Rent a girlfriend: Reincarnated as a responsible menace.

Knock, Knock, Knock...

I opened the doors to see... Mami?

She's either here to kill me for embarrassment or thank me to show her the right way. Honestly, either's overdue.

Mami enters, and looking at me in the eye asks, "Why didn't you ever act like that with me?"

I raising an eyebrow asked, "Define that."

"Like how you were with her. Respectful. Calm. Understanding. Like you gave a damn but weren't desperate."

I looked at her for a second, then thinking about what 'Kazuya' would do at this situation, I did something he wouldn't.

Giving her the truth.

"Because with you, I was still trying to earn approval.With Sumi… I just listened. No expectations. Just… her."

She looks at me for a few minutes, then gives a hollow chuckle, and depreciatingly says, "You know what the worst part is? You're actually… good at this. Helping people. Not falling apart. Like it feels like you just rise the moment you left me. Like I was the one holding you back like a leach.

You're still a troll, but…"

"But I'm not the pathetic simp from Season 1. Yeah. We all noticed."

"It's annoying.", She says

"What, that I grew up?" I ask to test the water, but her reply-

"No. That you didn't need me to do it."

"That was always the problem with you Mami. You suffered because of your father's choice, and you vented it out by trying to control the one's you dated. To feel something, but you couldn't because the path you took never had a way towards light"

I could see tears forming in her eyes, the moment I finished. But no sound was coming out of her. Like she was to tired from the world, to even cry normally.

"Watching you with Sumi... it made me feel... replaceable."

"You were never replaceable.But I stopped begging to be chosen.Now I choose who gets my energy."

She now looks up and stares at me. For long. The she breaks the silence.

"And if I asked for it now? Your energy?"

"I'd give you honesty. Not love. Not anymore. It's too late for that now. You missed the window. I didn't close it out of spite. I just redecorated the house."

"Its too late for us to be together, but I can forget about the past. We can start a new relationship as friends. Its not too late for that.", I say to her, while raising my hand for her to shake.

She looks at my hand, then to me, then slowly raises her hand and grasps with mine.

She looks at me with determined eyes, and says, "I know my wrongs. But I still need some time, to realize what I did wrong. I need to this alone, but I would need help in the aftermath. Woul-"

I cut her off, before she could ask, "It would be hypocritical of me to say it all, just to refuse to help you. Count me in. If you truly want to change yourself, then I would help you"

She gives me a smile hearing that. A small but genuine smile.

But she doesn't say anything. Instead just bows down and leaves.

I just stand there in silence, until, "Trouble"

I turn to the side to see chizuru in glasses, looking at me questioningly.

"I think, author's in mood for some redemption arc"

"What?"

"Don't worry about it. What's up?"

"I just came in to say thanks for Sumi"

"It's the least I could do for my treasure"

"Cut the act. She told me about the three guys who troubled her. Most wouldn't dare protect one at that scenario"

"Don't tell me you're also here to tell me about all the 'I judged you wrong' bullshit"

"No. You're a menace to emotional stability, but you don't fake things, and no how to take responsibility for your actions. That's rare. This world could use more of that"

...Did she just indirectly called as a Responsible Menace?

"Oh my." I breath out

"What happened?", she asks confused

"Author tricked me into Title Drop!!!"

Chizuru's thoughts, 'Is he messing with me, or has he gone senile by now?'

The Next Day!!!

We were ready, "Today's stream isn't about dating advice. It's about taking time to be gentle — with others and yourself."

Camera pans to, Grandma Nagomi sitting like a true veteran, and Sumi, holding her napkins and pen like it's a sacred weapon.

Our stream started off with Grams, dropping fire one liner like usual, "You don't need a loud voice to slap sense into someone.Just raise an eyebrow. Works on exes and politicians."

...That were two lines, anyway let's see what Sumi has to 'say'.

Sumi: If someone makes you anxious more than happy… don't call it love.

Good start. Chat's response agrees to.

#"Sumi is our anxiety queen 🥺"

#"Team Napkin Notes!!"

#"Protect her at all costs"

Sumi: "Quiet doesn't mean 'yes.' It means 'wait.'"

Ok, if I don't say anything, she'll just take all the limelight. Time to put my charm into work.

"Remember Kids, 'Cute is temporary but Communication is eternal'"

Grandma not be left behind says an actual one-liner while sipping her infinite tea.

