A flirt's guide to conquering the protagonist

Bai Ying blinked at his reflection in disbelief.

The image staring back at him was undeniably… him. But also not.

Gone was his usual mess of jet-black hair. Instead, shimmering blue waves cascaded smoothly, styled to perfection—more like an anime protagonist than someone who had ever struggled with bedhead.

His skin? Flawless. Unreal. His eyes had taken on a deeper, more mesmerizing hue, radiating a charm he hadn't even known was possible.

"Seriously, why do I look like a character straight out of an isekai manga?" he muttered, running his fingers through his absurdly perfect hair.

The room around him was just as extravagant—a lavishly furnished bedroom designed to exude wealth and beauty. Framed photos lined the walls, each featuring the same impossibly handsome man he had now become.

Teruhashi Makoto.

Kokomi Teruhashi's older brother.

A single glance told him exactly where he was.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.

Bai Ying exhaled, the weight of reality sinking in.

He was now a part of this world—a world where his role wasn't to be the lead but a charming side character with one very specific mission:

Romance Saiki Kusuo.

His fingers lingered on the silk sheets.

He had been prepared for a lot. New worlds? Fine. Strange bodies? Fine. Overpowered abilities in some ridiculous game-like scenario? Also fine.

But this?

This was different.

Saiki Kusuo.

A mentally powerful, emotionally unreadable psychic.

Who could read minds.

Bai Ying's chest tightened. The realization hit him like a freight train.

Saiki can read minds.

His reflection wavered as panic set in.

He needed a plan. Fast.

Pacing the room, he muttered to himself.

"Okay, I've got this. It's just like one of those games, right? I'm the charming older brother, and my mission is to—"

His mind went blank.

Saiki Kusuo.

He could hear every thought that crossed Bai Ying's mind.

Bai Ying's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't just about charming someone—it was a battle against a guy who would know every single thing he was thinking.

"You've got to be kidding me," he groaned, gripping his head as he flopped onto the bed. "How the heck am I supposed to flirt with someone when they can hear my every stupid thought?"

His past relationships had always been effortless. A wink, a well-placed word, a playful touch—it all worked because he controlled the game. But now?

Now, it felt like every move he made was already checkmated before he even took the first step.

Saiki will hear it all.

His mind scrambled for a solution.

Okay. Think.

There had to be something in the system's inventory—some kind of tool, gadget, or cheat that could help.

The moment the thought formed, a glowing screen appeared before him, hovering mid-air.

[System Store: Available Items]

A long list scrolled across the screen—potions, accessories, strange devices. But he needed something specific. Something that would block Saiki's mind-reading ability.

And then, there it was.

[Mind Blocker Ring] Price: 1000 Points

He nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Wait, I have to pay for it?!"

A soft beep followed.

[Points available: 0]

The system screen flickered, almost mockingly.

[Loan option unavailable.] [Points cannot be borrowed.]

Bai Ying groaned, exasperated.

"No, no, no. There has to be a way!"

[Terms and conditions are final. No exceptions.]

His eye twitched.

"This is ridiculous."

There was no getting around it. If he wanted that ring, he needed to earn points—and fast.

But before he could even start thinking about that, another realization hit him.

The original Makoto Teruhashi.

Bai Ying's stomach churned.

Makoto was obsessed with his sister, Kokomi.

Would he have to keep up that ridiculous act?

Was he supposed to romance Saiki Kusuo and pretend to be a lovesick idiot over his own sister?

His head was already starting to ache.

He looked at the system screen again, hoping for some kind of guidance.

"…Hey, system?" he hesitated. "Would Saiki find out I'm a dimension traveler?"

[No.]

Bai Ying exhaled in relief.

[The system protects all information related to your origin and identity. Saiki Kusuo will not hear any thoughts regarding your status as a traveler or that you are not the original Makoto Teruhashi.]

His shoulders sagged.

"Thank god," he muttered. At least that was one thing he didn't have to stress over.

But the rest of it…

The mission. The points. The fact that he was trapped playing the role of an obsessive older brother.

He glared at the system screen as it blinked at him.

[Reminder: Your mission is to romance Saiki Kusuo.]

Bai Ying rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the reminder. But I need a plan, not a lecture."

He sighed and fell back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

So many questions still ran through his head.

How did the system decide which world he was sent to? What would happen if he failed his mission? Did this world truly function just like the anime?

Suddenly, curiosity bubbled up in his chest.

He was inside a real anime world.

A world he had only ever seen from a screen.

That thought alone made him sit up.

Screw the mission for a second. He wanted to explore.

If this was his new reality, he might as well take a look around.

Bai Ying pushed himself off the bed and grabbed his hoodie, pulling it on, his hands almost instinctively reaching for the sleek, black mask sitting on the nightstand.

A momentary pause.

It was then that he remembered—Makoto Teruhashi is famous.

He groaned inwardly. If he stepped outside like this, people would surely recognize him. It wasn't just a "hey, I saw you on TV" kind of fame—it was idol-level, celebrity-level fame.

He glanced at his reflection in the mirror. Without the mask, he'd be instantly noticed.

"Well, this is going to be a pain," he muttered, running a hand through his now strikingly blue hair. The mask would at least cover half his face, but it was still obvious who he was.

