My brother's fiancée loves me after I time travel to the past

"They're talking about us," he says, glancing at their classmates, who are still watching, still whispering. "Some of them… they think we're… dating."

Julie blinks, surprised. "What? Dating? Why would they think that?"

Jiko shrugs, forcing a nonchalant tone, though the irritation seeps through. "Because I'm with you. And apparently, I'm not supposed to be the guy you spend time with."

Julie frowns, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Who cares what they think?" she says firmly, though her tone softens. "I don't. And I certainly don't expect you to either."

Jiko's brow furrows. "It's not just that. They're saying stuff… saying that I don't deserve you. That I'm not good enough."

Jiko immediately thought, *What the heck did I just say? My big mouth! That's not something you tell a girl. Especially not Julie.*

Julie's eyes widen in shock. "What?" she exclaims, leaning in slightly, anger flashing across her face. "Who said that? Who thinks they have any right to talk about you like that?"

Jiko shrugs, trying to brush it off, but his voice tightens. "It doesn't matter. It's just… people like me don't fit into stories like this. Not with someone like you."

Even Jiko had to admit it. Even though he'd disliked her in his past life, he'd never denied her beauty. In fact, he'd always thought she was a perfect match, appearance-wise, for his handsome brother. It was almost like a universally acknowledged fact in his mind. And, if he was being honest with himself, part of the reason he'd decided to improve his own appearance – to "glow up," as people said – was so he wouldn't look bad standing next to them.

Julie tilts her head, studying him intently. "You mean, someone like you… can't be with someone like me?" she repeats softly, her voice steady but sharp.

Jiko looks down, unable to meet her gaze directly. "That's what they think. I don't fit the mold they expect. I'm not…" He pauses, unsure how to explain it. "I'm not what people like you go for."

Julie's frown deepens. "What people like me? What does that even mean?"

Jiko sighs, tired of trying to explain. "They think you're too good for me. That I can't—" His voice trails off, and he gestures vaguely to their classmates, still watching from a distance.

Julie's lips press into a thin line. "That's nonsense," she says firmly, her eyes burning with resolve. "What they think doesn't matter. I'm with you because I want to be. And you don't need to explain yourself to anyone."

But Jiko shakes his head, his frustration mounting. "You don't understand. It's not just about what they think—it's about what they're seeing. I'm not the guy they expect you to spend time with."

Julie's gaze softens, but there's a steely resolve behind her words. "Maybe it's time they see things differently. Maybe it's time you see things differently, too."

Her confidence, her directness—it surprises him. And for the first time, Jiko feels a small, strange shift—a quiet warmth that feels both comforting and unsettling at once.

He'd never imagined Julie would hang out with a chubby guy like him. He'd always assumed she only talked to good-looking people. He'd even thought that was why she'd never been nice to *him*—because how could an ugly duckling like him be worthy of Tito's attention, let alone Julie's? However, he was finally starting to understand that Julie wasn't like that at all. It was simply that he and Julie had never had a good relationship to begin with.

He knew he should have stopped it by now, should have kept his distance and told her that, she should leave him alone and not to bother him anymore and he will not talk to her anymore. But Julie's attention, the way she believed in him, made it hard to walk away. And he couldn't shake the feeling that things had already changed too much.

Determined not to mess up the timeline completely, Jiko started working on himself. He focused on getting in shape, going from fat to fit what he started when he was in college. He started small – waking up earlier to run around the block before school. He swapped his usual junk food breakfasts for healthier meals like grilled chicken, vegetables, and whole grains. Slowly, his teenage body began to change. His soft arms started getting muscles. His round stomach got flatter, and his legs felt stronger after every workout.

Six month later.

At first, only he noticed the difference. The changes were small, and his confidence grew little by little each day. But soon, people started to notice. Jiko wasn't someone who just blended in anymore. He was becoming someone people saw – someone who was actually putting in the effort.

His classmates started to notice too, but at first, they didn't know how to react. It started with small things: a few curious glances, quick looks that lasted a little too long. When Jiko walked past, some students did a double-take, whispering just loud enough for him to hear snippets of their conversations.

"Hey, did you see Jiko this morning? He looks different these days."

"Yeah, I saw him jogging yesterday. He's definitely working out more."

At first, Jiko shrugs it off, dismissing it as casual chatter. But it's the subtle shifts in how people treat him that make him pause. More than once, he catches someone looking at him with something other than indifference. There's a curiosity now—a flicker of recognition he's never felt before.

Then, it happens again. A girl named Mei approaches him one afternoon as they're walking through the school's crowded hallways. She's smiling softly, tilting her head with curiosity.

"Hey, Jiko," she says casually, but there's warmth in her voice. "I saw you at track practice the other day. You seem really into it. How's it going?"

Jiko's taken off guard, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, yeah, it's been going well. Just trying to stay active, you know?"

Mei's eyes twinkle slightly, and she gives him a playful grin. "Well, it shows. You look different—more energetic. It's working."

Jiko feels heat rising to his face, the compliment unexpected but oddly satisfying. For the first time, someone other than a teacher or coach is noticing him(excluding Julie). Someone like Mei—a girl who's popular, someone who doesn't typically engage with students like him—seems genuinely interested.

"Thanks," Jiko mutters, feeling a mixture of pride and awkwardness. He hadn't expected this. In the past, compliments like these had always been reserved for others—more confident, athletic, and outgoing individuals. Not someone like him.