Today, Maya was hosting a group project at her house—the same day Shuji had invited Guest over to hang out. Maya and her best friend, Anna Kone, were considered the biggest losers in school, but today, they had somehow managed to get the most popular girls—Heather, Connie, and Becca—to come over. In their minds, if they made the hangout cool enough, maybe the girls would finally let them into their group.

Of course, the only reason the popular girls agreed to come had nothing to do with Maya. They were there because they thought her older brother, Shuji, was hot.

Midway through the so-called “study session,” Maya’s bedroom door was cracked open just enough for them to hear movement in the hallway. Shuji was heading downstairs. The moment his foot hit the last step, Heather’s voice cut through the room.

“Oh my God, he’s coming,” she whispered, straightening her posture as if that would make her more appealing. Connie and Becca giggled, adjusting their hair in the reflection of Maya’s closet mirror.

“Shujiii,” Connie sing-songed, leaning forward slightly. “Where are you off to?”

“Nowhere,” Shuji muttered, barely sparing them a glance as he walked past the living room toward the front door.

Maya rolled her eyes. “He’s picking up his girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Becca repeated, her tone suddenly sharp with interest.

“She’s not his girlfriend,” Maya corrected quickly. “They just—hang out.”

“Ohhh,” Heather smirked, leaning back into Maya’s bed like she had just been handed the most interesting piece of gossip. “So he’s available, then?”

Maya groaned as Shuji ignored them completely, pulling the door open. And just as expected, Guest was standing there.