Shiho saw a book slightly hang out from one of Ren's bag pocket and pulled it out swiftly as she pulled Ren towards her. A smirk appeared on her face as she peeked over at the other students that spoke badly. As she did, she put the book in front of their lips and pulled Ren down her level as she leaned in as if going for a kiss. Ren's face turned bright red, his eyes widened as he saw her come closer. The adolescent girl aimed for his cheek, making it look as if she met his lips. Shiho looked up at him with a giggle, blush on her face, looking at him sweetly as she removed the book, leaving both Ren and the students speechless.
All the students that stood there and witnessed the scene were stunned, gulping down the gossip they said about her and Ren. The teenage boy stood there, awestruck. He didn't know how to feel by the sudden kiss on the cheek, so he ended up standing there, silently, looking like an idiot as Shiho tugged him along, walking to class.
"Um... Wh-Why... the sudden...?" Ren tried to talk, but was still in shock she would do something like that in front of the students.
"I'll tell you later, love." She teased, smiling gently at him as she gave him an expression of thanks.
Ren fell silent and looked down, his face still completely red. Even though it was just a kiss on the cheek, he never thought something like this would ever happen. Especially when their relationship just started.
When they reached her classroom he felt like walking back in with her, but felt she would prefer to walk inside alone and thought it would be wise for him to avoid a possible return to the other world.
"Um... I-I'll s-see you when school's over, l-love." He tried to act the part, but after what happened not long ago, he was still unable to think and even talk straight, and his face still crimson.
"Okay." She smiled kindly as she went in for a hug goodbye.
When she embraced him, his face turned back to normal as he felt her warmth. A soft smile ran across his face as he placed one hand on her head and the other on her back as if holding her dearly. Shiho's heart raced a bit, but a smile ran across her face as well.
As they departed, they both felt a shiver go up their spine, leading their eyes to look around for the cause.
What the... Shiho thought.
Please tell me it's not... Ren thought.
The teens shook off the feeling and put their focus on school, returning to class.
Ren's assumption was right off the bat when they felt chills. Kamoshida hid in a corner near Shiho's class. A look of anger and hatred appeared on his face as he saw the teens depart.
Few Hours Later...
School ended and Ren stretched, then set his stuff away in his bag and walked over to Shiho's class. As he did, he saw Kamoshida right outside her classroom, seeing him talk to Shiho. Chills went up his spine leading him to speed walk over to her.
"Shiho!" Ren smiled happily, disguising his look of irritation towards her coach.
"Ren!" Shiho smiled instantly, feeling as if she was being saved.
"Do you have practice today? If not, shall we head home?" He stood beside her and grabbed hold of her hand as he peeked over at Kamoshida, trying to stay on his toes.
"I... I have practice today, but today it'll be short." She prayed. "Right, Coach?" She forced a smile.
"Yeah..." He growled lightly for only him to hear, "Today's gonna involve spiking. Care to join us, Amamiya-kun?" He spoke through his teeth, forcing a smile.
"I've never played volleyball before, Sir." He held his free hand up, shaking his head with an apologetic look, "So I'm going to sit this one out. My apologies and thank you on the offer."
"Oh nonsense." He laughed, "You look like the athletic type, so please do join our practice. At least once?" He smiled, pushing both of them to the gym, not giving Ren a chance to decline again.
Shiho glanced over at Ren and mouthed a sorry. Ren looked at her with a faint smile and shook his head, giving an expression of not to worry about it. He gulped and tried to hide a growl as he tried to prepare himself for what's to come.
"Now then!" Kamoshida pushed the two teens in the center. "Why don't you go change into your gym clothes and we'll wait for you to return to play some volley." He said to Ren.
The teenage boy was a bit wary on leaving her with him, but since some members were there, he walked to the lockers and changed into his PE clothes. As he did though, Kamoshida walked in, turned Ren to look at him and pushed him roughly against the lockers. Ren was startled, but glared behind his glasses, anger beginning to rise.
"I've warned you before, punk." Kamoshida started, "If you don't stop this act nor leave her alone, things will only worsen for you. And... possibly even your girlfriend."
"You think I'm scared of what you'll do to me?" He chuckled, "I dare you try and do something to either of us. And I swear, if you do... So help me I will make your gossips into reality if you ever lay a hand on Shiho again." He smirked, giving a deathly glare. "And if you think you have the upper hand on this, I will show everyone your true side." Ren huffed out a laugh, pushing him aside as he walked out of the locker room.
Kamoshida stared daggers at him. His anger rose to where he wanted to deck him, but he slammed his hand against the lockers as he tried to cool himself down to begin practice. If that brat thinks he's got the best of me, I'll show him I have complete control over this school.
"Okay, everyone. Time to practice on spiking." Kamoshida held the ball in his hand and eyed Ren, looking at him as if he was the target.
His anger rose even more when he saw Shiho give Ren a soft smile, placing her hand on his arm as if wishing him luck. Without any warning, he spiked the ball over to Ren, leading him to fall straight to the ground, his glasses falling to the floor. The adolescent boy felt as though he was going through the same problem he dealt with the first time he appeared in the other world. Getting hit by the ball just made him smirk in Kamoshida's direction, wiping off the little blood that came from his lip, getting ready to play his little game of target practice.
"Ren! Are you okay!?" Shiho ran up to him to help him up,
"Yeah... I'm fine." Ren cackled, accepting her hand as he picked up his glasses.
The teenage boy glared over at the Coach and whispered, "Game on..." Ren chuckled, getting in position. He's never played volleyball before, but after watching the other team members play, he caught on fairly quickly.
