The Girl They Ignored Returned as the Woman Seven Men Would Die For novel Chapter 13

Monday brought another dreary, rain-soaked morning.

Mika stepped out of the women's dormitory under a red umbrella, clutching a textbook to her chest as she made her way across Hudson University's campus toward the Sports Science Department building.

Seraphina was a theater major, whereas Mika was in the sports department, meaning they weren't entirely inseparable.

With their conflicting schedules, they rarely bumped into each other outside of grabbing lunch or dinner at the dining hall.

The walk to the lecture hall felt different today.

Mika could distinctly feel a shift in how people looked at her.

Back when she was obese and unattractive, walking through campus meant enduring an endless barrage of disgusted stares.

But today, even as she walked past throngs of students and folded her umbrella at the building's entrance, passersby simply ignored her, as if she were completely invisible.

Mika shook off her umbrella and stepped into the lecture hall.

A newfound sense of ease rested on her delicate, oval-shaped face.

Following last night's system upgrade, she had officially escaped the ugly girl tier and reached the status of a Level 2 Average Girl.

She had a slightly curvy figure and a completely ordinary face.

Since the March air still carried a crisp chill, she wore a loose grey hoodie over a white t-shirt, concealing her frame much better than summer clothes ever could.

To any stranger passing by, she was just another forgettable girl on a massive college campus.

And she absolutely loved not being the center of attention.

No weird stares, no open mockery, no one shrinking away from her, and no unprovoked hostility.

The beautiful, mundane world of an average girl.

While Mika belonged to the Sports Science Department, her major wasn't focused on athletics, but rather kinesiology and sports physiotherapy.

Her reason for choosing this path had been simple.

Back in high school, the excess weight had put a severe strain on her knees, causing frequent popping, pain, and agonizing swelling.

She had gone to a hospital's rehabilitation clinic to ask about it.

The doctor told her it was a moderate condition; a single session of physical therapy plus medication would cost about $90, and she'd need around twenty sessions to fully recover—a grand total of roughly $1,800.

She found a seat toward the back, settling in just as the professor arrived, completely flying under the radar.

Halfway through the lecture, a guy next to her turned his head, flashing a friendly smile.

"Hey, do you mind if I borrow a mark—"

He froze mid-sentence, staring at her face in stunned disbelief.

"Mika?"

Mika turned to him, her dark eyes entirely calm.

"Yeah. Do you need something?"

"N-no, nothing." The guy offered a stiff smile, completely forgetting about the pen as he ducked his head and began furiously texting in his dorm group chat.

[Holy shit, I'm sitting next to that infamous ugly girl from our department today!]

[Did you guys photoshop the pictures you showed me last time?!]

[Mika looks nothing like those pictures in person! She just looks like a totally normal girl!]