When I finally reached my old apartment, the clock showed almost four in the morning. The sky was already beginning to brighten. My body ached — especially my ribs and face. Every step sent a dull pain through me, but I walked steadily, not allowing myself to relax.
There was no time to sleep.
I quickly gathered the most important thing — only the school uniform I found in one of the drawers. I didn’t take anything else. Everything here was junk anyway.
Sitting on the edge of the mattress, I closed my eyes and began digging through Ren’s memories. The Minami-Sakurada district — wealthy, quiet, with private houses and good apartment buildings. That’s exactly where Haruto lived, and Amano Yuki rented an apartment in one of the buildings there.
If that event happens in the game where she gets assaulted right in her apartment, I need to be as close as possible. Door to door.
I opened the app for the 24-hour real estate agency and called.
“Sakura Homes Agency, good evening.”
“I need an apartment in the Minami-Sakurada district. Urgently. Preferably in a quiet area, near good private houses. For at least a year.”
The agent offered several options. I chose an apartment on the same floor as Yuki’s — door to door. I filled out everything quickly and transferred the deposit and first month’s rent. The keys were promised to be left in the mailbox by lunch.
After finishing with that, I immediately started placing orders through the delivery app.
Content creation equipment:
• A good smartphone for streaming.
• A powerful laptop for video editing.
• A professional video camera.
• A full lighting set (ring lights, softboxes, panels).
Clothing and essentials:
• Several sets of normal clothes — black shirts, trousers, jeans, a jacket.
• Underwear, socks, shoes.
• Hygiene products and everything necessary for daily life.
The furniture in the new apartment looked good from the photos, so I didn’t need any large items.
I paid for express delivery. Some things were promised for the morning.
Without waiting for dawn, I took the bag of money, the school uniform, and left this dump forever.
The new apartment wasn’t too far. I walked there, breathing in the cold morning air. When I opened the door with my new key, it was already around six in the morning.
The apartment turned out to be clean, modern, and fully furnished. Nothing extra. Exactly what I needed.
I tossed the bag of money on the table, hung the school uniform in the closet, and looked out the large clean window.
Now I had a normal place to live. Money. Equipment on the way.
And most importantly — I was in the right place.
I sat down on the new sofa, leaned back, and closed my eyes for just a couple of minutes.
Today was the first day of school.
Time to really start.
I sat on the new sofa for only a couple of minutes, but my body was already starting to protest. The lack of sleep after a whole night of fighting and adrenaline, plus the fresh injuries — my ribs ached with every breath, my face throbbed, and a heavy fatigue spread throughout my body.
But I couldn’t sleep.
I stood up, walked to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. Hot water hit my skin, and I involuntarily winced. Every strike of the water sent pain through the bruised areas.
Standing under the streams, I looked at my reflection in the mirror, which quickly fogged up.
Ren’s body was covered in old and new marks. Dark bruises from the black guy’s punches were already appearing on my ribs. On my face — a split eyebrow and a swollen cheekbone. Old scars and traces of previous fights stretched across my arms and chest.
I ran my fingers over the fresh bruises on my ribs.
It hurts. But tolerable. This body is used to it.
Water flowed down the defined muscles of my chest and abs, washing away the dried blood. I stood like that for a few minutes, simply letting the hot steam relax my tense muscles. Fragments of thoughts swirled in my head — about school, about the girls, about what I would need to do on the very first day.
After finishing the shower, I quickly dried off, put on clean underwear, and the school uniform I had taken from the old apartment. Black blazer, white shirt, dark trousers. The uniform fit perfectly on this powerful body, emphasizing my broad shoulders and height. Even with bruises and a tired look, I looked… dangerous and attractive.
I looked at myself in the full-length mirror.
Tall, blond, with a predatory gaze and fresh traces of a fight. A typical “bad guy” whom everyone fears at first glance.
Perfect.
I took my phone, the keys to the new apartment, and the bag with the remaining money. I didn’t need anything else.
I stood outside my door and waited for Amano Yuki to come out.
She was one of the main heroines whom the original Ren tried to steal and subjugate in the game. According to the plot, she eventually turned to Haruto for help, they filed a police report, and Ren was arrested by the cops. I wasn’t ready to repeat such a pathetic, inglorious end.
I just need to not harass her. Ideally — to befriend her. But considering her character and the fear she felt toward the original Ren… it’s going to be difficult.
Finally, I heard the sound of a door opening next door.
I also stepped out into the corridor, closing my own door.
Amano Yuki came out of the apartment on the right.
She looked exactly as I remembered from the profile. Short in stature — about 160 cm. A classic “cute” beauty. Long straight black hair down to her waist, large innocent eyes, a gentle face. A large, full bust, a thin waist, wide soft hips, and a round, firm butt. Snow-white skin, a fragile but very sensual appearance. The school uniform tightly hugged her chest, emphasizing all her seductive curves.
When she saw me standing literally two steps away from her door, her steps abruptly stopped. Her eyes widened slightly — a flash of pure, genuine fear appeared in them. She clearly recognized “Kurasaki Ren.” Even in a new body and with a new appearance, this bastard’s reputation worked ahead of him.
Yuki quickly lowered her gaze, clutched her bag to her chest with both hands, and tried to walk past as quickly as possible, almost pressing herself against the corridor wall. Her shoulders were tense, and her breathing became slightly faster.
I didn’t make any sudden movements. I simply nodded calmly and said quietly, almost neutrally:
“Good morning.”
She flinched with her entire body, as if I had hit her. For a second she raised her eyes — they held a mix of fear and confusion. Her cheeks instantly flushed with a light blush. She didn’t answer, only walked even faster toward the exit from the building, almost running down the stairs.
I stood there and watched her go, without moving from my spot.
First contact. So far — a complete failure. She’s afraid of me to the point of trembling. This is going to be harder than I thought.