Just as Lin Yu was lost in thought, two voices drifted into his ears.
"Shizuka, let's eat lunch together! I heard we're having curry today~"
"Manga System initializing... please wait..."
Lin Yu froze.
Wait. What did he just hear?
His mind snapped back to the present, eyes narrowing. That second voice—it wasn't from any of the kids around him.
He turned sharply, gaze locking onto the boy in the yellow T-shirt and glasses who was chatting with Shizuka.
"You. What did you just say?" Lin Yu asked, his brow furrowed.
"Huh? Me?" Nobita blinked in confusion, pointing to himself. He faltered under Lin Yu's intense stare, instinctively stepping back.
"I-I just asked Shizuka to have lunch with me... that's all..." he mumbled, voice shrinking.
Even though Lin Yu now appeared to be a ten-year-old, the weight of his past life—his adult mind—wrapped around him like an invisible cloak. It gave him an aura of maturity and quiet command that felt unnerving to the other kids. To Nobita, standing before Lin Yu was like facing a strict grown-up teacher—one you didn't want to provoke.
Shizuka, more observant than most children her age, quickly sensed the shift in the air. Lin Yu's intense reaction didn't make sense, but instead of questioning it, she tried to defuse the tension.
"Lin Yu, why don't you eat with us too? You're always by yourself at lunch…"
But Lin Yu wasn't hearing her.
Every part of his attention was locked on the voice that echoed once more inside his mind:
"Manga System has been activated. Would you like to claim your Beginner Gift Pack?"
This time, there was no mistake.
The voice was inside his head.
Lin Yu's heart surged with joy.
A system.
A system!
The holy grail of every transmigrator.
For two whole months, he'd lived in silent frustration, believing he'd been cheated. He'd crossed into a new world, reborn in a child's body—without a golden finger, without any cheats, without a lifeline.
But now?
Better late than never.
Trying to mask his excitement, he turned to Shizuka and declined politely. "Thanks, but I've got something to take care of."
Before she could respond, Lin Yu stood up and walked briskly out of the classroom, footsteps echoing with purpose.
Eat lunch with elementary school kids?
Please.
He had a system to explore—and a Beginner Gift Pack waiting to be opened.
Back in the classroom, Nobita huffed, puffing out his cheeks in frustration.
"Tch... what's with him? Just a transfer student, acting all high and mighty..."
Shizuka frowned. "That's not fair, Nobita. He's still adjusting. He just transferred from another district. Be nice, okay?"
She didn't say it out loud, but Shizuka had noticed something strange, too.
There was something different about Lin Yu today. His expression, the way he moved—it wasn't irritation or anger. It was something else.
Something had changed.
Outside, under the shade of a quiet tree on the edge of the schoolyard, Lin Yu found a secluded spot. The sun filtered through the leaves above, casting soft dappled light around him.
His heart raced. Eyes sparkling, he took a deep breath.
System.
With a single thought, a translucent blue panel shimmered into view in his mind.
[Manga System]
Host: Lin Yu
Age: 10
Abilities: None
Items: Beginner Gift Pack
Works: None
Reputation: 0
▶ System Shop
It was simple. Almost too simple.
But Lin Yu didn't mind.
Every great journey begins with a single panel.
And now, it was time to figure out exactly what this system could do.
The Manga System allowed him to create and publish manga. As readers discovered his works, his reputation would grow. In return, he could spend reputation points to draw gacha, unlock powerful abilities, gain rare items, and more.
In essence—every iconic manga power from his old world could be his.
Naruto's Rasengan?
Gon's Nen?
Luffy's Haki?
Yes. Please. All of them.
His pulse quickened.
He zeroed in on the icon for the gift pack.
"Open Beginner Gift Pack."
Ding! Congratulations. You've received:
— Manga Skill Lv.1
— 1x Manga Ability Draw
Just two items?
At first, Lin Yu felt underwhelmed. But then he understood.
These weren't mere trinkets.
The Manga Skill was the very foundation of this system. Even at Level 1, it gifted him everything a mangaka needed—drawing fundamentals, panel design, visual tone, pacing, storytelling mechanics—all packed into his mind like a compressed file unzipping.
He could create now.
And with one Manga Ability Draw, anything was possible. Any power. Any technique. Any legacy.
This was the beginning of his real adventure.
With the system in place and tools in hand, Lin Yu smiled faintly to himself.
Forget curry lunch.
He had manga to draw—
and a destiny to rewrite.