"So… this is what time travel feels like?" A confused voice echoed in the small room. The speaker was a young boy with rosy cheeks and a slightly chubby face. His lips were red, and his teeth sparkled as he spoke.

The boy lifted his left arm and sighed deeply. "Well, this is unexpected. I've really turned into a kid!" He muttered to himself, clearly frustrated. "This definitely wasn't because I followed some shady guy and got caught, right? I'm no detective."

"System," he called out softly.

"Yes, Host! How may I assist you?" A childlike voice, sounding no older than three or four, responded in his ear. The boy didn't seem surprised—he'd been studying this "system" for the past week.

The system's voice was oddly versatile. When it spoke like a sage, its tone was deep and resonant, making you reflect on your past mistakes and feel an overwhelming urge to repent. When it imitated a soldier, its voice became sharp and commanding. And when it took on the tone of a seductress, it was sultry and hypnotic, enough to make your knees weak.

In short, the system was one entity but could offer a thousand different experiences.

"So, if you're not lying, this is the world of Bakuman?" The boy's voice trembled slightly. Even though he'd prepared himself, the reality was still shocking.

He glanced around the room. It was cozy, about 20 square meters, but what caught his attention were the bookshelves filled with Japanese manga. He picked up one titled Physiology Education and frowned. "Wait, I'm an otaku, but I don't know Japanese! How am I reading this?"

"That's my doing," the system chirped. "I thought it'd be easier for you to adapt. If you're mad, I'll just…" The system's voice suddenly turned tearful. "Waaah! I'm scared!"

The boy was taken aback. "Hey, calm down! I'm not mad!" He tried to soothe the system, but it kept wailing.

"Switch modes," he muttered under his breath.

Instantly, the crying stopped, replaced by a deep, masculine voice. "Host, this modification was made to help you integrate into this world. If it bothers you, I can revert it."

"No, no! It's perfect!" The boy quickly replied. He wasn't about to give up such a useful feature.

"Glad to hear it," the system said, a hint of amusement in its tone. "Now, let me reiterate your mission."

___

Mission Briefing

·Host Identity: Fudo Yayoi

·Current World: Bakuman

·Skills: None

·Mission: Defeat Ashirogi Muto and Niizuma ·Eiji at their peak (before the anime ends) by ·creating a manga that surpasses theirs.

·Reward: Random

·Penalty: System detachment

____

The Challenge

"Niizuma Eiji, a prodigy with an innate sense for manga. He's been drawing since he was five, and his passion never wanes. He's the golden boy of Weekly Shonen Jump."

"Ashirogi Muto, a duo consisting of Takagi Akito, a genius storyteller, and Mashiro Moritaka, a skilled artist trained by his uncle. Even when hospitalized during a serialization, Mashiro refused to give up. Their dedication is unmatched."

"How am I supposed to compete with them?!" The boy groaned.

"You didn't seem shocked about becoming a child, but suddenly knowing Japanese is a problem?" The system quipped.

"Well, if I start training now, maybe I have a chance," the boy said, forcing a smile.

"Especially since your uncle is Fudo Satoshi, a Jump editor. With his guidance, you'll have an edge."

"Wait, what?!" The boy's eyes widened as memories flooded his mind. His uncle was indeed Fudo Satoshi, a respected editor at Shueisha.

"With his help, you can achieve greatness," the system assured him.

"This system is seriously OP," the boy muttered.

____

Meanwhile, at Shueisha…

"Achoo! Achoo!" Fudo Satoshi sneezed repeatedly at his desk.

"Catching a cold, Fudo?" A colleague asked. "You should take better care of yourself."

"I'm fine," Fudo replied, rubbing his nose. "Probably just someone talking about me."

He watched as his senior, Sasaki, packed up his belongings. "Heading to Kawahara-sensei's place again? Must be nice."

"The Legend of the Superhero is reaching its climax. I can't afford to slack off," Sasaki said with a smile. "You should aim to become an editor who can truly support our mangaka."

As Sasaki left, Fudo stood up and bowed deeply. "I'll do my best!"

Slapping his cheeks, Fudo muttered, "No more daydreaming. Time to work!"

____

Back to the Host

"If Fudo Satoshi is my uncle, I can learn the ins and outs of the manga industry faster," the boy mused.

"Exactly," the system agreed.

"Then give me some beginner tasks," the boy said confidently.

"Sorry, Host. No such thing," the system replied flatly.