Otherworldly Attraction | Various!JJK x Reader

22 - everyone's favorite

It's still hard to believe that you actually managed to get Junpei's number. You feel like you've struck gold-and for more reasons than one. Is it possible that you're actually incredibly charismatic? Is it part of the whole isekai gig, or has your hidden potential finally risen to the surface?

Honestly, it doesn't really matter. Whether it was a stroke of luck or not, it doesn't change how unbelievably happy you are.

You're going to do everything in your power to protect Junpei.

After watching a movie with Itadori (it wasn't quite as memorable as the toilet reincarnation one, unfortunately), you eventually went back to the dorms. It's late, and you should be getting ready for bed, but much like the day you met Nanami for the first time, you're far too excited to go to sleep.

So instead, you give Junpei a call.

"H-Hello?"

You're tickled pink that he actually answered, although you suppose it's not too surprising. After all, you've been texting back and forth for the past few hours. You were worried that he only gave you his number to be polite, but since it's come this far, surely he must enjoy talking to you, right?

"Hi," you respond, almost certain that he can hear the smile in your voice. You plop down in bed, flat onto your stomach, your feet happily kicking behind you. "Is it okay if we talk like this for a while? You weren't about to go to bed, were you?"

"No... not really. I usually stay up pretty late," he says.

"What about school?" you ask.

You already know the answer to that question, of course, but you're hoping he'll tell you himself. If you want to keep him away from Mahito, it's important that he opens up to you. The only reason he turned to Mahito in the first place is because he was so lonely and miserable. Mahito exploited his bitterness and manipulated him. It looked like Junpei was on the way to forging a proper friendship with Itadori, but unfortunately, it was too little, too late.

That's why you got a head start. So that maybe, just maybe, you can provide Junpei with the comfort he so desperately needs.

"I don't... go to school that often," he admits. "I end up skipping a bunch and going to the movie theater instead. That's why I was there earlier today. Because I was cutting class."

Okay, good. He's being honest, which means you're on the right track. Bullying is a difficult topic to breach, but sometimes, it really does help to get things off your chest. It makes more of a difference than most people realize.

"Why were you skipping class?" you ask, hoping he won't be upset with your intrusiveness. He doesn't say anything for a while, and you fear that you might have pushed him too far; that he might end the call right then and there, but mercifully, that doesn't happen.

"I just don't really like school."

Junpei doesn't elaborate any further, and you can tell by the tone of his voice that he's not willing to get into it right now. That's fine, though. You've only just met, and the fact that you're even talking to him like this is promising. You won't rush him into anything. You just want him to know that no matter how discouraging it all gets, no matter how awful he might feel, he at least has someone on his side.

"I get it. School can be rough," you sigh. "A lot of people don't like studying, homework, or tests... and some people can be really mean, too. For no reason."

"...yeah."

He doesn't pile on to what you just said, but there's the slightest twinge of relief in his voice, as if he finally feels understood. With a bit of time, maybe he'll work up the courage to tell you what's really on his mind. But for now, baby steps.