Just not gonna surrender anytime soon now are you, kid? Kamoshida breathed out a laugh, his confidence filling up his pride.
Practice ended up becoming aggressive between Ren and Kamoshida to where the actual teammates felt this wasn't practice at all. Right when the teenage boy noticed, he breathed out a laugh and tried to find a way to pass the ball over to the others.
"Shiho!" Ren smiled, hitting the ball over to her.
Soon after he started that, the team actually played an actual game instead of being bullied by their coach. Kamoshida's anger rose even more, but he felt he couldn't control what was going on during practice. At that moment, he wanted to punish and torture Ren any way he could.
Once practice was over everyone left with a smile of success on their face. "Wait a go Amamiya-san!" A team member said, slapping his back.
"Good game, Amamiya-san!" Another one did the same after.
"Thanks for helping us out!" Another joined.
"Nicely done, Amamiya-san!" And another.
Compliment after compliment by each team member felt happy and relieved he joined practice, because for once... they found enjoyment out of the sport they used to love before their coach came along.
"Man, if only you could be our coach." One whispered with a laugh, hoping their coach didn't hear that, but noticed Kamoshida heard them as clear as day as he glared in their direction.
"Thanks everyone." Ren took off his glasses to clean the steam of his lenses and looked up at the team members, surprisingly showing them a genuinely, innocently looking smile.
Everyone gave a look of whoa, astonished to see a delinquent give a look of an honest man.
"Let's walk home together after I change. 'Kay, love?" Ren easily said, too happy to realize he kissed her on the cheek before heading into the locker room.
The students were stunned and some of the female teammates were a little jealous after seeing the sweetness Ren gave Shiho and the attractive appearance he had when he had his glasses off.
"Wow... such a lucky girl, Shiho." One girl laughed.
"Not so bad of a boyfriend after all, huh, Shiho?" Another said.
"Where have you been hiding him?" Another smirked, nudging Shiho.
"Does he have a friend?" One asked teasingly.
"Guys..." Shiho tucked her head low like a turtle as her face turned red.
Few Minutes Later...
"You should totally join the Volleyball team, Amamiya-san." One boy said as they walked out of the locker room.
"Thanks for the invitation, but I'm leaving the glory to my girlfriend." He laughed, as he looked over at her with a gentle smile, "Now then, shall we go?" Ren held out his hand towards her, awaiting for her to link her hand with hers once again.
"Yeah." She smiled, grabbing his hand and beginning to walk.
"You did a really great job, Ren." Shiho said as they left the school.
"Well, I did learn after watching the best." He looked over at her with a smile.
He didn't understand it, but it felt as though he grew a bit of confidence, knowledge, guts, kindness, and most of all, proficiency after playing. His smile grew even bigger after noticing.
Shiho blushed by his compliment and squeezed his hand, looking at him with a soft expression, "Thanks, Ren."
"Pleasure's all mine." He cackled, looking ahead as they walked to the train station.
As time passed, Shiho's curiosity returned as she remembered seeing the castle walls when she was in the infirmary. The adolescent tried to build up the courage to ask and closed her eyes, huffing out, "Ren...? Were we... in a castle or... was it just a dream?" She uncomfortably asked.
Ren stopped in his tracks, a bit worried on how to answer. He looked over at her, examining her expression before answering. "Y-Yeah..." He responded quietly.
"So... it wasn't a dream?" She asked, shocked.
Ren shook his head, "This morning's event was all... real." He sighed, looking down, "I'm sorry you ended up getting dragged into that mess."
"So that jerk of a coach actually views our school like that!?" She shouted.
Ren flinched by her sudden uproar, "Um... y-yeah." He looked at her, feeling a bit awkward by her sudden shout, breathing out a laugh.
"I can't believe he would view our school like that and I seriously can't believe... believe that asshole would see the students like that!" She shouted with disbelief, not realizing nor even caring how she's suddenly making a scene
The adolescent boy was about to shush her, but he thought to himself what's the point. Also found this side of her a little cute and funny, "I can't either." He laughed lightly.
"I'm... I'm sorry for my sudden outburst..." She looked down, her face turning a little red by her loss of temper.
"Don't worry about it." He grinned, "It's cute to see this side of you."
"I-I'm flattered to hear..." She laughed, a bit embarrassed.
"Anyway... would you like to continue more about this later? I bet after practice you feel a little tired?" Shiho nodded with a sigh, walking with him to the station.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He gave a crooked grin as he gave her a hug before he headed back to his place.
"Yeah..." She gave a small smile in turn as she watched him walk away.
Once he returned home, he was exhausted, "Sorry I'm late." Ren yawned when he walked into the Cafe, "Ended up joining Shiho's practice and then walked her home." He informed him so he hopefully won't get in trouble.
"Ooh, first name basis already?" Sojiro chuckled.
Ren's face turned a little red, but he ignored it as he walked off, "Heading to bed early. Goodnight."
"Night." Sojiro hid a smile, a bit happy hearing he's on good behavior, about ready to hand him a key.
Ren changed into his PJ's and flopped on the bed, passing out instantly. Once he fell into a deep slumber he appeared right back into the cell in his dream, Not again... He sighed, getting up, preparing to see what he's having to hear this time.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room." Igor started, then went straight to, "It appears an uninvited guest has been added in your group." Igor said, "She wasn't meant to be joining you, so that is why your phone has been going haywire. But, with the looks of her abilities, this will be an exception." He chuckled, "Let's see if you'll be able to twist her fate, or if it's inevitable in the end. Shall we?" He smirked.
"What do you mean...?" Ren asked, concerned.