Chapter 2: Hold It Right There!!!

Gen Nanami stared at the mirror, his breath shallow and his hands trembling as he traced his fingers along the smooth, sculpted features of his face. His jawline was defined, his cheekbones sharp, and his skin—flawless. He ran his hands through his hair, now thick and effortlessly tousled like he had just stepped out of a high-end salon.

"This... this is real?" he whispered to himself. He pressed his fingers into his cheeks, feeling the warmth of his own skin. No mask. No illusion. This was him.

A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. He flexed his arm slightly, and his eyes widened at the sight of toned muscle pressing against his uniform sleeve. His once loose school uniform now fit snugly around his broad shoulders, tapering perfectly down to his waist. It almost looked like he had been designed in some video game's character creation screen, where someone had maxed out the aesthetic stats.

He exhaled sharply. This is insane.

He quickly changed, struggling slightly as his blazer tightened around his shoulders. He could already tell that this new body was going to take some getting used to. But first—

School.

As he stepped onto the school grounds, Gen instinctively lowered his head like he always did, keeping his eyes fixed on the pavement. But this time, something was different. The murmurs that usually carried insults and mockery... had changed.

"Omg... who is that?"

"He's so hot... is he a new transfer?"

"I've never seen him before... wait, is he a model?!"

Gen's stomach twisted. Are they talking about me?

He quickened his pace, trying to make it to class before any more attention could be drawn to him. As he stepped inside, the room fell into an eerie silence.

Eyes widened. Mouths gaped. Girls stared at him, whispering excitedly to each other.

One of them, a girl with short brown hair, hesitantly approached him. "Uh... hey! Are you a transfer student?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and excitement.

Gen blinked. No one had ever talked to him like this before. His throat dried up, and he barely managed to stammer, "N-No, I... I'm not new."

The girl tilted her head in confusion but smiled nonetheless. From the back of the classroom, a few of the boys, usually the ones who led the bullying, watched him with wary expressions. Some were in awe, others looked irritated.

Gen quickly found his seat, his heart pounding in his chest.

Then came the moment of truth.

"Nanami Gen?" The teacher called out for attendance.

Gen took a deep breath. "H-Here."

A shockwave rippled through the classroom.

"WHAT?!"

"NO WAY!!"

"THAT'S GEN NANAMI?!"

The uproar was instant. Girls gasped in disbelief. Boys murmured among themselves, some rubbing their eyes as if trying to make sure they weren't hallucinating.

"Alright, alright! Settle down!" the teacher scolded, trying to restore order. But even after the class resumed, Gen could feel their eyes constantly flickering toward him, filled with curiosity, disbelief... and admiration.

It was surreal.

Lunchtime.

Gen had never felt this nervous about eating before. Usually, he ate in the classroom, eager to finally enjoy a small moment of peace. But today, he was under surveillance.

He slowly unpacked his lunch—okonomiyaki and hamburg steak. His stomach growled, but before he could take a bite, he heard it.

Footsteps.

His body tensed. He already knew who it was before he even looked up.

Ichika Matsumoto.

She walked in, her usual confidence radiating like an empress surveying her territory. Her posse followed closely behind, as always.

Gen kept his gaze down, praying she would pass by without noticing him.

But then, he heard her voice.

"Hey, you look new."

His heart stopped. She was talking to him.

He swallowed hard and stammered, "Uhmm... o-okay..."

Ichika raised an eyebrow but continued, "Have you seen a fat pig anywhere? He usually sits here."

Gen froze. His mind raced. She didn't recognize him. She doesn't know who I am.

"N-No," he stuttered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Ichika sighed, then turned her gaze toward his food. "Hmm... you've got a pretty good meal. That's a big portion. Hamburg steak... okonomiyaki..." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him closer.

Gen held his breath.

She leaned in just a fraction, her expression unreadable. "You're kind of familiar... but I don't know..."

A few more moments passed. Then, to his immense relief, she shrugged and walked off. "Whatever."

Gen let out the biggest sigh of his life, his entire body sagging in relief. That was close.

After lunch, he made a beeline for the bathroom. He needed a moment to breathe, to process everything. He splashed water on his face, gripping the edge of the sink.

This is insane. My life just flipped overnight.

He exhaled and reached for the door—

Footsteps.

Loud. Heavy. Familiar.

A voice sneered behind him.

"Hey, Piggy. Hold it right there..."

Fuck!