Pure Route in a Netorare School

He kept carrying me in his arms all the way to the car.

I asked him several times to put me down, but Ren acted like he didn’t hear me at all.

He opened the door.

And suddenly sat me down in the driver’s seat.

— Hey! — I immediately tensed up. — I don’t even know how to drive!

The seat turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. Deep. It felt like it wrapped around me from all sides.

Inside, the car looked nothing like the ordinary cars I had ridden in before.

Low seating position.

Leather interior.

A lot of buttons.

A dashboard that looked more like an airplane cockpit.

Beautiful.

And a little intimidating.

Ren didn’t even listen to my protests.

He simply closed the door, quickly walked around the car, and got into the passenger seat.

— Adjust the steering wheel and seat for yourself.

— Are you even listening to me?

— Of course.

He calmly showed me which buttons to press. The seat moved forward. I shifted closer to the wheel, then lowered it a little. My feet could now comfortably reach the pedals.

— Better? — he asked.

I carefully placed my hands on the steering wheel.

— Probably.

For some reason, just from this one action, a strange excitement appeared inside me. As if the car already belonged to me. Even though the engine wasn’t even started yet.

— So what were you thinking about?..

He didn’t let me finish again.

He took my hand. His fingers covered mine and guided them toward the button next to the steering wheel.

— Press it.

— What if I break something?

— Then we’ll buy a new one.

I looked at him.

He said it completely seriously.

Annoying.

Ren pressed down on my finger.

The engine came to life.

A deep vibration spread through the cabin. Not loud, but so heavy that I felt it with my whole body.

— Whoa…

Ren smirked slyly.

— Now press the gas. Right pedal.

I looked down.

— Just press it?

— Gently.

I hesitated for a moment. Then carefully touched the pedal with my foot.

At least, I thought I did it gently.

The car suddenly roared.

I got scared, pulled my foot back, and pressed myself into the seat.

Ren laughed.

— What’s so funny?! — I protested. — This is my first time doing this!

He turned toward me.

His smile became softer. Kinder.

But his gaze remained too attentive. Too penetrating.

— You’re still really cute.

Bastard.

When he looked at me like that and said things like this, I had no idea how to react. My cheeks immediately became hot.

But this time, I didn’t look away.

I didn’t want to show that he had flustered me again.

— This has nothing to do with driving.

— It has everything to do with it.

— How?

— You’re especially cute when you’re scared but still trying to act like you’re in control.

— I am in control.

— Of course.

It was obvious from his face that he didn’t believe me at all.

I puffed out my cheeks and looked at the pedal again.

— Try again, — Ren said. — Don’t hit it. Press it gradually.

I carefully placed my foot on the gas.

— Feel the engine, — he continued. — Don’t be afraid of it.

I pressed down slowly.

This time the roar was lower. Smoother. A vibration ran through the body again.

I pressed a little more.

The needle on the dashboard rose.

The sound changed. Became deeper.

As if the car was responding to me.

— That’s it, — Ren said quietly. — Do you feel it?

I nodded.

I pressed a few more times. More confidently now.

And finally understood what he meant.

This was completely different from the cars I had ridden in before. Those were small. Quiet. Practical. The kind of cars people made in Japan so you could calmly get from one place to another.

But this car was different.

It wasn’t made for comfort or practicality.

It was made for speed.

For sound.

For the feeling of power under your foot.

I pressed the pedal again, a little harder.

The engine responded instantly.

A shiver ran through my body.

The fear gradually disappeared.

In its place came excitement.

— Do you like it? — Ren asked.

I wanted to answer that it was nothing special. That it was just a loud car. That he was smiling for no reason.

But instead, I pressed the gas again.

A little harder this time.

Ren quietly chuckled.

— I think I already got my answer.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter.

— We’re not actually going anywhere, are we?

He looked ahead.

Then at me.

— We are.

My smile immediately became a little strained.

— Where?

— To my house. It’s not far.

I looked through the windshield.

Cars were moving beyond the parking lot. Real ones. There were traffic lights, intersections, pedestrians, and drivers who clearly weren’t going to patiently wait while I figured out what to do.

One thing was circling around an empty space.

And something completely different was driving out into the city.

The nervousness returned immediately.

But along with it, I also felt something else.

The car under me seemed to be craving movement. It felt cramped in this parking lot. It wanted to get out onto the road. To pick up speed. To show what it was capable of.

