Chapter 6: "Handsome in a Woman's World"
Transmigrated Into a World Without One Piece, I'll Write It Myself
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The morning light filtered softly through the translucent white curtains. The small apartment Kaito rented sat on the fifth floor of a residential complex in the central district of Midori City, one of the largest metropolises in this strange, gender-flipped world.
Kaito sat at the kitchen table in a pair of loose black sweatpants and a hoodie, pouring himself a bowl of generic-brand cereal. It was his usual breakfast. The simplicity reminded him of his past life—if anything, it made this world feel just a bit more normal.
He took a spoonful and chewed quietly while scrolling through the news on his laptop. Most headlines were the same: company acquisitions, celebrity gossip, and a society utterly dominated by powerful women.
He sighed.
He looked down at his reflection in the spoon.
The face that stared back at him was sharp-jawed, clean-skinned, and strikingly attractive. His black hair, slightly messy from sleep, fell naturally into an unruly but stylish shape. It was the kind of face people didn't forget—and that, unfortunately, had its downsides.
Today, he had errands to run. Cereal finished, laptop closed, he threw on a light jacket and grabbed his phone. His daily walk to the local market was just fifteen minutes, but recently, it had started to feel like a walk through a lion's den.
Midori Market was as busy as ever.
The aroma of freshly baked pastries, sizzling street food, and blooming flowers created a strangely intoxicating blend. The colors of fruit stands burst like confetti on every corner, and automated cashier bots chirped mechanical greetings at passersby.
But Kaito wasn't here for aesthetics.
He needed eggs, rice, and instant noodles.
He walked quickly, head slightly lowered.
"Good morning, handsome~"
A sing-song voice caught his attention from the fruit stand.
He looked up—two young women were waving, smiling like schoolgirls on a sugar high. One of them winked. Kaito gave a short, polite nod and turned back to the rice shelf.
"Do you need help carrying that?" another woman purred, pushing a shopping cart close to his side. She was tall, wearing a business suit with her blazer open, revealing a low-cut tank underneath. Her confidence radiated like heat.
"I'm good, thank you," Kaito said, taking a small step back.
"You sure? I love helping cute boys."
"Really, I'm okay."
She gave a mock pout but left after a slow, deliberate glance up and down his body. Kaito exhaled in relief.
He grabbed a large pack of instant noodles and moved quickly to the checkout bots.
"Scanning complete. Total: 2,140 Yen. Have a good day, darling~"
Even the bots were programmed for flirtation.
He left the market with his bag in one hand and his peace of mind barely intact.
Back in his apartment, Kaito threw his jacket on the back of a chair and plopped down on his futon.
"This world is exhausting."
In his previous life, he had been completely average. No one ever turned twice to look at him. No girls ever called him "darling" in public. No coworkers tried to "accidentally" brush against him. His face had never caused traffic accidents.
Here, it was different.
In a society where women led nearly every field, from business to politics, attractive men were often viewed as rare commodities. A handsome man who wasn't already married or employed as a "companion" was considered prime real estate.
He rubbed his temples.
"I need to blend in more."
His phone buzzed.
A new message appeared from his landlord.
[Landlady Sumiko: "Just checking in~ I'm bringing dinner by tonight. You're too thin! A beautiful face needs nourishment ❤️"]
Kaito stared at the screen, horrified.
"Please no…"
Sumiko was a thirty-five-year-old widow with big hair, bigger personality, and an aggressively flirtatious nature. She wasn't a bad person—actually, she was quite kind. But her attention was suffocating.
Later that evening, as promised, Sumiko appeared at his door. She was wearing a floral dress and holding a covered tray.
"Kaito-chan! I brought oden~ Hot and fresh!"
"T-thank you, Landlady. You really didn't have to—"
"Nonsense! You're like a little bird! I can practically count your ribs!"
She marched into the room uninvited, placing the tray down and removing the lid.
Steam poured out, revealing a perfectly made meal—radish, tofu, boiled eggs, konjac, and fishcakes simmering in golden broth.
Kaito blinked.
"Wow... this smells amazing."
"Right? A woman of many talents~" she said with a wink.
"I really appreciate it," he said sincerely. "Thank you."
"Ohhh? What's this? Appreciation from a man as pretty as you? My heart might explode!"
"Please don't..."
They sat on the floor and ate in relative peace. Sumiko did most of the talking—reminiscing about her younger years, gossiping about neighbors, and ranting about how "boys these days just want older women to spoil them."
Kaito mostly nodded and smiled politely.
After she left, Kaito cleaned up the dishes and returned to his writing desk. He stared out the window for a while, watching the city lights flicker.
Despite everything—despite being pulled from his old world, despite the loneliness, despite the awkward stares and flirtatious grins—he was beginning to feel… okay.
Maybe even content.
His routine was simple: wake up, eat, write, survive market trips, avoid marriage proposals, sleep, repeat.
But within that loop was a purpose.
He stood up, walked over to the calendar he'd pinned to the wall, and crossed out the day with a thick red line.
One more day done.
One more step forward.
"I still miss my world," he murmured, "but at least I'm not lost anymore."
He leaned back against the window frame and looked up at the stars.
"In this world without One Piece… I'll make sure it lives again."
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