Chapter 161: Medicine? The Hotel and Shizuka Hiratsuka's Shyness!
"..."
The revelation of the world's hidden truth, delivered so casually from Ren's lips, sent Shizuka Hiratsuka's already reeling mind into a deeper state of confusion. Ghouls, monsters, a reality lurking just beneath the placid surface of her everyday life... it was all too much to process.
She turned her head, her gaze fixed on Ren's calm profile, silhouetted against the dim city lights. "Ren," she asked, her voice barely a whisper, "are you a god?"
His radiant, unshakable presence had burned an indelible impression upon her heart. If anyone could navigate this terrifying new reality, it had to be him. If he were a god, he would surely know the right path to choose, wouldn't he?
Ren seemed to guess her thoughts, a wry smile touching his lips as he spread his hands helplessly. "Unfortunately, I'm not a god. It's a question I get asked more often than you'd think, but my answer is always the same: I am not a god."
He turned to face her fully, his expression becoming serious. "I don't plan on overwhelming you with too much information right now, Shizuka-sensei, nor do I intend to make this decision for you. But regarding your memories of tonight, you have to be the one to choose."
"..."
"Ha..."
Shizuka took a deep, shuddering breath, the cool night air filling her lungs, stinging slightly. It helped to clear her head, just a little.
"Tsk," she clicked her tongue, a spark of her usual fiery spirit returning. "I never expected to learn such incredible, world-shattering things from you, of all people, you little brat."
Her eyes, however, brightened with resolve. A determined smile graced her lips. "I've made my decision. I want to remember. I want to keep this memory. As a teacher, if my students are facing this reality, then it's my duty to face it alongside them."
This was her responsibility. Her conviction.
"..."
To bear it with her students... that was an answer Ren hadn't anticipated. It was profoundly selfless and, in its own way, incredibly cool.
A genuine smile spread across Ren's face. "That's our Shizuka-sensei. Oh, by the way, there's one more thing I forgot to mention."
"What is it now?" Shizuka asked, a hint of exhaustion in her voice.
"You seem to have been drugged," Ren said calmly. "By that bastard, Vinsuke."
"Huh?"
Shizuka was about to ask what he meant when a sudden, overwhelming wave of heat and dizziness washed over her. Her limbs turned to lead, and her vision swam. The world tilted on its axis, and her body went completely limp.
Ren moved in a blur, catching her before she could collapse onto the hard pavement.
He realized she had actually been affected much earlier. The pungent, cloying smell on Vinsuke wasn't just poor hygiene; it was the residue of a powerful narcotic he used on his victims. Ren was genuinely surprised by how long Shizuka's sheer willpower had allowed her to resist its effects.
Looking down at the now peacefully sleeping teacher in his arms, her face serene and free from the stress of the evening, Ren shook his head and chuckled softly. "What a stubborn and strong-willed woman you are, Sensei."
He decided against neutralizing the drug's effects. What Shizuka-sensei needed most right now wasn't a quick fix, but a deep, long rest.
The Yuigahama Household.
"Phew…"
Mrs. Yuigahama let out a long, shaky sigh, her back pressed against the living room wall. The earlier confrontation—or rather, the swift and precise verbal takedown—by Ren had left her feeling utterly flustered and awkward.
After several long minutes of deliberation, gathering her courage, she walked to Yui's bedroom door. She knocked gently with her knuckles, the sound seeming deafeningly loud in the quiet apartment.
She leaned in, calling softly, "Yui? It's mom. Do you want any breakfast?"
Silence was her only reply.
Hesitantly, she tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. As she pushed the door open, a potent, musky scent—a mixture of sweat, perfume, and something distinctly masculine and sexual—wafted out, hitting her with the force of a physical blow.
"..."
Gritting her teeth and forcefully suppressing the tremor in her heart, Mrs. Yuigahama stepped inside. The room was dim, with Yui wrapped tightly in her quilt, apparently fast asleep.
Her clothes from yesterday were tossed haphazardly on her desk chair—her blouse, her skirt, and a flimsy pair of panties…
With a complex cocktail of emotions churning in her gut, Mrs. Yuigahama tiptoed to the bedside. Her daughter's sleeping face looked exhausted, etched with a fatigue that went beyond simple tiredness. She felt a pang of heartache, followed by a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of envy.
Her gaze then fell upon the overflowing trash can next to the desk. A small pile of used, balled-up tissues sat atop... several small, torn-open foil packets. Condom wrappers.
