’s no way that’s true. Someone without experience couldn’t do it this naturally.”

Hazuki brought her free hand to her lips and chuckled, amused.

There was no way he could say, “Well, I just happen to be good at it.”

In Ryoma’s case, it was likely because the people he had held hands with before were of a certain level.

Just recently, there was Himeno—the petite manga artist who sparked a protective instinct. And Aira—the lively high school gal who constantly needed looking after.

Different types, but both undeniably high-caliber.

Being able to stand on equal footing with Hazuki now was probably thanks to those encounters.

“…I have poor circulation, so my hands are cold, right? I said you could warm them up, but if you start feeling cold, just tell me, okay?”

“It’d be a lie to say they’re not cold, but it’s fine. I’ll just keep them warm for you.”

“Fufu, you’ve really started saying smooth things, haven’t you?”

“That’s thanks to you, Hazuki-san.”

“…Hearing that makes me a little jealous. After all, the Shiba-kun I ‘raised’ is now using that charm to make other women happy, right?”

They sat down on a wooden bench.

Hazuki turned to Ryoma with an expression that was both teasing and a little meaningful.

“‘Raised’, huh…?”

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

“Then, since I’m still growing, maybe I should ask for some child support.”

“Wait, that’s not how this works. That comeback was totally unexpected…”

Only Ryoma could take the conversation in such a direction. Hazuki raised a thin brow, clearly caught off guard.

“Just a little joke. But in all seriousness, I need to earn money to survive. I’m sure you understand, too.”

“…It’s rare for someone your age to be working this kind of job. Are you trying to pay for university on your own?”

Scholarships existed, but in reality, nearly 70% of university students had to work part-time to afford tuition and daily life.

University fees were high. Many students, like Ryoma, had no choice but to work tirelessly.

“Yes. My family… well, it’s just my sister now. And because she’s my only family, I don’t want to burden her.”

“That’s admirable. Is your sister working full-time?”

“Yeah. She works really hard to support us.”

“This is just a guess, but… your sister must be very capable. I imagine she’s just as considerate as you, Shiba-kun.”

“I’m not the best judge of myself, but you’re not wrong. Also, they’re way too sharp—it’s honestly kind of tough. The truth is, my part-time job is a secret from my sister.”

“Oh my, that is a problem. Sharp people can be a real nuisance… they notice the things you want them to see, but also the things you don’t want them to.”

“Exactly! She always asks, ‘Where were you today?’—which is the last thing I want to answer. It’s really a pain.”

Hazuki also knew someone sharp like that. Too many similarities to ignore, and before they knew it, the conversation took off unexpectedly.

Though, in reality, they were both thinking about the same person…

“There are some nerve-wracking moments, but there’s one thing that gives me peace of mind.”

“Peace of mind?”

“It’s about my sister. She says she’s working under a really great boss who supports her a lot. So, even though the job is tough, at least in terms of the work environment and relationships, she’s in a good place. Ah, sorry, I went off-topic there.”

“No, it makes sense. Your work environment can really affect your health. Feeling reassured is only natural.”

“Yeah. Having someone in a higher position who actually supports you is a huge help.”

Hazuki had no way of knowing—this conversation was about to hit right at the heart of her own struggles.

“That’s why… I’m sure the people working under you are grateful, too.”

“…!?”

Ryoma tightened his grip on her hand and glanced at her sideways.

Hazuki’s eyes widened in surprise. The sudden turn in the conversation had clearly caught her off guard.

“I can tell, because I’ve spent time with you. You’re exactly the kind of person my sister described—someone who supports those around them.”

“…You’re young, Shiba-kun. Do you really think the way I act at work and the way I act in private are the same?”

But Hazuki quickly masked her reaction. The same way she hid her exhaustion at work, she disguised her emotions now.

“With you, it is the same. You try to hide it with makeup, but you’ve got faint dark circles under your eyes.”

“…!”

“Dark circles mean you haven’t been getting enough sleep lately.”

“T-Today, I got plenty of sleep in the morning!”

“Today. Just today, right?”

She was clearly trying to talk her way out of it, but with the evidence right there, it wasn’t a very convincing escape.

No one liked showing their weaknesses. That much was the same for everyone.

“You must have sacrificed your sleep to cover for someone else or to support them, right?”

“W-Why would you assume that? For all you know, I could have been out partying.”

“You said something during our first proxy date—’I hate hurting people. When things get tough, I use this service as a distraction’. If you were out partying, you wouldn’t have needed to call me, let alone spend money on it.”

“…”

“If I’m completely off the mark, this is going to be really embarrassing, but I’ll say it anyway.”

He had more than enough clues—the email from the company, the way she carried herself, her exhaustion. There was no way he was wrong about this.

“Knowing your personality, I don’t think you’d ever get irrationally angry. But if someone under you made a mistake, you’d have to scold them, right? And that could hurt them. If that pattern keeps repeating, the only way to stop it is to quit.”

“…You’re right.”

Hazuki closed her eyes for a moment.

“I don’t know the specifics of what happened, so I won’t pretend to understand it all. But there’s one thing I do want to say. And I know it sounds arrogant coming from me.”

“Go on. I’ll listen until the end.”

“When things get too hard, please rely on me. Don’t blame yourself for everything. And if you must blame yourself, at least wait until I’m beside you to do it. Until then, try not to think about it… Because I understand you, Hazuki-san.”

The words weren’t entirely his own. He had borrowed them from Aira—’Having someone who understands you makes things so much easier!’—but he meant every word.

More than anything, he wanted Hazuki to realize she didn’t have to bear everything alone. That, at least in front of him, she could let go of the weight she carried.

Hazuki, quick-witted as ever, grasped the meaning behind his words instantly.

“You’re quite the strategist… trying to comfort me while making it sound like business.”

“I won’t tell anyone about what you shared during our proxy dates. So please, if you ever need to, just rely on me.”

That final reassurance, the promise of discretion, was what finally tipped the scales for Hazuki.

She exhaled softly.

“…It’s gotten a little cold.”

“Do you want my jacket?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just…”

“Ah…”

She trailed off, then, without warning, released his right hand. Before he could question it, she took his left hand instead—gripping it lightly and shifting closer.

Now, their arms brushed against each other, the space between them nearly nonexistent.

“Wh-What’s with this all of a sudden…?”

“Shiba-kun, this isn’t against the rules. This is simply an unavoidable action to keep warm…If you understand, then you’ll get it, right?”

Hazuki intertwined her right arm with Ryoma’s left, leaning her body against him. Just like she had done back at the bar, she rested her head near his shoulder.

“…This will keep you warm, Shiba-kun.”

“Y-Yeah… I guess so.”

“Mm. From now on, I’ll be relying on you a little more… And when that time comes… again…”

“Y-Yes…”

“…Thank you, Shiba-kun.”

As she pulled his arm closer, Hazuki buried her face against it, her voice muffled—hiding the embarrassment in her words.

The sea breeze bit through the cold night air, yet between Ryoma and Hazuki, warmth only continued to rise…