And strangely enough… I wanted the same thing.

— But I…

Ren placed his palm on my head.

He slowly stroked my hair.

My thoughts immediately started to get tangled.

— Don’t doubt yourself, — he said.

I looked at him.

Ren was no longer smiling. His face had become serious.

— I’ll tell you what to do. Don’t rush. Watch the road and listen to me.

He lightly pressed his palm on the top of my head.

— And if any problems come up, I’ll solve them.

It sounded like a statement of fact, not an empty promise. He wasn’t trying to calm me down with pretty words. He was simply stating a fact.

And I knew that Ren would actually handle it. No matter what happened.

If I made a mistake — he would intervene.

If someone started honking or shouting — one look from him would be enough to shut them up.

Next to him, I felt protected even while I was the one holding the steering wheel.

— Besides, — he added, leaning back in his seat, — on a car like this, they’ll notice you even without me.

I looked at the dashboard again.

Ran my fingers over the steering wheel.

Cars like this were rare. Most people could only watch them pass by. And right now, I was the one sitting behind the wheel of this one.

A strange sense of superiority appeared inside me.

As if the whole city had become decoration.

And for the first time, I stopped being an invisible part of the crowd.

Ren noticed.

Of course he did.

— Do you like the feeling? — he asked.

— What feeling?

— When you know that everyone is going to look at you.

I tried to make an indifferent face.

— I’m already used to people looking at me.

— This is different.

He was right.

Before, other people’s gazes often made me feel awkward. Now I wanted people to look. Not at my body. Not at my clothes. At me behind the wheel of this car.

— Well? — Ren asked. — Shall we go?

I looked at the exit.

My heart started beating faster again. My fingers gripped the steering wheel more tightly.

— Just don’t distract me and tell me everything in advance.

— Of course.

— And if I say I want to stop…

— We’ll stop.

I looked at him suspiciously.

— Right away?

— Almost right away.

— Kurosaki.

He smiled.

— I’m right here.

Just three words.

But the nervousness receded a little.

I took a deep breath.

Checked the road.

Turned on the turn signal.

Slowly took my foot off the brake.

The car smoothly moved toward the exit.

And at that moment, when the front wheels crossed the boundary of the parking lot, it felt like I was crossing some invisible line too.

I didn’t want to go back anymore.

As soon as we left the parking lot, all my confidence disappeared somewhere.

My hands immediately gripped the steering wheel tighter. My shoulders tensed up. I could feel my fingers starting to tremble.

There were too many cars around. Too many signs. Too many things I had to watch at the same time.

— Ren…

He didn’t even turn his head.

He just calmly said:

— I’m right here.

His voice immediately cut through the noise of the engine and my own panic.

— Do what you think is right. If something happens, I’ll take care of it.

Those words worked better than any instructions.

The fear didn’t disappear completely.

But it stopped controlling me.

Ren was next to me.

And that meant I could try.

I could make mistakes.

I could do things I would never have dared to do yesterday.

He wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

“I’m not going to be that scared girl anymore.”

I took a deep breath.

Checked the road.

Turned the wheel and drove out onto the wide street.

The car responded instantly to the light press of the pedal.

It even seemed to me that it had been waiting for this.

As if it had been holding back this whole time just for me.

Speed began to increase.

The city started flowing toward us.

I saw other drivers noticing us in their mirrors… Some even changed lanes in advance. Others kept a little more distance.

Maybe it was because of the loud engine.

Maybe because of the car itself.

It looked too expensive, too fast, and too dangerous for anyone to want to get close without a reason.

From this, it became warm inside.

Just a few minutes ago I was afraid to even move from the spot.

And now the road seemed to open up in front of me on its own.

— Speed up a little, — Ren said.

— Are you sure?

— Yes.

I pressed the pedal.

The engine immediately answered with a deep roar.

I was pressed harder into the seat.

I involuntarily let out a small cry.

But I didn’t take my foot off.

Instead of fear, a thrill came.

Pure. Almost childish.

I changed into the next lane, overtook a slow car, and returned to my lane again.

My movements became more and more confident.

The steering wheel responded to the slightest touch.

It felt like the car understood me before I even made the decision.

— Good, — Ren said. — Just don’t rush before turns.

I obediently slowed down.

Turned.

Then pressed the gas again.

With every new maneuver, the tension left me.

I was no longer thinking about the fact that I had never driven before.

I wasn’t thinking about Hayato.

About the roof.

