Hiroshi walked back to his dorm room, his mind replaying the events of his date with Raven.
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. Who was she really, and what was this "duty" that had called her away so abruptly?
His curiosity piqued, Hiroshi decided to do a little online sleuthing. He opened his laptop and typed "Raven" into the search bar, along with a few keywords like "motorcycle" and "tattoo." To his surprise, the search results yielded a plethora of information.
It turned out that Raven, whose real name was Rina (he still didn't know her last name), was a member of a notorious biker gang called the "Black Serpents." The gang was known for their daredevil stunts, their fierce loyalty, and their involvement in various… "extracurricular activities" that were best left unmentioned.
Hiroshi scrolled through the photos of Rina with her fellow gang members, his eyes widening with each click. She looked like a completely different person in these photos, her face hardened, her eyes filled with a fierce determination. He saw pictures of her participating in illegal street races, confronting rival gangs, and even… was that her spray-painting graffiti on a police car?
Hiroshi was stunned. He couldn't believe that the sweet, thoughtful girl he'd shared ramen with was the same person who led this double life. He felt a mixture of fascination and fear, his heart pounding with a strange excitement.
Lost in his online investigation, Hiroshi absentmindedly scrolled through the Diamond Dates app.
He was so engrossed in reading about Raven's exploits that he barely registered what he was doing on the app. His thumb, as if possessed by an independent entity, started tapping away. Click, click, click - he swiped through profiles, barely glancing at the pictures. Then, whoops - his finger slipped, and he accidentally hit the "rent" button on a profile that flashed by.
"Oh, crap!" Hiroshi muttered, his eyes widening in horror. He quickly checked the confirmation screen.
He'd just booked a date with "Lily," a girl who looked like she'd stepped straight out of a beauty pageant.
"Great," he groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Just what I need - another date."
He quickly checked Lily's profile. The picture showed a beautiful girl with long, flowing blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a dazzling smile. Her bio described her as a "kind, compassionate soul" who loved "reading, volunteering, and making the world a better place."
Hiroshi groaned. After his experience with Raven, the idea of going on a date with a stereotypical "good girl" seemed incredibly boring. But he'd already paid for the service, and he didn't want to waste his money.
The next day, Hiroshi reluctantly made his way to the library, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Raven. He found Lily waiting for him in the reading room, a stack of books piled neatly beside her. She looked even more beautiful in person, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like a golden waterfall.
"Hiroshi?" she asked, her voice as sweet as honey.
Hiroshi managed a weak smile. "That's me," he said, feeling a surge of inadequacy.
Lily beamed. "It's so nice to finally meet you! I've heard so much about you."
Hiroshi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You have?"
Lily giggled. "Of course! The Diamond Dates app provides us with a detailed profile of our clients. It helps us to… tailor our experience to your specific needs."
Hiroshi felt a shiver run down his spine. He hadn't realized how much information the app collected on its users. He suddenly felt very exposed.
Lily, oblivious to his discomfort, continued to chatter about her interests and hobbies. Hiroshi tried to pay attention, but his mind kept wandering back to Raven. He couldn't help but compare the two girls, their contrasting personalities and lifestyles.
As they were leaving the library, they bumped into Aiko, Hiroshi's former crush. Aiko's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Hiroshi with Lily.
"Hiroshi?" she said, her voice laced with disbelief. "Is that… your girlfriend?"
Hiroshi felt his cheeks burning. He wanted to explain, to tell Aiko that Lily was just a rental girlfriend, but the words wouldn't come out.
Lily, sensing his hesitation, stepped forward and slipped her arm through his. "Yes," she said, her voice firm and confident. "I'm his girlfriend. And we're very happy together."
Aiko's jaw dropped. She stared at them for a moment, then turned and fled, her high heels clicking angrily on the pavement.
Hiroshi watched her go, a strange mix of satisfaction and guilt swirling within him. He'd finally gotten one over on Aiko, but at what cost?