Mrs. Yuigahama's anxious heart finally relaxed, but for a different reason than she'd expected. At least... at least they were careful.
She carefully lifted the entire trash bag out of the bin and tiptoed back out of the room, closing the door silently behind her.
In the living room, bathed in the soft morning light, Mrs. Yuigahama hesitated for only a moment before setting the bag on the floor. She took a deep breath, opened it, and began to search through its contents.
Her fingers brushed against the crumpled, sticky tissues, pushing them aside. She didn't mind the mess; she needed confirmation.
Her fingers closed around what she was looking for: the empty wrappers.
Her eyelids twitched. Then they twitched wildly, uncontrollably.
The number she had bought for Yui... was exactly the same as the number of empty wrappers here! All of them? In one night?
Thinking of this, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she instinctively reached up to rub her temples.
She completely forgot that her hand had just been inside the trash.
"..."
Her hand, with its faint, sticky residue, touched her nose, her cheek, and even brushed past the corner of her mouth.
"!!!"
Well… I need to go wash my hands. And my face. Thoroughly.
A short while later.
Yui Yuigahama woke up.
"Mom…?"
Her blonde hair was a disheveled mess, and she was wearing nothing but her underwear. Yui poked her small head out of her bedroom, calling out softly into the living room.
"..."
No one responded.
It's still early. Mom must be asleep.
Thinking this, Yui finally allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. She ran a hand over her body, the memories of the previous night flooding back in a vivid, crimson wave, causing her face to flush instantly. The lingering soreness between her legs, the faint ache in her hips... it was all a testament to their passion.
She shook her head, trying to clear the images. I need a shower. I can't think about... that... right now.
"Hiss!"
The moment she took a step, a sharp, biting pain shot through her lower body, making her wince.
Yui gave a wry, pained smile. She had truly brought this upon herself. Ren-kun even offered to help ease the pain... why on earth did I refuse?
And the reason she'd given him… it was so embarrassing to even remember it!
She could still see the scene perfectly in her mind: Ren-kun, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, his voice soft and concerned. "Yui, do you want me to help you with the pain?"
And she, looking up at him with what she thought was a look of deep, romantic affection, had replied, "No, Ren-kun. I want to remember every part of this precious moment."
Ugh! What was I even saying?! So cheesy!
She covered her burning face with both hands. This was the fruit of her own making, and she had to swallow it, tears and all.
If she took even a slightly larger step, the pain was unbearable.
She could only manage slow, tiny shuffles, inching her way toward the bathroom like a penguin.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the bathroom door, letting out a long, relieved breath. Grabbing the doorframe for support, she pulled the door open.
"!!!"
"???"
Inside and outside the bathroom, two pairs of eyes—one wide with shock, the other with guilt—met.
Yui stared, utterly stunned, at her mother, who was vigorously washing her face at the sink. "Mom?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama, caught completely off guard, jumped and stared back at her nearly-naked daughter. "Yui?!"
Sunlight streamed through the gap in the hotel curtains, falling across her face and bringing with them a gentle warmth.
In a daze, Shizuka Hiratsuka rubbed her sleepy eyes, trying to dispel the fog that clouded her mind. Her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, as if bound by invisible shackles, refusing to open easily.
Her breathing gradually steadied, her nostrils flaring slightly as she took in the crisp, clean air of the room.
She felt like she'd just woken from a dream—a terrifying, vivid nightmare. She was in a hellish landscape of blood and severed limbs, haunted by man-eating devils.
At first, she was hopelessly lost, terrified and unable to escape. But then, a brilliant golden light had pierced through the darkness, purifying her world and filling her with an overwhelming sense of warmth and safety.
Her consciousness slowly withdrew from the dream, returning to the waking world.
Shizuka's body stretched out languidly, her limbs sprawling weakly across the large, comfortable bed. Her left fingertips brushed against the soft, high-thread-count sheet, feeling its comforting texture.
Her eyes finally fluttered open, her vision still blurry. She blinked, struggling to focus on her surroundings. Gradually, the world sharpened into clarity.
Sunlight was spilling into an unfamiliar room, creating a bright patch of light on the plush carpet.
Shizuka pushed herself into a sitting position, rubbing her still-dazed head. Her dark hair was a mess, scattered across her forehead and shoulders, making her look uncharacteristically disheveled. She shook her head gently, trying to make herself more alert.
Looking around, she realized she was in a high-end hotel room.
