Strange Game - Anime Mashup

Lin Ye turned his attention back to the character attributes on the panel.

The strength, agility, and constitution values were below average, which seemed fitting. Hoshino Ai was only sixteen years old, and her physical development reflected that of an ordinary young girl.

Lin Ye himself wasn't exceptionally tall or built either, being just a year older than her.

[Name: Lin Ye]

[Character Nickname: Unnamed]

[Strength: 8]

[Agility: 9]

[Constitution: 9]

[Charm: 12]

[Mental Strength: 15]

These were Lin Ye's stats after allocating achievement points to agility, charm, and spiritual power.

He speculated that his unusually high spiritual power was a benefit of being a time traveler.

'I'll have to start working on improving my body soon,' Lin Ye thought. 'A strong body is crucial if I'm going to handle the increasingly dangerous challenges in this games.'

He turned to Hoshino Ai.

"Don't rush into spending your points just yet. I'll study the mechanics thoroughly and guide you on how to use them effectively."

Hoshino Ai smiled, her trust evident in her eyes.

"I'll listen to Lin Ye for everything."

Suddenly, she gasped and slapped the bed.

"Kuroda-san! Shouldn't we check on her? She might need help!"

"Do you have her number?"

Hoshino Ai nodded quickly, pulling out her phone and dialing.

After several rings, the call connected.

"Hello, I'm Kuroda Hikari. Who's this?"

"It's me, Ai-chan!"

"Ai-chan?" came the puzzled response.

"Hoshino Ai, remember?"

"I'm sorry, I think you've got the wrong number. I don't know anyone by that name."

Hoshino Ai's face paled in confusion, but Lin Ye placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I dialed a wrong number."

The call ended.

On the other end of the line, Kuroda Hikari looked at her phone in confusion.

'Ai-chan? Hoshino Ai... why does that name sound familiar?'

From the kitchen, Hikari's mother chimed in, "Isn't there an idol named Hoshino Ai? She performed at a concert here not too long ago."

Hikari's eyes lit up. 'Ah, that's right! But why would an idol have my number? It didn't seem like a random misdial.'

Despite her puzzlement, she shrugged it off and moved on.

Back in Lin Ye's room, he observed Hoshino Ai thoughtfully.

"Kuroda-san really doesn't remember anything about the hotel."

"Is that... a good thing?"

"It is. By rejecting the game's invitation, she avoided a dangerous fate. Returning to her normal life is the best outcome for her."

Hoshino Ai still seemed worried, fiddling with her hands.

"But... she promised Lin Ye she'd show him school uniforms!"

Lin Ye blinked, caught off guard by her misplaced concern.

"If she can't fulfill the promise, then... I'll do it for her," Hoshino Ai declared, her tone earnest. "I'll wear them and show you instead!"

Lin Ye chuckled. "Fine, I'll hold you to that."

As the evening wound down, Lin Ye gestured towards the door.

"It's late. You should get some rest."

Hoshino Ai hesitated. "Go... back?"

He smirked. "Unless you'd rather stay here and warm the bed? I wouldn't mind."

Her face turned beet red as she waved her hands frantically.

"I-I'll go back!" she stammered, darting out of the room like a startled kitten.

Lin Ye leaned back on his bed, amused. He had a feeling that if he had insisted, she would've stayed.

"Not yet," he thought. "She's not ready."

Settling under the covers, he muttered to himself, "Tomorrow, I'll check for Mai. For now, sleep."

In the next room, Hoshino Ai buried herself under her quilt, eyes wide open. The horrors of the "strange game" replayed vividly in her mind—the grotesque monsters, the suffocating fear.

She trembled.

'I should've stayed with Lin Ye...'

It was going to be a long, sleepless night for her.

Elsewhere in Tokyo, under the shadows where neon lights couldn't reach, a group of figures gathered.

"It's confirmed—Yamamoto's item was taken before the police arrived," one of them reported.

"That fool Yamamoto got himself killed. He should've stuck to the plan," another growled.

Their gazes sharpened.

"There were definitely other players at that concert. We need to track down everyone who attended."

"Start with the two who were at the police station. They'll lead us to the answers."

Their plan set, the figures vanished into the night.

