Hiroshi stared at the screen, his finger hovering over the "confirm" button.
He'd spent the last hour browsing through the profiles of potential rental girlfriends, each one more intimidating than the last.
There was "Princess Ai," a doe-eyed beauty who claimed to be a champion ice skater; "Melody Mizuki," a sultry singer with a voice like melted chocolate; and "Miss Enigma," a mysterious woman whose profile picture was simply a close-up of her piercing blue eyes.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, Hiroshi was about to give up when he stumbled upon a profile that was unlike any of the others. The girl in the picture had short, spiky black hair, multiple piercings, and a fierce expression that could curdle milk. Her name was "Raven," and her bio simply read: "Not your average rental girlfriend."
Intrigued, Hiroshi clicked on her profile. Raven's gallery was filled with photos of her riding a motorcycle, playing electric guitar, and posing with a pet snake. She listed her interests as "heavy metal, tattoos, and dismantling the patriarchy."
"Whoa," Hiroshi breathed. This girl was definitely not what he'd expected. She was the complete opposite of the sweet, innocent girls he usually fantasized about. But there was something about her rebellious spirit and unapologetic attitude that drew him in.
He read through her reviews, which were a mixed bag. Some clients praised her for her "unique personality" and "unforgettable experience," while others complained that she was "too intense" and "scared the crap out of them."
Hiroshi hesitated. Was he ready for this? Could he handle a girl like Raven?
He winced, remembering Aiko's cruel laughter and the sting of her rejection. "You? Go out with me?" The words echoed in his mind. "What do I have to lose?" he muttered, and with a surge of reckless abandon, he clicked the "rent" button....
The next day, Hiroshi waited nervously at the designated meeting spot, a trendy café near campus. He'd spent the morning agonizing over his outfit, finally settling on a plain white T-shirt and his least-wrinkled jeans. He'd even attempted to tame his unruly white hair with a generous amount of gel, but it seemed to have a mind of its own.
As the minutes ticked by, Hiroshi's anxiety grew. What if Raven was even more intimidating in person? What if she thought he was a complete loser? What if she brought her pet snake along?
Just as he was about to give up and go home, a motorcycle roared to a stop in front of the café. Hiroshi's jaw dropped as Raven dismounted, her black leather jacket gleaming in the sunlight. She looked even more striking in person, her eyes flashing with a mischievous glint.
"You Hiroshi?" she asked, her voice surprisingly soft.
Hiroshi stammered a greeting, his cheeks flushing red. Raven smirked.
"Don't worry," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "I don't bite… hard."
And with that, Hiroshi's first rental date began.