About the tears.

In that moment, only the road, the car, and the person sitting next to me existed.

The feeling of flight filled me.

Speed.

Freedom.

Power over a huge machine that obeyed every movement of my foot.

This was one of the best moments of my life.

I quickly glanced at Ren.

He wasn’t watching the road.

He was looking at me.

And smiling.

Not mockingly.

Not condescendingly.

He looked genuinely pleased.

Not because of the car or the speed.

Because of me.

From that smile, everything inside me melted.

My heart started beating even faster.

I immediately turned back to the road, hoping he didn’t notice how red my cheeks had become.

Of course he noticed.

— Eyes forward, racer.

— I am looking forward!

— You were just looking at me.

— I was checking if you got scared.

— Of course.

There was laughter in his voice again.

— I’m shaking in fear.

— That’s the right reaction.

I tried to speak confidently, but I couldn’t stop smiling myself.

Unfortunately, all good things end too quickly.

It felt like we had only been driving for a couple of minutes when Ren pointed at the needed turn.

— Here, to the right.

— Already?

— Did you want to drive past?

— I’m just clarifying.

I slowed down and carefully turned.

A few minutes later, the gates of his house appeared in front of us.

— Now drive into the yard.

— You drive in yourself.

— Don’t tell me the great racer is afraid of the gates?

I shot him an irritated look.

— I’m not afraid.

— Then prove it.

Under his teasing remarks, I slowly directed the car into the yard.

I had to adjust the steering wheel a few times. Once I almost stopped too far from the edge.

Ren immediately noticed:

— Excellent. Just a little more and you could park the car right in the middle of the yard.

— Shut up.

— I’m just being supportive.

— Your support is terrible.

— But you’re smiling.

I immediately put on a serious face.

And still, the smile appeared on its own again.

Finally, I stopped the car and let out a breath.

The engine was still quietly purring.

I didn’t rush to take my hands off the wheel.

I wanted to hold on to this feeling for at least a few more seconds.

Ren looked at me and calmly said:

— For the first time, that was very good.

I turned to him.

— Only “good”?

— Magnificent.

— That’s better.

He smiled.

And I caught myself on a simple thought.

I really didn’t want this day to end.

We entered the house.

And I involuntarily slowed down again.

The last time I had already seen this huge hall, wide staircase, and expensive furniture, but I still couldn’t get used to how luxurious everything was here.

Spacious.

Quiet.

High ceilings.

Even the air felt different.

— Let’s go eat something, — Ren said cheerfully.

He headed toward the large kitchen like he lived in an ordinary apartment, not a mansion.

I followed him.

And for some reason, I remembered his old house.

The small room.

The modest table.

And how I fed him with a spoon.

From just the memory, my cheeks immediately became hot.

— There are your favorite desserts here! — Ren’s voice came from the kitchen.

I walked into the kitchen.

He was already opening the refrigerator and skillfully placing plates on the table.

Meat.

Appetizers.

Fruits.

Several desserts.

I looked more carefully.

Cheesecake.

Strawberry tart.

Small sweet buns.

Almost everything I had tried last time.

And these were exactly the dishes I had liked the most back then…

He remembered.

This thought made me freeze.

Ren didn’t even ask what I wanted.

He had simply prepared in advance what I liked.

How attentive he was.

— I think this time we can skip feeding each other with spoons, — he said with a grin.

I sharply raised my head.

Ren was smiling.

Of course.

It seemed we had remembered the same moment.

— I wasn’t planning to feed you anyway, — I muttered.

— Pity.

— Shameless.

His smile only grew wider.

— Sit down, Yuki.

I was already about to sit on the chair, but stopped.

Yuki.

Not Amano-san.

Not in some teasing way.

Just Yuki.

As if it was completely natural.

I sat down at the table and immediately reached for the cheesecake.

I cut off a piece.

Tried it.

The delicate creamy taste immediately made me smile.

Only after that did I notice that Ren was looking at me.

— What?

— Nothing.

— Then why are you looking like that?

He calmly sat down opposite me.

— I was just thinking that we’re already close enough to call each other by name.

I felt something stir in my chest.

From nervousness, I cut off too big a piece of cheesecake and quickly shoved it into my mouth.

And immediately realized my mistake.

I had to chew awkwardly, pretending that everything was going according to plan.

Ren smiled.

— Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to steal your desserts.

As if to prove his words, he reached for the meat dishes.

