In the new calendar year 2012, late spring in April, 4:40 PM, outside Hongo Station in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo.
"Watanabe-san, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After bidding farewell to a classmate walking the same way, Watanabe Yu, carrying his school bag, turned around and gracefully took the last stretch of road before heading home.
He had walked this road many times over the past month, yet the sense of unfamiliarity in this foreign land had not completely faded.
But that was normal to think about.
From Lanshi City to Tokyo, from twenty-plus years as 'Gu Ming' to one month as 'Watanabe Yu,' from a corporate drone who had just climbed to department manager and saw his life about to go smoothly, to everything turning to dust in the blink of an eye, becoming a high school student in a foreign country who had to start everything anew—he needed time to digest all these changes in identity, location, and culture.
To put it jokingly, a new life in Tokyo, having been transported to a parallel world by a stroke of great luck, wasn't something one could completely adapt to in a short time.
Ding, ding, ding.
The sound of the Traffic Light changing at the intersection suddenly rang out, instantly yanking Watanabe Yu's thoughts back to reality.
Glancing at the Red Light/Green Light indicator with a countdown of nearly fifty seconds, he paused, pulled out his mobile phone from his pocket, opened Line, and tapped on the most recent Chat Interface.
It was a 'Girl' whose profile picture was a Ragdoll Cat and whose screen name was 'Ayana.'
On the screen, their Chat logs were frozen from two hours ago.
【I ran away from home】
【Awesome】
【So cold?】
【Why would a Saintess report running away from home to a Goblin?】
【Didn't you say anyone over 1.8 meters is an Ogre?】
【Why would a Saintess report running away from home to an Ogre?】
After this message, there was silence from the other side for a full five minutes before a new message arrived.
【You once said you were willing to take me in】
【Brother, I was joking. 'Smiling Face emoji'】
【……】
【Come over, but you can't stay longer than a year】
【A year? I won't stay that long, but why a year?】
【Don't ask.】
The message showed as read, but there was no further reply.
That was normal, though.
In the end, their relationship was merely that of netizens who had known each other for about twenty days.
Even though their chats were quite frequent, and 'Ayana' often treated him like a sounding board, complaining about things in her life, and even proactively sharing beautiful Leg Photos with the surroundings heavily blurred.
But whether it was him or 'Ayana,' both maintained a proper distance. Neither had proactively asked for the other's real-life information, much less mentioned meeting offline.
In other words, chat like 'willing to take me in' was purely an Internet Trash talk game.
But then again, those Leg Photos 'Ayana' sent were indeed Awesome. If the Leg Photos were that Awesome, the person must be Awesome too.
Even if the shooting angles in some photos were limited by her own photography skills—which couldn't be called useless, but could only be called dog-shit—the rule of photography's three elements stated that an Awesome person is Awesome no matter how they are photographed.
So even with humorous angles, the actual effect presented in the final product still made people exclaim: Got any more? My friend wants to see.
If—and this was a big 'if'—those photos weren't digitally enhanced, then 'Ayana's' legs were indeed longer than his life, already possessing the supermodel legs his artist friend from before his Transmigration had explained.
But, that was only for appreciation online.
He didn't have the idea of letting his lower half control his upper half.
Firstly, people's hearts are unpredictable. When out in the world, identity is self-assigned. Their chat was separated by the Internet; who knew if the person on the other side of the mobile phone screen was a sweet, soft girl, or a sweet, soft girl carrying a weapon?
Secondly, he always felt this girl's attitude toward him was a bit too enthusiastic—to be precise, it was very strange.
So, maintaining an appropriate distance and remaining purely a netizen was fine.
Buzz, buzz.
As if responding to his Thoughts, his mobile phone suddenly vibrated.
【I've arrived, how much longer until you get back?】
Watanabe glanced at it and instantly typed back one-handed.
【Wait, I'm almost there.】
Before Transmigration, this was what he told his Brothers when they called him last minute to play ball on the Weekend: Brother, Brother, I'm already at the court, where are you?
He, standing on the empty court, could only grin and tell his Brother, "I'm at your mom's grave digging with a shovel."
These stupid online friends are all experts at Trash talk.
After replying, the Red Light on the Crosswalk line had just turned Green. Watanabe Yu put away his mobile phone, hummed Jay Chou's 'Retreat'—a song that didn't exist in this world—and strolled leisurely toward the apartment he was renting.