~-~

"Ding-ling-ling…"

The sharp sound of a ringing phone shattered the morning silence.

Lin Ye, still deep in slumber, groaned in frustration. His rare, restful sleep was rudely interrupted. He fumbled for his phone, silencing the noise with a swipe.

Moments later, the ringing resumed.

"Can't you let me sleep?" Lin Ye muttered, begrudgingly answering the call.

Before he could utter another word, a loud, commanding voice boomed through the receiver.

"How dare you hang up on me? Do you have a death wish?"

Lin Ye winced, the sheer volume jolting him further awake.

"Who is this?!" he snapped. "If this is about an insurance, I'm not interested!"

He was about to hang up again when the voice interrupted.

"Insurance? What are you talking about? Do you know what time it is? Are you planning to attend the class today or not?"

The mention of "class" pulled Lin Ye's mind into focus.

"I'm busy today. I won't make it," he replied curtly before hanging up again.

It wasn't until a few moments later, as his grogginess faded, that Lin Ye fully processed what had just happened. He glanced at the clock—it was already 9 a.m.

"Too late anyway," he muttered, stretching before flopping back into bed. "Not like I even know where my class is."

Being a time traveler, he lacked the original owner's memories. The only identification he had was his passport, with no trace of a student ID.

Initially, Lin Ye had planned to piece together his situation through the embassy. But this teacher's call presented an unexpected opportunity.

"How do I explain this?" he wondered. "Maybe i'll just said that I had amnesia. Last night's incident can be my excuse—whether they believe it or not isn't my problem."

He paused to consider. "But do I even want to attend school? What's the point?"

After some thought, Lin Ye sighed. "I guess I'll go. For now, it's the best way to maintain a low profile and keep my cover in this world."

The reasons were clear. First, he couldn't afford to attract unnecessary attention. Too many anomalies in his behavior might raise suspicion, especially if any official entities were monitoring the "strange game." He suspected such organizations existed, likely operating in secrecy.

Second, high school life in this world could offer a fresh experience. Back in his previous life, high school had been a relentless grind of exams and pressure. Here, he could finally savor the carefree youth depicted in anime and manga.

"Third," Lin Ye added with a wry grin, "I need to make sure it's a proper anime-style high school. If not, I might need to transfer."

Just as he was contemplating his plans, the phone rang again.

With a sigh, Lin Ye picked it up.

Chiba—Somewhere in a teacher's office

A woman in a white coat slammed her phone onto the desk, her face twisted in frustration.

"That brat!" she fumed. "Skipping class and disrespecting his teachers? He needs a lesson in discipline."

The crisp cracking of her knuckles echoed as she flexed her hands.

"Ahem, Hiratsuka-senpai," a soft, gentle voice interrupted. "Teachers are not allowed to resort to violence with the students."

Shizuka Hiratsuka turned to face a younger colleague, Tachibana Hina, who stood with an apologetic smile.

"You don't understand, Hina," Hiratsuka growled. "That boy blatantly told me he was skipping class to meet Sakurajima Mai. And yesterday? He didn't attend at all—off at some idol concert! He needs to learn respect for his studies."

Haruna chuckled lightly. "It's normal for boys his age to idolize celebrities."

"It's fine to admire idols," Hiratsuka snapped. "But not at the expense of his education. He didn't come all the way to Sobu High School to waste his time."

Haruna nodded, acknowledging her senior's passion for teaching.

"I understand, senpai. If you'd like, I can handle this."

Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow. After a moment's thought, she handed over her phone.

"Go ahead."

Haruna dialed the number. After a few rings, Lin Ye answered.

"Hello, student Lin Ye, this is—"

"Teacher, I need to tell you something important," Lin Ye interrupted, his tone serious.

Haruna exchanged a glance with Hiratsuka, who gave a nod of approval.

"Go ahead," Haruna replied.

"I think…" Lin Ye paused dramatically. "I've lost my memory."

Both teachers froze in disbelief.

"Amnesia?" Haruna echoed, confused.

"Is this kid trying to pull one over on us?" Hiratsuka muttered under her breath, her expression darkening.

"He's skipping class and now claims that he had an amnesia? Over my dead body!" she declared, slamming her fist onto the desk.

Haruna sighed, rubbing her temples. "This is going to be a long day."