Jiko thought about it. This kind of attention was new. He hadn't gotten it in his past life, even after he'd gotten in shape. Sure, girls had thought he was good-looking – it ran in his family, after all. But for some reason, they'd never seemed interested in him romantically. He wondered why. Maybe he just hadn't had good luck with girls back then?
But that's only the beginning. As the days pass, the changes continue to mount. Other girls in his class—those he never even thought to pay attention to—start treating him differently. They smile at him more often, their voices less guarded, and they invite him into conversations with an ease he wasn't used to.
"Hey, Jiko," one of them named Nila says to him during lunch one afternoon, her voice casual but friendly. "You've been working out a lot, huh? Looks like it's paying off. You seem… different."
Jiko blinks, unsure of how to react but he gave her the same answer that he gave to Mei. "Yeah, I've been trying to stay active."
Nila leans in slightly, her expression more curious now. "You should join us for a study group sometime. I'm sure we could help you out with anything you need."
Jiko feels a flicker of confusion—study group? She's inviting him? And she actually seems genuine? It's strange, unfamiliar. Back in the original timeline, girls like Nila barely acknowledged his existence. Yet now, they're showing interest—curiosity even.
Word starts to spread, though it doesn't happen all at once. At first, it's subtle: small smiles exchanged during passing periods, slightly warmer hellos in the hallways. But soon enough, it becomes more obvious—friendly banter, light teasing, and even invitations to do things after school.
"Hey, Jiko," another girl named Akhi says, joining him on his way to gym class one day. She nudges his shoulder lightly. "Want to grab a bite after school? Nothing serious—just a few of us hanging out."
Jiko's heart races. Grabbing lunch after school? With them? He'd never been in a position where he was invited to join something like this. It feels surreal, almost too good to be true. "Uh, yeah, sure," he replies, unsure of how to react but unable to hide the excitement creeping into his voice.
It feels strange—like he's suddenly someone else. Someone who people want to talk to, someone who gets invited to things. This is not the Jiko he remembers from before. He was always the one who sat quietly on the sidelines, unsure, blending into the crowd. But now? People—especially girls—are starting to notice him in ways he never expected.
Still, with every compliment, every passing glance, there's a nagging doubt in the back of Jiko's mind. He can't shake the uneasy feeling that things aren't entirely as they should be. This attention feels nice, but it also feels…dangerous.
One afternoon, Jiko and Julie were walking home from school, their usual easy banter filling the air. Suddenly, Nila crossed their path, a bright smile lighting up her face as she approached Jiko. "Hey, Jiko!" she greeted him, her voice warm and friendly. Julie, however, felt a subtle shift in Nila's demeanor, a coolness that seemed directed specifically at her.
"Hey," Jiko replied, returning the smile.
Nila continued, turning her attention fully to Jiko. "Like I said the other day," she reminded him, "let's get that study group going. I know you're one of the top students in our year, and I'm also in the top ten. I think we could really help each other prepare for the board exams if we studied together."
Jiko hesitated for a moment, glancing at Julie. Julie, in turn, watched Nila with a narrowed gaze before turning her attention back to Jiko, a silent question in her eyes. "Who is she?" she asked, her tone carefully neutral, but with an underlying edge that Jiko couldn't quite place.
"She's a classmate of mine, from 10A," Jiko explained, feeling a little awkward under Julie's scrutiny.
Julie raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "And what are you two talking about? What study group?" she inquired, the edge in her voice becoming more pronounced.
"You know," Jiko stammered slightly, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, "a study group. Where students… study together. We can, you know, help each other learn and prepare for the exams."
Julie's eyes narrowed slightly. She seemed to be mulling something over, her gaze fixed on Nila. After a brief pause, a decisive glint entered her eyes. "Fine," she declared, her voice firm. "I'll join the study group too."
Nila, who had been pointedly avoiding eye contact with Julie, finally turned to face her, a forced smile plastered on her face. "Well," she said, her tone a bit strained, "that's fine too. You're welcome to join us, Julie."
Jiko internally groaned. He hadn't even decided if he wanted to be part of this study group, and now it was turning into some kind of… competition? He thought to himself, *I didn't even say I wanted to join! This is getting out of hand.* He just shrugged, offering a weak, noncommittal gesture. He could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. Julie's earlier lightheartedness had completely vanished, replaced by a subtle but palpable jealousy. It was a side of her he hadn't seen before, and it made him wonder what he'd gotten himself into.
*Maybe she just doesn't want to lose to another girl academically,* Jiko thought, trying to rationalize the sudden tension. He conveniently ignored the rather large detail that Julie wasn't even in class 10A where smart kid's live. It was a flimsy explanation, but it was the one he chose to cling to in that awkward moment.
A couple of days later, Jiko and Julie walked up the driveway to Nila's house for their study group. When they reached the front door, Nila's mother, Mrs. Shima, greeted them with a warm smile and ushered them inside. Mrs. Shima was a kind, matronly woman, and she immediately made them feel welcome, offering them chilled juice and snacks.
The house smelled faintly of lavender and freshly baked cookies, a combination that instantly put them at ease. The living room was cozy, with sunlight streaming through sheer curtains and casting a soft glow on the few textbooks and notebooks scattered across the coffee table.