"Why bend for someone who wouldn't even lean in? Respect starts with you."

Sumi nods, while I go over to grandma for a brofist. Which she obviously reciprocates.

She's cool like that.

30 Minutes Later

"Hey mom, how you doing?", I ask mom while putting her on the speaker, so that everyone could hear her too.

"Hey Kazu, how's the stream going? Mother's not troubling you is she?" She asks over the phone.

Before Grandma could speak something, i cut her off, "It's going good Ma, actually we're live right now, and chat want some dating advice form you."\

"Oh, there's one from your aunt, 'If she makes you question your worth, I'll make her question her knee health'"

"Somehow, I don't doubt that", Grams reply to that, clearly sour from mention of my aunt. 

Some Family Lore for another time.

 At the end of the Stream!!!

"A departing message to all my humming birds you all."

"Sometimes you meet someone and think: 'They're the one.'But then you meet someone else… and realize what peace actually feels like.

Don't mistaken tension for chemistry fellas. Don't make the same mistake as your old sensei here.

Learn from his mistakes"

After that I talk to grams and Sumi, before deciding to drop them off, thinking it was getting late.

Though Grams insisted me to drop Sumi, I was denying her until she called Dad in front of me, to pick her up.

So I dropped Sumi to the station, and instructed her to call me when she returns. Then went to my apartment again.

As I was laying down on my bed, a message pops on my screen. I picked it up and saw.

#Kuri: Friday Night Out. Kibe knows a chill spot. And also his old man's car. Kai's coming too. You in?

Kibe's chill is as chill as a Lion's den.

#Kazuya: Fuck Yeah.

#Kuri: Good. We're waiting in the car.

Wait what? I went outside to see Kibe, Kuri grinning like madmen, while Kai was waving at me to come over. I rushed inside, and we went off.

Pre-Game Ramen (Not Ichiraku) at their Favorite Spot

I started off the talk with, "Alright, boys. No ex talk, no sad talk, and definitely no 'I think I still miss her' speeches."

Kuri replies with, "Damn, there goes 60% of my material."

Kai, being the foody he is, replies while munching, "I'm here for the dumplings and the bros"

Kibe raising his ramen bowl says, "Let's toast to something simple—being single, being stupid, and being sickeningly attractive."

"Oh Yeah"

At the Arcade

Madness. Total MADNESS I say.

I mean I never thought of ever being in a rhythm game battle, with my ex's ex!

"Why is this game harder than college entrance exams?!" I ask sweating bullets.

Kai in all seriousness replies, "Because this one judges rhythm and soul."

You think this is crazy, wait to see Kibe, who was literally bullying 9 year olds, in air hockey and yelling "Skill Issue"

Even right now he's like, "I'm not sorry. Life's tough, kid. Get good."

You think that would be enough. Meet Kuri trying to win a plushie but keeps failing.

"You think you're better than me, huh? Well It doesn't matter now.

Cause I'm gonna win. Even if you come back as another Plushie machine.

I'll still win. Change your name. Change your form. I'll win again.

This is my mission in this war..."

Yeah madness got through his head.

30 Minutes Later!!!

"I swear I'm only doing one song—"

"Liar" Kibe and Kuri screams

Kai follows up with, "'Unravel' and 'Cruel Angel's Thesis' would like to differ."

5 minutes Later!!!

Now Kai was singing "Let Me Love You" by Mario like he's been heartbroken 8 times and is healing.

Kuri asks, "Why do you sound like someone who's cried in the shower before?"

Kibe drunken replies, "Bro's voice got dumped and trained by a chinese cultivator"

3 Hours Later

We were sitting on a rooftop, no yelling. Only Beer cans popping off.

Kibe popping his beer says, "You know? I'm glad we didn't invite anyone else. No pressure, no flex, just us idiots."

"Honestly… this was better than any date I've been on.", I reply

"Facts. No expectations. Just chicks and chaos. The better chicks" Kuri says, while eating the chicken nuggets.

Kai smilingly says, "We should make this a monthly thing."

Kibe smirkingly says, "Unless one of you gets cuffed."

 "Says the drake look alike" I reply.

We all laugh together at the clear dark sky.

No heartaches. No drama. Just laughter echoing into the city sky. Nights like these don't get enough credit… but they're the ones that heal you the most.