Pure Route in a Netorare School

From Rin’s Perspective

Soft morning light filtered through the paper shoji screens.

I opened my eyes before the alarm even went off.

Six in the morning.

As always.

This habit had been drilled into me back in childhood.

I quickly folded up the futon, changed into my sports uniform, and paused for a second at the window before heading out.

The vast grounds of the Sakamoto family mansion were already coming to life. Gardeners were trimming the bushes. Several guards patrolled the perimeter. Black family cars were parked at the main gates.

I smiled quietly to myself.

— Good morning…

I went down into the courtyard and immediately broke into a light jog.

— Good morning, Rin-sama.

— Good morning.

The guards bowed out of habit. I answered with the same light nod and kept running along the winding stone path through the garden.

The morning air was cool. After a few minutes my body finally woke up completely. But my thoughts today kept stubbornly circling back to only one thing.

“Today Hayato-kun and I are finally going to work on the biology project…”

I couldn’t help smiling.

“I hope… I can spend a little more time with him.”

A warm feeling spread through my chest right away.

“Thank you, Kurosaki-kun…”

“If it weren’t for you… I’d probably still just be watching from the sidelines.”

I picked up the pace a little. Today I wanted to look especially nice. Even if it was only a joint school project.

I kept running along the path, trying to keep my breathing steady.

In…

Out…

Neatly trimmed pines, stone lanterns, and a small koi pond drifted past.

— Good morning, Rin-sama.

— Good morning.

I smiled at two guards patrolling the far end of the grounds. One bowed respectfully. The other immediately stepped off the path to give me room. I ran past.

Today everything felt especially pleasant. Cool air. The quiet of the garden. Even the usual training felt easier. Probably because after classes I had the joint project with Hayato-kun waiting for me.

We would sit next to each other. Discuss biology. Maybe argue about how to split the material. And then… if the work ran long, he would probably suggest tea.

I smiled again without meaning to.

“This is just a school project, Rin.”

“No need to turn it into a whole date.”

My cheeks still warmed up a little anyway. I increased my pace.

But the moment I thought about the upcoming meeting, my memory suddenly pulled up a completely different day. Not Hayato-kun. Kurosaki-kun. That advertising photoshoot for sports supplements.

I almost tripped.

— Oh…

The shooting platform appeared far too vividly in front of my eyes. Kurosaki-kun stood in the middle of it wearing nothing but black sports shorts. Tall. Massive. Skin damp from the workout, muscles tense. I had seen his photos before, but in person he looked even bigger.

And then he leaned down to my ear and said in a completely calm voice:

— You’re really hot in that outfit.

My face instantly started burning again.

— Idiot…

I muttered under my breath while still running. Then I punched him lightly in the abs. He just laughed, as if my hit had been no stronger than a touch.

But the worst part came later. The head photographer decided that ordinary shots with dumbbells and shakers didn’t look dynamic enough. So Kurosaki-kun got into a push-up position… and they laid me on his back.

I still remembered the warmth of his body even through the fabric. Every push-up made the muscles beneath me tense and shift. But he didn’t falter even once. He lifted me along with himself so easily, as if I weighed nothing. And I had to smile at the camera and repeat that awful advertising line about the stallion. I only managed to say it normally on the tenth take.

— Why did I even agree to this?..

I covered my face with my hand right there on the run. But the memory wouldn’t let go.

The next shot was even worse. Kurosaki-kun used me instead of a barbell. One hand supported me by the waist, the other under my hips. I sat on his shoulders and felt every single movement of his body. He did repetition after repetition — calm, confident. Then he even told the camera that I didn’t even count as his working weight.

I could barely stay on my feet afterward. And it wasn’t from the workout.

When the shoot ended, he immediately noticed my state. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t make any weird jokes. He just draped a towel over my shoulders and said softly:

— You worked hard.

Probably… that was what stuck with me the most. After all the awkward shots. After the closeness. After literally lying on his heated body… he looked at me without teasing. Just with quiet care.

I lost my breath again.

I remembered how I went home after that shoot. How I locked my bedroom door. How I sat on the bed and pressed a pillow to my face…

I closed my eyes. My cheeks instantly grew hot.

Then I couldn’t stop myself. I lay on my back, slid a hand behind my head, and slowly moved my fingers over myself while only his hands, his voice, and the way he said “You worked hard” played in my head. The way he lifted me so easily during the push-ups. The way his muscles moved beneath me.

I finished quickly that time. Too quickly. And I still didn’t stop. I did it again — louder this time, no longer holding back the sounds. Imagining him walking into my room, looking at me with that same calm confidence he had on the platform. Approaching closer. Touching…

— Stop it, Rin…

I shook my head sharply.

— Today is the project with Hayato-kun.

— I need to think about that.

I repeated it in Japanese this time, as if the words would sound more convincing. But my cheeks were still burning. And that strange warmth remained inside me.

I broke into an almost full sprint. One of the guards at the main building looked at me in surprise.

— Rin-sama, is everything all right?

— Yes!

The answer came out too fast. I immediately switched to English:

— Everything is perfectly fine!

The guard blinked, then bowed respectfully.

— Glad to hear it.

I ran past, feeling my face grow even redder.

“Great. Now even the security thinks something’s wrong with me.”

I took a few more sips of tea and picked up my phone again. The feed had updated. The very first video was a new clip from Kurosaki-kun.