He let out a resigned sigh, taking the mask from the nightstand. After adjusting it to cover his face properly, he glanced at the mirror once more. His appearance was still unmistakable, but with the mask and hoodie, he hoped to go under the radar.

"Okay," he said to himself, adjusting his hoodie and smoothing down his hair. "Let's explore this crazy world and see what it has to offer."

With that, he turned toward the door, eager to step into the unknown, but a little relieved that at least the mask would keep him from getting mobbed immediately.

Time to see the world beyond these walls.

He wasn't going to rush into meeting Saiki Kusuo just yet. No, first—he was going to see this world for himself.

After all, how often did you get transported into a fictional universe? And maybe, just maybe, he'd find a way to make this insane situation work in his favor.

The Teruhashi household was even more extravagant than he'd expected. Every piece of furniture was pristine, the floors practically gleaming under the soft lighting. He passed by a few maids who bowed politely at him, their expressions filled with admiration.

It was weird.

He wasn't used to people looking at him like he was some untouchable prince.

Shaking the thought away, Bai Ying headed toward the front door. He wasn't sure where he wanted to go first—he just knew he needed to see the outside world for himself.

Bai Ying stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against his skin as he took in his surroundings. The neighborhood was peaceful—almost too peaceful. The sidewalks stretched ahead in pristine condition, lined with neatly trimmed trees and picturesque houses, each one looking like it had been plucked straight from a carefully drawn anime background. The colors were just a bit too vivid, the sky painted in smooth, wispy strokes, and even the air smelled unnaturally crisp.

It was surreal.

He pulled his hoodie closer around him, adjusting his mask as he walked. His sharp gaze flickered from building to building, observing the way people moved, the way the city functioned. It all felt real, yet there was an underlying sense of artificial perfection. The passing cars glided smoothly along the roads, their movement eerily precise. Even the birds overhead chirped in oddly rhythmic patterns, as if they were part of a scripted soundtrack.

"Man, this is weird," Bai Ying muttered under his breath. "Everything's so… animated."

Despite the strangeness, he couldn't deny the thrill of experiencing it firsthand. He had read countless stories about people getting transported into fictional worlds, but actually living it was something else entirely.

As he wandered through town, he passed a small convenience store, a park where children played, and a few quiet residential streets. It was all familiar, yet different—like stepping into the real-life version of a place he had only seen on screen.

However, his casual stroll didn't go unnoticed.

He felt eyes on him.

Not in an outright "Oh my god, it's Makoto Teruhashi!" way, but in that lingering, second-glance kind of way. The kind that said, this guy looks familiar. Even with the mask and hoodie, his presence still drew attention.

Bai Ying exhaled through his nose, pretending not to notice as he picked up his pace. Great. So much for blending in.

Before he could dwell on it, his stomach let out a low grumble, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since arriving. Spotting a vending machine nearby, he decided a quick drink wouldn't hurt. He slipped a few coins into the slot—grateful that his pockets conveniently had the right currency—and pressed the button for a canned coffee.

Just as he reached down to grab it, a solid thud knocked against his shoulder.

It was like hitting a brick wall.

Bai Ying stumbled slightly, blinking up at the massive figure towering over him—a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a buzz cut, thick eyebrows, and an expression that was both vacant and oddly cheerful.

Recognition hit him instantly.

Nendou Riki.

"Oh," Bai Ying muttered under his breath. Of all the characters he could've run into first… it had to be him.

Nendou blinked down at him, then broke into a wide, toothy grin. "Oi! Sorry 'bout that, man! Didn't see ya there!" His voice was just as loud and rough as Bai Ying remembered from the anime.

Bai Ying forced a casual wave. "No worries."

Nendou squinted at him, tilting his head slightly. "Hey… ya look kinda familiar."

Bai Ying's stomach clenched. Crap.

He adjusted his mask slightly, forcing an easy chuckle. "I get that a lot."

Nendou stared at him for a few seconds before suddenly slamming a heavy hand on Bai Ying's shoulder, nearly making him stumble again.

"Haha! Ya seem like a good guy! You new around here?"

Bai Ying hesitated. This wasn't exactly how he planned to interact with a major character, but at this point, avoiding it wasn't an option.

"Uh… yeah, something like that," he replied vaguely.

Nendou grinned even wider. "Nice! Name's Nendou Riki! What's yours?"

Bai Ying froze for a fraction of a second. Using his real name was out of the question, but introducing himself as Makoto Teruhashi was an even worse idea.

"…Just call me Koto," he said smoothly.

Nendou nodded, seemingly unfazed. "Koto, huh? Cool name! Anyway, ya hungry? I was just headin' to grab some ramen."

Bai Ying blinked. He had just been thinking about food, and now Nendou was inviting him out? The guy was as straightforward as ever.

He debated for a moment. Getting too involved with main characters could complicate things, but on the other hand… free food was free food.

"…Sure, why not?" Bai Ying said with a shrug.

Nendou let out a hearty laugh and threw an arm around Bai Ying's shoulders like they'd been friends for years. "That's the spirit! C'mon, I know a great place, buddy!"

And just like that, Bai Ying found himself being dragged along by one of the loudest characters in the series.

Well… at least his first day exploring wasn't boring.