I finally swallowed the piece.

— I wasn’t afraid.

— Of course.

— It’s just really tasty.

— That’s why you decided to eat half of it in one go?

I ignored his remark.

Looked at the plate.

Then at him again.

— Ren…

The word got stuck on my tongue.

No.

It was different now.

— Ren… — I repeated more confidently. — You probably eat a lot?

He smiled widely.

— Yes, Yuki.

He deliberately emphasized my name.

I felt my cheeks starting to burn again.

— And I’m glad that you finally started calling me by name.

— Don’t make such a big deal out of it.

— For me it is a big deal.

I looked away.

Why did he always say things like this so calmly?

As if he didn’t understand at all what was happening inside me.

Or, on the contrary, understood it too well.

— Then you shouldn’t deliberately say my name every time either, — I muttered.

— Why?

— Because it sounds…

I fell silent.

— How? — he immediately asked.

I took another normal-sized piece of cheesecake.

— No way.

— Liar.

— Eat your meat, Ren.

He chuckled contentedly.

And I felt that strange warmth again.

Now his name sounded a little easier.

Probably, I could get used to this too.

But for some reason it seemed to me that after today, I would have to get used to many more things.

In the middle of dinner, Ren suddenly put down his fork.

The smile disappeared from his face.

I immediately felt the atmosphere change.

— Yuki, — he said seriously, — I want you to be my girlfriend from this moment until Monday morning.

I froze with the fork in my hand.

For several seconds I just stared at him, not understanding if I had heard correctly.

— In what… sense?!

The last words I almost shouted.

My cheeks instantly flushed.

A strange excitement rose in my chest, mixed with confusion and something else I didn’t want to name.

Ren didn’t smile.

He didn’t try to turn it into a joke.

— I’ll say it directly. I want you to make some conclusions for yourself over these two days.

He calmly held my gaze.

— I know that you love Hayato.

From hearing his name, something painfully twisted inside me.

Yes.

Hayato was still in my heart.

Three years of feelings couldn’t just be erased.

My first love.

My first boyfriend.

The person with whom I had imagined my future.

But over the last two weeks, Ren had been pushing into that heart more and more persistently.

Now I could no longer deny it.

He occupied too much space there.

— Let’s do this, — Ren continued. — Over these two days, I’ll show you what it means to be my girlfriend.

I felt my fingers grip the fork tighter.

— At the same time, I’ll teach you about relationships. I’ll show you what you can want from a man and what you have the right to demand from him.

He spoke so confidently, as if he had already thought everything through.

— Then you’ll go back to Hayato with this knowledge. And decide for yourself what to do next.

I looked at him, trying to find at least a hint of mockery.

But Ren was completely serious.

This was wrong.

I knew it.

Even if he called it a lesson, even if everything ended Monday morning, I still had a boyfriend.

I should have refused.

Immediately.

Without hesitation.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

I couldn’t turn away from Ren again.

Not after everything that had happened today.

Not after how safe I felt next to him.

My calmness, confidence, and even happiness depended on him too much.

This was scary.

And at the same time, it pulled me toward him even more.

Ren leaned forward slightly.

— Even if after this you decide to stay with Hayato, I’ll continue protecting you.

For a moment, it became a little easier.

But the next sentence hit me like a hammer.

— I just won’t love you anymore.

I stopped breathing.

A picture instantly appeared before my eyes.

Hayato standing aside again.

Something happens.

Ren comes and solves the problem.

Then he approaches me with a completely calm face.

Without his usual smile.

Without warmth in his gaze.

He extends his hand, dryly wishes me luck, and leaves.

Forever.

Like a stranger.

It became cold inside.

No.

I didn’t want that kind of future.

I didn’t want him to disappear again.

But I also couldn’t betray Hayato.

My thoughts collided with each other.

Love.

Gratitude.

Fear.

Jealousy.

The desire to stay next to Ren.

Complete chaos was happening in my head.

I opened my mouth.

But I never said anything.

— I’ll take your silence as agreement, — he said calmly.

His voice cut through my panic.

Ren once again decided everything himself.

Like he always did.

Part of me wanted to get indignant.

To say that he had no right.

That this was my life.

My choice.

But another part felt relief.

I didn’t have to say the agreement out loud.

I didn’t have to take responsibility for what I already secretly wanted.

I slowly lowered my gaze to the plate.

— Only until Monday morning, — I said quietly.

Ren smiled.

— Of course.