Her right hand felt strangely warm, a familiar warmth that echoed the comforting light from her dream.
"You're awake."
The soft, masculine voice was like a spring breeze to her ears.
A strange room. A bed. A man's voice.
Shizuka's eyes snapped wide open, all traces of grogginess vanishing in an instant. She whipped her head to the side and saw him. Ren!
"How... How could it be you?!" she stammered.
Ren, who was sitting in a chair at the head of her bed, let out a massive yawn. "Why can't it be me? Morning, Shizuka-sensei. Can you let go of my hand now? I really need to use the bathroom."
He lifted his left hand. Shizuka's right hand was holding it tightly, their fingers intertwined.
"!!!"
She finally understood the source of the warmth. It was Ren's hand. With a mortified gasp, she quickly released it as if it were a hot coal.
Ren stood up, stretched, and walked into the adjoining bathroom.
"What... what did I do?"
Shizuka buried her face in her hands, her mind racing as she tried desperately to recall the events of the previous night.
A moment later, it all came rushing back. Vinsuke. The Ghouls. The horrific truth of the world. A series of chaotic events became crystal clear in her mind.
"I remember... Ren said I was drugged at the end. Then I just... went limp. I don't remember anything after that."
She looked around the room again. It was definitely a hotel. Drugged! A hotel room!
"!!!"
Shizuka's heart leaped into her throat. With trembling hands, she quickly checked her clothes, pulling back the thick duvet.
Her red dress was still on, remarkably unwrinkled. Her undergarments felt perfectly in place. Nothing seemed disturbed.
"Phew..."
Only then did she allow herself to completely relax, slumping back against the pillows. If anything had actually happened with Ren, she was certain her teaching career would be over.
"Shizuka-sensei, you didn't really think I did anything to you, did you?"
Ren had just emerged from the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe with a knowing smirk, having seen her frantic self-inspection.
"Cough, cough!!!"
Caught red-handed, Shizuka coughed violently, her face flushing a brilliant shade of crimson. She stiffly changed the subject, her voice strained. "Where... where is this place?"
"A hotel," Ren answered simply.
His gaze was profound as he explained, "I just wanted you to get a good night's rest here, Shizuka-sensei. After I got the room and put you on the bed, I was about to leave."
"But you insisted on holding my hand, and you looked like you were having a terrible nightmare. So, to help you feel safe, I sat there with you all night."
"Ah?"
That... that perfectly matched her dream! She had indeed been trapped in a nightmare, and then a warm light had appeared, chasing the darkness away. That light... it was Ren. He had actually sat by her bed all night, just holding her hand?
Her heart fluttered, a strange warmth spreading through her chest. But she forcibly suppressed it.
Get a grip, Shizuka! He's your student! Your student!
"Shizuka-sensei, it's Monday morning. We're going to be late for school. I parked your car in the hotel garage. Could you give me a ride?"
Her professional habits kicking in, Shizuka's first reaction was to ask, "Where did a high school student like you get a driver's license?"
Ren rolled his eyes dramatically. "Please, Sensei. Superpowers, remember?"
"..."
She had momentarily forgotten about his otherworldly identity. A blush crept up her neck as she insisted, "Even so, you're still a student!"
"And that's why I'm asking my teacher for a ride, isn't it?" Ren replied smoothly, going along with her logic.
"But I..." Shizuka glanced down at her elegant red dress. Go to school looking like she was coming from a fancy dinner date? Absolutely not!
"That's a small matter."
Ren snapped his fingers. In a shimmer of light, the long red dress instantly transformed into the familiar button-up shirt and white lab coat she typically wore to school.
"Hiss! You can even do this?!" She touched the fabric of the lab coat; it felt completely real. Shizuka was utterly astonished.
"Don't be so surprised, Sensei. We're really going to be late."
"Oh, right!"
As they headed for the door, Ren added casually, "By the way, Shizuka-sensei, that red dress was very beautiful. It made you look very feminine."
"You little brat! Who do you think you're talking to like that?" she retorted, though her voice lacked its usual bite.
"I can't even give my teacher a compliment?"
"Just get in the car."
"Oh, and one last thing, Shizuka-sensei. If you ever encounter anything... supernatural... again, call me first."
"Got it, got it. Stop nagging."
The two bickered lightly on the way to the car. If one looked closely, they would have seen that the tips of Shizuka Hiratsuka's ears, partially hidden by her dark hair, were a brilliant, burning red.
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