— Already this early in the morning?..

I pressed play without thinking.

On screen was the spacious backyard of his new house. The sun had only just risen above the roofs. The water in the large pool shimmered with blue highlights. Kurosaki-kun stood at the edge in nothing but swim trunks, smiling calmly at the camera.

— Good morning.

— I finally finished setting up the house.

— I’ll show you something I’ve wanted to use every single day.

The camera glided smoothly across the yard — a small garden, terrace, training area, and the big pool.

— After a morning run, this is the best part.

He dived in without any unnecessary flair and swam calmly in different styles for several minutes before climbing out. Water streamed down his broad shoulders and defined muscles. He ran a hand through his wet hair in that familiar motion, then smiled at the camera.

— I think buying this house was worth it.

The video ended. I hadn’t even noticed I’d watched the whole thing. My gaze dropped lower.

Comments. There were already hundreds.

«Marry me.»

«Can I move in with you too?»

«This pool is now officially the most beautiful place in Japan.»

«Why does he get more handsome every single month?..»

«Those shoulders are a crime.»

«I would voluntarily drown in that pool.»

«Can the next video be ten hours long?»

I sighed quietly.

— What is wrong with them…

My finger was already about to scroll further, but my eyes went back to the comments.

«Those shoulders are a crime.»

…

I couldn’t help remembering the sports-supplement shoot. How calmly he had held me on his shoulders… as if I really weighed almost nothing. My cheeks warmed again.

«…Well…»

«His shoulders really are impressive.»

I shook my head at once.

— No.

— I’m not like that.

I scrolled down quickly. The next video was again with Kurosaki-kun, but this time Miu was beside him.

— Already the third one…

I opened it. They were filming another joint sports video. This time they were competing in various exercises. Miu was her usual incredibly energetic self.

— Don’t hold back on me!

— I’m not holding back.

— Liar!

— Then catch up.

She snorted and immediately started the next exercise even faster. Comments were already piling up.

«I love your banter.»

«These two look perfect together in one frame.»

«When’s the next joint video?»

«Miu keeps getting stronger with every upload.»

«Kurosaki’s an excellent trainer.»

I stared at the screen for a few seconds. Then smiled softly.

— They… really do work well together.

But almost immediately a strange, tiny feeling appeared in my chest. Barely noticeable. For some reason it felt a little hurtful.

Over the past few weeks Kurosaki-kun had already filmed several joint videos with Miu. With me… there had only been that one advertising project and the very first video…

I slowly set the phone down beside the tray.

«Interesting…»

«If he ever offers another joint shoot…»

The corners of my mouth lifted on their own.

«…this time I won’t get so embarrassed.»

The thought made me smile quietly.

— Although…

— That’s probably not true.

I finished my tea, straightened my uniform, and stood up from the table. A minute later I was already in the inner courtyard.

As always, a long black sedan waited at the gates. The driver immediately opened the back door.

— Good morning, Rin-sama.

— Good morning.

I got in. The door closed softly. The car pulled away almost silently. I looked out the window out of habit. The Sakamoto mansion slowly receded behind us. Then came ordinary residential blocks. Schoolchildren. Mothers with kids. Elderly people walking their dogs. Someone riding a bicycle. Someone sleepily carrying toast…

I smiled without meaning to.

“Interesting…”

“What must it be like…”

“Walking to school on foot every morning?”

With friends. Chatting about nothing… Arguing. Laughing. Buying coffee from a vending machine on the way. Stopping at a store for a bun. Not thinking about bodyguards… Not thinking about safety. Not checking every car behind you.

…

Father would never allow it. For the Sakamoto family, safety wasn’t a habit. It was a rule. Sometimes it felt like there were more bodyguards around me than classmates.

I sighed quietly.

— Someday…

The driver glanced in the mirror.

— Pardon?

I smiled softly.

— Nothing.

A few minutes later the car stopped in front of the school. One of the guards had already opened the door for me.

— Have a good day, Rin-sama.

— Thank you.

I bowed out of habit and headed toward the entrance.

Inside, by the shoe lockers, the usual group had already gathered. Hayato. Miu. Yuki. Aya. And Kurosaki-kun.

I slowed down. The first thing I noticed was Yuki. And… I blinked involuntarily.

“Again…”

“She’s changed again.”

Not long ago she used to stand a little apart. Spoke quietly. Almost always held her bag in front of her. If someone spoke to her unexpectedly, she would blush immediately.

Now…

She was the one telling Hayato something first. Laughing. Even gently nudging his shoulder when he gave an awkward reply to her joke.

— Hey, Hayato-kun, are you serious?

She laughed brightly. Hayato scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

— I… well…

— Ha-ha! You got embarrassed again!

Even Miu went quiet for a second, watching them.

“She…”

“She’s already almost as lively as Miu.”

Not as loud. Not as unrestrained. But… Yuki no longer seemed afraid to take up space next to everyone else. And now she was the one steering the conversation.

Miu was usually the center of the whole group. But today… Yuki wasn’t yielding to her at all.

I shifted my gaze to Kurosaki-kun. He stood calmly a little to the side, as always. Almost didn’t interfere. Only smiled occasionally while watching everything.

“He did say…”

“That he helps people become more confident.”

“Could it really be…”

“That this is actually his doing?”

For some reason the thought made me look at Yuki again. She was laughing — completely sincerely. Like that… I had never seen her like this before