In his spare time, Satoru dove into books like A General History of China, only to discover its history was eerily identical to his old world's. There was the Xia-Shang era, the Spring and Autumn period, the Tang-Song-Yuan-Ming dynasties, even a bustling metropolis like Mato and the scenic Kounan region.
He even snagged a China Atlas from the library. The roads, the streets—down to the smallest alley—matched his memories almost perfectly.
Weird.
Back in his old life, "Kobayashi Satoru" lived on Labor Road in Kounan's Koushu Reian District.
So, in this world, who the heck was living there now?
He was a full-on Japanese guy now, wasn't he?
"Yo, Kobayashi, what's with these books? You actually get this stuff?" A guy leaned over, peering at Satoru's desk.
Per his new memories, this was Anji Seiji—a name dripping with irony, like a mash-up of history's two stinkiest disasters: rebellion and politics. One of the few friends Kobayashi Satoru had in class.
Dyed blond hair, school uniform unbuttoned for maximum "rebel without a cause" vibes—he was the picture of carefree delinquency.
Seiji snatched the book, flipping through it. "It's all kanji! Kobayashi, your lit grades are that cracked? Or you just flexing for clout?"
"Shut it." Satoru snatched the book back without hesitation.
Since transmigrating, he'd somehow unlocked "Your Japanese is so good!" mode, and his old-world language skills hadn't slipped either. Maybe he could parlay that into a translator gig and visit his homeland someday?
Seiji frowned, scratching his head, clearly baffled by Satoru's focus. He shrugged, dropping the book thing—probably figured "reading" didn't vibe with his cool rebel aesthetic.
"Kobayashi! I'm hitting the konbini for a drink. Want anything?" Seiji called, already halfway out.
"No, I'm good," Satoru replied coolly.
From the front row, Matsubara Ayumu turned. "Need anything, Kobayashi?"
"Nah, I'm set." Satoru waved him off.
"Cool." Ayumu nodded and slipped out the classroom door.
"You and Matsubara… tight now?" Seiji asked, raising an eyebrow.
Before today, he'd never seen Ayumu and Satoru exchange more than two words.
"A little," Satoru said vaguely.
"Matsubara's still such a twig… looks like he'd snap if you breathed on him," Seiji chuckled, then nudged Satoru with an elbow, grinning slyly. "But his childhood sweetheart, Yotsumoto Ryoka? She's a beast. And hot as hell—great figure, especially those—"
He didn't finish. Satoru's glare cut him off, sharp and menacing, like a predator locking onto prey.
Seiji froze but, undeterred, plowed on with a grin. "What, scared of Yotsumoto? Relax, she's not in our class—she won't hear. Haha, imagine if we nabbed Matsubara as a hostage and told her, 'Hey, you don't want anything to happen to him, right?' Total thrill, man… Kidding, kidding!"
He cackled, lost in his own fantasy.
Seiji was your average high schooler—head full of dirty thoughts but no guts to act on them. All talk, no game.
But that talk was enough. Wham!—Satoru shot to his feet.
Sure, he was lanky, but he towered over Seiji. In one swift move, he grabbed the guy's collar.
"Shut. Up."
NND! I'm a pure love warrior, and my so-called friend's spouting NTR filth?!
"K-Kobayashi, what the hell?!" Seiji yelped, startled, but quickly pushed back, tussling with Satoru.
Crash! Seiji's hip slammed into Satoru's desk, toppling it with a loud thud.
The noise drew every eye in the classroom.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Kobayashi and Anji?"
"Aren't they usually tight…?"
Seiji, momentarily pinned by Satoru's grip, felt the weight of the class's stares. No way was he losing face like this.
"You jerk!"
He twisted, wrenching Satoru's hand off his collar and—slap!—his wrist caught Satoru's cheek in a sharp, accidental smack.
The sound rang out like a proper face-slap.
"…Huh?" Seiji blinked, stunned at himself. "S-Sorry, Kobayashi…"
Fighting was one thing, but hitting the face? That broke bro code.
Satoru's head tilted slightly from the hit. Then he snapped back, eyes blazing like a shounen hero powering up.
Boom! His fist crashed into Seiji's nose with a sickening crunch.
"Gah!"
Seiji's balance faltered, and he hit the floor with a thud, groaning. "…Ow…"
Before he could recover, Satoru pounced like a crow diving onto a plane, pinning him down.
Another punch—this one to Seiji's cheek.
"W-Wait, hold up…" Seiji's panic spiked.
Wham!
Personality Correction Punch! Satoru roared internally.
He raised his fist again, ready for round three.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Seiji flailed, hands waving in surrender. "I shouldn't have talked trash about Yotsumoto-san… I'm done, okay?! Kobayashi-sama, have mercy!"
"…Hmph."
Satoru smirked, satisfied.
Correction complete. Horns clipped, pure love restored!
He stood, dusting off his rumpled uniform, giving the trembling Seiji a glance before offering a hand. "Don't say that crap again."
"…Y-Yeah…" Seiji swallowed hard, nodding.
Satoru pulled him up, and Seiji eyed him warily. But Satoru seemed to brush it off, like the fight was already ancient history.
"Kobayashi?" Seiji ventured.
"Hm?" Satoru replied, casual as ever.
"N-Nothing…" Seiji mumbled, still rattled.
He thought it over, piecing it together.
Kobayashi suddenly buddying up with Matsubara, flipping out over trash-talk about Yotsumoto… It clicked.
Kobayashi's got a thing for Yotsumoto Ryoka?!
Holy crap! But a girl like her? Way out of their league…
"Kobayashi, you… you don't like Yotsumoto, do you?" Seiji asked quietly.
"Huh?!" Satoru's glare returned, fist twitching. "What kinda nonsense is that?!"
Yup, nailed it! That guilty, caught-red-handed look! Seiji was sure now—Kobayashi was smitten. And who wouldn't be? Yotsumoto was a goddess-tier beauty.
But damn, he'd crossed a line, badmouthing his bro's crush like that.
"Kobayashi, my bad, man. I screwed up. Name your price—how can I make it up?" Seiji slung an arm around Satoru's shoulder.
"Cut that blond hair. It's an eyesore," Satoru said flatly.
"??" Seiji blinked, then nodded reluctantly. "…Fine, deal!!"
The two, fresh off a brawl, were suddenly all chummy again. The girls watching from the sidelines could only sigh—high school boys, such bizarre creatures!
—And then, Satoru and Seiji got hauled to the principal's office to write apology letters.