The Yagurui Apartment he rented was not far from Hongo Station; to be precise, it was only a 600-meter straight-line distance.
Corresponding to this excellent geographical location and the complete surrounding infrastructure was its rental price, which could be described as disrupting market balance by being extremely low.
It wasn't because he was a student and handsome that the Landlord lady gave him a special discount; it was because the living conditions at Yagurui Apartment were truly worrying.
The old sign, the wooden structure that looked quite aged, the Corridor light that worked intermittently, the outer wall of the dark apartment that looked as if it had been scorched black, and the withered ivy clinging to the damaged outer walls of Yagurui—all gave the immediate impression that this old apartment building could be condemned and demolished at any moment.
Such a dilapidated apartment building could only be described as out of place in the modern Steel Forest.
Its external Hardware facilities were as hard to describe as its Mottled exterior.
As for water and power outages in the summer, those were commonplace, averaging about once every four to five days.
—This was what the very kind Old Granny living next door told him.
According to the old woman, one needed to prepare for water and power outages as soon as the temperature started to rise.
However, it also had its Unique advantages.
Cheap, good location, large room, convenient transportation.
For instance, the single room he rented was priced basically at the lowest end for similar apartments.
It only cost 56,000 Yen a month. Compared to other apartments starting at 70,000 Yen, this price was incredibly appealing.
Occasional water and power outages were not Yagurui's problem; they were *his* problem.
Arriving outside the entrance of the Yagurui Apartment, Watanabe Yu looked somewhat surprised at the highly recognizable black Business Sedan parked by the roadside.
Mainly because its Car Logo was too easy to recognize.
Inside the spherical triangle were two crossed Ms.
After sizing up the car for a few glances, Watanabe Yu slowly withdrew his Line of sight.
A Maybach not on an Elevated Highway was nothing to fear.
Entering the apartment door and stepping onto the stairs, Watanabe Yu skillfully made his way to the door of his own unit.
"Are you back?"
"Mm...?"
A slightly cold female voice sounded faintly.
Watanabe Yu instinctively responded first, then his movement to take out his key abruptly halted.
Following the direction of the voice, his peripheral vision caught sight of a Beautiful figure.
She was leaning against the wall next to his door, standing in the Gloom where the sunlight couldn't reach.
It was precisely because the spot she chose was so clever that he hadn't seen her immediately.
Seemingly noticing his surprised Line of sight, the girl blinked, smoothed the edge of her skirt, and confidently turned around. To ensure he could see her clearly, she even took two steps forward, standing in the Golden sunset.
A slender and graceful figure then came into Watanabe Yu's Eyelashes.
In a sense, the sunset light spilling onto her was like a timely Spotlight on a Stage—just right, yet not abrupt.
A black long-sleeved School Uniform covered most of her body.
She had long black hair, a mole under the corner of her eye, a high Bridge of the nose, and Full, moist Red lips.
From his perspective, under the sunset, that slightly cold Little Face seemed to have an added cinematic Filter, making it appear even Fairer and Delicate.
Below, there was a plain pleated skirt matching the School Uniform. Between the folds of the skirt, only a small section of Fair calves, so tender they looked like they could yield water, was visible. On her feet were simple white socks and a pair of black women's Small leather shoes.
Yes, he could confirm it now.
The photos she sent were not stock images, nor were they Photoshopped.
They were truly a pair of good legs.
"Hello, I am Ayana, Amemiya Ayana."
Amemiya Ayana politely nodded slightly, giving a brief Self-introduction.
Watanabe Yu froze momentarily.
It wasn't because of Amemiya Ayana standing before him, but because of the cold mechanical voice sounding in his ear, and the text appearing on his retina.
The System Bro, late by a month, had finally won the Relegation Match.
【Romance Option System loaded, 'I Want Them All' prompt plugin activated.】
【An ambitious Young Miss has appeared before you. She seems to have a high favorability toward you, but perhaps she has ulterior motives.】
【But no matter what, the start of a Romance always begins with the initiative of one or both parties.】
【Romance Options updated, please begin your performance.】
【So, will you keep her here?】
Long time no see.
Newcomers and New book, please Brothers give lots of support~