Bully Lord

Part-88

James whistled, a surprised chuckle escaping his lips.  The System, it seemed, wasn't content to let him rest on his laurels.  Join the Judo Club?  Of all things!  A part of him balked at the idea.  The memory of his grueling match with Ryan, the unfamiliar throws and grappling techniques, was still fresh in mind.  Yet, another part, the part fueled by the hunger for growth and the cryptic message about his father, saw the opportunity.  A +3 increase to all his stats was a significant boost, and food poisoning, while unpleasant, wasn't exactly life-threatening.

"I've already rejected Ryan before," James muttered to himself. "So, it would be awkward to go there and join the club now."

He considered his options.  He could decline the mission, but the potential reward was too tempting to ignore.  He could fake joining the club, but the System seemed to have ways of detecting insincerity.  The most logical course of action, then, was to embrace the challenge, to delve deeper into the world of martial arts, even if it meant facing his newfound fear of throws and grappling.

The school hallway buzzed with the usual cacophony of teenage chatter as James navigated his way to class.  He still felt the lingering aches from his epic duel with Ryan, but a determined glint shone in his eyes.  The notification from the System had solidified his resolve.  Joining the Judo Club, however unwelcome the prospect might be, was the next step in his journey.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the din.  "James!" Mili called out, a hint of concern in her voice.  She caught up to him, her brow furrowed.  "Are you alright?  You looked absolutely exhausted yesterday."

James, still basking in the afterglow of victory, let out a tired but genuine smile.  "Yeah, I'm fine.  Just a bit sore, but a good night's sleep did wonders."

Unfortunately, his response, coupled with the closeness they displayed, wasn't lost on the ever-observant student body.  A group of girls huddled together, their whispers carrying an unmistakable air of mischief.

"Did you hear that?  James spent the night at Mili's!" one girl squealed, her eyes wide with excitement.

"No way!" another gasped, pressing a hand to her mouth. "Are they, like, a thing now?"

A third girl, the resident gossip, chimed in, her voice dripping with mock seriousness.  "Well, it wouldn't be surprising, would it?  They've been spending a lot of time together lately.  Remember that whole cafeteria incident?  And now this training thing?"

Mili, catching snippets of their conversation, felt a blush creep up her neck.  She elbowed James playfully.  "Hey!  We were just talking about yesterday's match, you guys.  Nothing more, nothing less."

James chuckled, relief washing over him. The idea of him and Mili being a couple was unexpected. "Yeah," he agreed casually. "Just sparring."

One boy nudged another, a sly grin spreading across his face.  "Looks like Ryan has some serious competition now."

Mili, oblivious to the brewing gossip, completely misinterpreted the surprised glances.  Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she spoke a little louder than necessary.  "Congratulations on winning against Ryan yesterday, James!  Everyone's talking about it."