"Why are they all looking at me…?"
Jin Haru walked into the classroom again the next morning. As soon as he stepped in, all eyes turned to him.
Whispers started.
"He's so tall…"
"Did you see his eyes? So sharp."
"Backflip guy… is here."
Some girls smiled at him. One even waved shyly.
Haru tried to ignore them. He looked calm on the outside, but inside, he was nervous. He was not used to people looking at him like this.
Back in his old life, he was always in the lab. No friends. No fun. No school memories.
Now, all of this felt too loud. Too bright.
He sat down quietly at his seat by the window.
The cold girl from yesterday was already there. She had her head down on the desk again, sleeping like nothing mattered.
Haru looked at her for a second.
'Why does she feel so familiar…?'
Before he could think more, a girl from another seat came up to him.
"Hi! You're Jin Haru, right?" she asked, smiling. "I'm Yuna. Do you wanna eat lunch with me and my friends today?"
Haru blinked.
"…Sorry. I already have plans."
"Oh, come on. Just once? I'll even share my dessert!"
"No, thank you."
Yuna pouted and went back to her seat, whispering with her friends.
Haru sighed. "So much for staying low-key."
---
Later at lunch…
Haru took his lunch tray and sat alone at a corner table.
He was halfway through his food when another girl suddenly sat across from him.
She had bright pink hair and heavy makeup. Her uniform shirt was too tight, and she had long painted nails.
"Yo," she said, smiling. "You looked kinda lonely, so I came to keep you company."
Haru blinked slowly. "I'm fine."
"Don't be so cold," she said, scooting closer. "You're super cute, you know? Like, movie star cute."
Haru looked away. "I just want to eat quietly."
"Ohhh… mysterious type. I like that," she giggled. "Name's Mira, by the way. Let's be friends, okay?"
He didn't reply.
Then he felt a sharp gaze. He looked up.
The cold girl was watching from the corner of her eye, still eating. Her face didn't change, but her chopsticks paused in the air for a second.
Mira leaned in more. "So, any girlfriend?"
"No."
"Good," she grinned. "Then I have a chance."
Suddenly, a voice spoke inside his head.
> [REI]: Human social interaction detected. Level of discomfort: 72%. Recommendation: escape.
Haru almost laughed.
"I'm done eating," he said, standing up quickly. "Thanks."
He left the table, ignoring Mira's dramatic sigh behind him.
---
After school…
As he walked home, he passed by the back of the school building. A few students were chatting.
One of them pointed at him. "That's the guy from PE. The backflip."
"No way. That was real?"
"Dude's a ninja or something."
Haru pulled his hoodie up and walked faster.
This wasn't the school life he imagined. He just wanted to study, eat lunch in peace, and maybe make one or two quiet friends.
But now… people were watching. Talking. Getting close.
He didn't like it.
He missed the silence of the lab.
> [REI]: Would you like me to reduce school social exposure by sabotaging popularity?
"…No, REI," Haru whispered. "Let's just… try to live normally. For now."
But something told him—this peaceful school life… wouldn't last long.