CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: COACH’S SECRET DATE(I)

The morning after was brutal for Coach Mayumi.

She stood at the edge of the track, whistle clenched in her mouth, barking orders louder than necessary. The girls under her command sprinted back and forth, drenched in sweat, while her piercing gaze cut through every excuse and hesitation.

To anyone watching, she looked like the same iron-willed PE coach as always, unyielding, disciplined, terrifying.

But beneath that mask, Mayumi’s heart still throbbed with the echo of last night.

Renji’s hands gripping her thighs.

His mouth on her skin.

Her moans spilling shamelessly in the dim-lit gym.

Damn it... I let a student do that to me.

She bit her lip, blowing the whistle again just to drown out her thoughts. Her body still remembered him, still ached for him and that was what scared her most. She needed to push it away. Hide it. Pretend it never happened.

And so, when Renji strolled onto the track later that afternoon, hands in his pockets and a casual smirk on his face, Mayumi’s entire body went stiff.

Her whistle snapped between her teeth.

Her posture turned rigid.

Her voice sharpened.

"Renji Sakamoto! What are you doing here? Don’t you have your own practice to get to?"

The boy didn’t flinch. He didn’t even try to play innocent.

Instead, he walked closer, right up to the boundary where students might notice. His smile was lazy, but his eyes were sharp, hungry.

"Relax, Coach," he said. "I’m not here to distract your girls."

"Then get lost." She scowled, folding her arms under her chest. "You have no business here."

But Renji leaned in, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"No business? You were moaning my name last night like it was your favorite word."

Her entire face went red.

The whistle nearly slipped from her mouth.

"Y-You—!" she hissed, eyes darting to make sure no one heard. "Shut your damn mouth, Sakamoto!"

Renji chuckled, unbothered by her fury.

"You can act like it didn’t happen, but we both know it did. And the way you came on my fingers... Coach, you’ve been starving a long time."

Her knees almost buckled. He’s too bold...

Grinding her teeth, she grabbed his wrist, yanking him toward the equipment shed beside the field. She slammed the door shut behind them, the smell of chalk and leather filling the cramped space.

Her chest heaved as she glared at him.

"Listen to me, you little brat. What happened last night was a mistake. It won’t happen again. You’re my student, I’m your coach. That’s all this is!"

Renji stepped closer, closing the distance, until her back pressed against the wall of stacked mats.

"Funny," he murmured, his hand brushing along her waist. "Because when I kissed you, it didn’t feel like a mistake. It felt like you were begging for more."

Her breath hitched. Her nails dug into her palms.

"Y-You don’t know what you’re talking about."

Renji tilted his head, smirk tugging at his lips.

"Then prove me wrong."

Her eyes widened. "W-What?"

"Go on. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want me. That you didn’t love every second of it."

Her lips parted—but no words came out.

The silence said everything.

Renji leaned in, his lips brushing her ear.

"You can keep lying to yourself, Mayumi. But I know what your body’s telling me. You want more."

Her fists trembled. Her heart pounded.

Damn it... he’s right.

"W-What do you want from me?" she whispered.

Renji smiled. "Simple. A date. Tonight."

Her head jerked up. "A—what?!"

"A date," he repeated smoothly. "Not as coach and student. As man and woman. Just you and me."

She stared at him like he’d lost his mind. "Are you insane? If anyone saw us!!!"

"No one will." He grinned, confident. "You pick the place. Somewhere you can relax. I’ll handle the rest."

Her pulse raced. Her lips quivered.

A thousand reasons to say no screamed in her head. But her body, her heart, her loneliness... whispered yes.

And that whisper was stronger.

"...Fine," she muttered, looking away. "One date. That’s it. After that, we’re done."

Renji smirked, tilting her chin back so her eyes met his.

"You can lie to yourself all you want, Coach. But I know... one won’t be enough."

Her knees went weak at the heat in his gaze.

And deep down, she knew he was right.

By the time evening rolled around, Mayumi was pacing in her apartment like a caged animal.

She told herself a hundred times to cancel.

She picked up her phone, typed Renji’s name, then deleted the message before it could be sent.

Every fiber of logic screamed at her: He’s a student. He’s too young. This is wrong.

But her mirror told a different story.

She stood there, dressed in a tight black dress she hadn’t worn in years, heels that clicked on the hardwood floor, her hair done up in a way she’d almost forgotten how to do.

Her reflection looked like a woman, no, like a lover ready for someone to claim her.

"Damn it..." she muttered, adjusting the strap of her dress. "Why am I letting him get to me?"

Her phone buzzed.

A message.

Renji: I’m outside. Don’t keep me waiting, Coach.

Her stomach flipped.

She grabbed her bag, her coat, and left before she could change her mind.

Renji leaned casually against the streetlight outside her building, dressed sharper than she expected: dark jeans, a fitted jacket, hair styled just enough to make him look more mature.

When his eyes met hers, a slow smirk tugged at his lips.

"Well, well... look at you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to seduce me."

Mayumi’s cheeks flamed. "Shut it. I almost didn’t come."

"And yet you did." His eyes roamed over her body without shame. "Damn, Coach... you’re making it hard to behave."

She swatted his arm, flustered. "Stop saying things like that in public!"

But his low chuckle sent a shiver through her body.

He offered his hand. "Shall we?"

She hesitated... then slid her hand into his. His grip was warm, firm, steady more like a man’s than a boy’s.

And that terrified her.

The restaurant Renji picked wasn’t anything extravagant. A quiet, cozy place tucked away in the corner of town, dim lighting and soft jazz humming through the air. Couples filled the tables, lost in their own worlds.

Mayumi shifted nervously in her seat, trying to act composed, but every brush of Renji’s gaze made her squirm.

"So," he began, resting his chin on his palm. "Tell me something, Mayumi. What do you actually like? Besides sports, training, and scaring the hell out of your students."

She frowned. "That’s a rude way to put it."

He grinned. "But not inaccurate."

She rolled her eyes, but... thought about his question.

"...I like music," she admitted quietly. "Old stuff. Vinyl records, mostly. My father used to play them when I was a kid."

Renji’s eyes softened. "That suits you. Strong, but classic. Something timeless."

Her chest tightened. No man had said something like that to her in years.

"And you?" she asked quickly, trying to push the heat away from her cheeks.

"Me? I like women who know what they want... even if they’re scared to admit it."

Her fork froze halfway to her lips. His words weren’t random. They were aimed directly at her.

"...You’re too damn smooth," she muttered, looking away.

Renji leaned closer, his voice dropping just for her.

"Or maybe you’re just not used to being wanted."

Her breath caught. She nearly dropped her fork.

The food between them sat mostly untouched as conversation flowed, light at times, heavy at others. Mayumi found herself laughing, genuinely, in ways she hadn’t in years. Renji teased, pushed, coaxed her walls down little by little, until she almost forgot the roles they were supposed to play.

By the time they left, the night air was cool, the city quiet.

Renji walked beside her, hands in his pockets, but his eyes kept drifting to her. She felt it every time and it made her pulse race faster.

"...Thank you," she said softly, surprising herself.

"For what?"

"For... reminding me what it feels like."

Renji tilted his head. "Feels like what?"

She hesitated. Then, in barely more than a whisper...

"To be... a woman."

Renji stopped walking. She froze, realizing what she’d just confessed.

His hand slid around her waist, pulling her against him. His lips hovered dangerously close to hers.

"Mayumi," he murmured. "You’ve always been a woman. And tonight... I’m going to make damn sure you remember that."

Her heart slammed in her chest. Her body leaned in without permission.

And when his mouth finally claimed hers, the world around them disappeared.