Back in sixth grade.

"I... I like you, Linh Chi."
I gathered every ounce of courage I had, my gaze firm as I looked straight at the girl in front of me.

She—tiny, pouty-mouthed, with two sleepy half-closed eyes—gaped and shouted,
"HUH??? But my type is Saitama! You don't look like him at all, so... I can't like you!"

A silent "Damn..." echoed in my heart.
That afternoon, the world kept spinning as usual, except two lonely souls remained unchanged. Did I really lose to someone who doesn't even exist?

I went home earlier than usual. Couldn't bear to show my face around her house anymore.
Thud!—I threw my backpack onto the sofa and glared at the TV playing some kids' channel for my five-year-old sister.

"Hey, go get me a bottle of water."
A shameless but effective tactic every older brother like me used to steal the TV. The moment she vanished from the living room, I grabbed the remote—the sacred object everyone in the house coveted.

Beep. Please speak—
"Search for Saitama reviews."

That afternoon, I stood in front of my mom as if announcing the most important decision of my life.

"Mom! Let me learn martial arts, please. I'll get strong, become a sturdy man who can protect our family... and the whole world! Muahaha—"

Mom shot me a cold look, expressionless.
"Fine. I'll let you learn—so you can protect yourself first. Saturday, I'll take you to register."

Her sarcastic tone only made me ridiculously happy.
I was this close to becoming Saitama.

Ninth grade.

After three years of "ascending the martial arts path," clutching two black belts in both hands, I waited for Linh Chi at the school gate.

"Linh Chi, I like you."
As I spoke, I shook my Taekwondo and Traditional Martial Arts belts proudly—proof of my three-year effort.

Her small face suddenly dimmed, as if mourning something.
"I don't like Saitama anymore... now I like Senku."

Damn... I'm doomed. My inner voice wailed.

"Why can't you be loyal even once?"
I muttered, then turned away.

Timeskip.

I got into an IT university, graduated, and had been working for a year.

Ding ding.

A message from Linh Chi:
"Come over. I've got an amazing novel."

In the scorching summer heat, I trudged to her house.

"'Schemes of the Inner Palace'—read it. It's great. Oh, and it's a boy-love novel."
She said while handing me the book.

"Sure. I'll read it."
I wasn't the type to discriminate—love shouldn't be confined by gender anyway. Around page 20, I found a spell meant to activate on the night of a full moon... to transmigrate.

Then it hit me—today was a full moon.

I accidentally read it aloud.

A glowing magic circle burst open above my head. Wind roared through the room, knocking down everything not nailed in place. The floor beneath me lit up.

Linh Chi screamed, "Help! HELP!"

Bzzzzzz—a piercing sound cut through the air.

Farewell, 21st century.

I jerked awake.
Above me stretched a star-filled night sky. The houses around me looked exactly like something out of an ancient dynasty.

"Catch the prince! Don't let him escape!"
The shouts came from outside the wall of the house I was inexplicably standing in.

A boy was climbing over the wall toward me.
"Carry me."
A cold, authoritative voice demanded.

Without thinking, I reached out and lifted him. We dashed inside to hide. Panting filled the room, along with the heavy footsteps of those chasing him.

"Check ahead! He's not here!"
The footsteps faded. Only then did I exhale.

"Kid, whose son are you? Why are you sneaking out at this hour?"
I stared straight at the little boy.

"What does that have to do with you?"
Cold as ice.
This brat was going to drive me insane.

"You're staying in someone else's house. At least show some manners."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to keep my "older brother" aura alive.

Growl...
"I'm hungry. Do you have anything to eat?"
His arrogant tone was like he was ordering a servant.

Seriously? Kids in ancient times were this rude? I thought, and my face probably showed everything.

"Senior Brother."
I changed my tone, dragging the words with exaggerated arrogance.

"Huh?"

"Call me 'Senior Brother'... and you'll get food."

I sneaked a glance.
His small face was flushed with frustration. Hilariously cute, but I held back a laugh.

"I'm hungry. Bring me food... Senior Brother."
He turned away shyly.

"Uh... honestly, I don't even know if this house has food."
I scratched my head while rummaging around what I assumed was my house.

"You're messing with me?"
He shot up, pointing accusingly at me.

"Found nothing."
I pulled out some neatly folded blankets from the closet, spread them on the floor, yawned, and lay down.

"Hey! You're not keeping your promise!"
Heavy stomping approached.

"Just sleep. It'll be morning soon. We can eat breakfast then. I'm not hungry right now."
I replied lazily.

Thump!
A small—but surprisingly heavy—body landed on top of me. Then a tiny fist clenched tightly.

Whack!
His punch smacked me across the face, sending my head jerking to the side.

I froze.
Utter shock.
Eyes wide, mouth open.

Slowly, I sat up, lifted him like a kitten, and set him beside me.
"Sleep."

I turned my back to him, letting my mind drift into chaos.
What's wrong with kids these days? Who raised him? Damn...
I imagined myself performing Taekwondo combos on an innocent stuffed rabbit.

"Fine. But tomorrow morning, you must feed me."

And so... the two of us drifted into sleep.