Kitami Elementary School, Nerima Ward, Tokyo, Japan.
It was another clear, crisp autumn afternoon. A gentle breeze swept across the empty playground, catching a fallen leaf and sending it drifting slowly towards a classroom window.
Inside that classroom, in the second-to-last row, by the window, sat Lin Yu. He rested his cheek on one hand, gazing idly out at the leaves dancing in the wind, his eyes distant and unfocused.
Anime often claimed the back row by the window was the hallowed territory of protagonists, but that trope did little to alleviate the melancholy currently weighing on Lin Yu's heart.
He had transmigrated. Just two months ago.
Formerly an overworked corporate drone, he had been grinding through another overtime shift when darkness suddenly consumed his vision. The next thing he knew, he'd crossed over. As someone who devoured anime and novels in his spare time, the concept wasn't unfamiliar. Once the initial shock wore off, a thrill of excitement followed. After all, didn't countless stories begin with the protagonist being transported to another world?
However, his excitement quickly deflated into profound dismay once he figured out which world he'd landed in.
Doraemon. Yes, that beloved classic, adored by countless children for generations.
Transmigrating into this world might have been acceptable, perhaps even fun, if not for one major complication: his body had shrunk. He'd gone from a grown man back to his ten-year-old self. For Lin Yu, who had initially harbored grand ambitions for his new life, this was like a sudden, brutal blow to the head, completely catching him off guard.
In all those anime and novels, transmigrators became heroes, received blessings from gods, or at least got a cheat system to help them reach the pinnacle of life. But him? Not only did he get absolutely nothing, but he was physically de-aged into a child. Seriously, who could he even complain to about this cosmic injustice?
"Classmate Lin Yu! Classmate Lin Yu?!"
Just as Lin Yu's mind was drifting far away, lost in a sea of thoughts, several sharp calls of his name snapped him back to reality. Lin Yu pulled his gaze away from the window and looked towards the front of the classroom. The teacher, Mr. Teragoya – identifiable by his drab brownish suit and slicked-back hair – had pushed his glasses up his nose and was staring directly at him.
"Classmate Lin Yu, please stand and recite the children's poem by Mr. Kitahara Hakushu that I was just discussing."
Lin Yu silently stood up, staring blankly at the textbook open on his desk. Forcing an adult mind through elementary school lessons was torturous enough; he hadn't focused on a single word the teacher said since class began. How was he supposed to know what poem they were even talking about?
Around the classroom, many students turned to look at him. As he remained silent, quiet whispers began to ripple through the room.
"Looks like Lin Yu was spacing out again."
"Maybe he's still not used to things since transferring?"
"But he looks so cool, though... kind of mature, like a grown-up..."
The growing murmur made the classroom slightly noisy. Mr. Teragoya sighed, looking resigned, and was about to intervene when Lin Yu suddenly began reciting, his voice clear and steady. "The Karatachi Flower."
"Oh, the white Karatachi flower has bloomed..."
"Oh, the snow-white flower has bloomed..."
His clear voice recited the exact children's poem Mr. Teragoya had just been discussing.
After Lin Yu finished reciting the entire poem, Mr. Teragoya cleared his throat twice. "Hm. Correct. But please try not to daydream during class next time, Classmate Lin Yu."
"Yes, Mr. Teragoya," Lin Yu replied dutifully, nodding as he sat back down.
In front of him, a girl with twin pigtails, wearing a light pink shirt and possessing a sweet smile, discreetly turned her head back. Her bright, lively dark eyes met his, and she gave him a quick, subtle wink.
"Thanks, Shizuka," Lin Yu whispered under his breath. The girl turned back around, and the lesson continued.
Yes, not only had he transmigrated and de-aged into a ten-year-old elementary student, but he had landed squarely in the same class as the original story's main characters, Nobi Nobita and his friends. The girl sitting in front of him, who had just subtly prompted him, was none other than Nobita's primary love interest, Shizuka Minamoto.
Having transferred into this class just two months ago, Lin Yu, still grappling with the reality of his transmigration, hadn't been in the mood to interact much with these elementary schoolers. He'd only exchanged a few words with Shizuka; she was perhaps the only one he could tentatively consider a friend.
The rest of the class time passed relatively quickly, and soon the cheerful bell signaling the end of the morning lessons rang out, announcing the start of the lunch break. The moment Mr. Teragoya left, the previously quiet classroom erupted into noise and activity as students gathered in groups, chatting and preparing for lunch.
Lin Yu watched the scene with a distinct lack of interest, his gaze drifting back towards the window. He was about to let his mind wander again when a clear voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Classmate Lin Yu, you seem a bit down today. Are you still having trouble adjusting to the new environment?"
Lifting his gaze slightly, he saw Shizuka had turned around again. She tilted her head, looking at him with open curiosity. Her complexion was fair with a healthy pink glow, radiating youthful energy. Though only ten, you could already see the clear promise of the beautiful young woman she would become.
"Maybe," Lin Yu replied noncommittally, giving a lazy yawn. "After all, it's autumn now. Makes you feel a bit sluggish."
"That's true," Shizuka agreed easily. "But you're still amazing, Lin Yu. Your grades are always so good!"
'They're just elementary school tests. It'd be more worrying if my grades weren't good,' Lin Yu thought wryly. He didn't bother explaining this. Two months had passed; it was time to stop drifting and start seriously considering how he should navigate life in this world. He'd been given a second life, after all. Wasting it by drifting aimlessly wasn't a good plan.
Although this world was vastly different from his previous one, with careful planning, perhaps becoming an author – a "cultural plagiarist," borrowing ideas from his past life – wasn't out of the question. He'd certainly consumed enough anime and manga; maybe writing light novels would be feasible. And while he was at it, building a good relationship with Doraemon and Nobita to perhaps borrow some useful gadgets now and then... Living a comfortable, worry-free life didn't seem too difficult a goal.
'Too bad,' he thought with a final, wistful sigh. *'If only I had a System...'