In the world of anime with the power to stop time.

Chapter 58: Boys Have Those Days 

Lin Ye wasn't familiar with Japanese internet and didn't know the related websites, so he had to go step by step. He used a browser to search for Chiba-related news and then used the comments section to privately message appropriate users to inquire about the information.

However, the efficiency was low, and not all users were willing to reply.

But in the end, he had gathered some information.

An hour later,

Lin Ye stood up to stretch and move his body.

"Exercise to improve physical condition, learn combat skills to increase combat power, and also... firearms."

Firearms and ammunition might not be effective against the strange entities, but they could help calm any human witnesses, making them more rational and willing to listen.

Thinking of the middle-aged man at the hotel, Lin Ye felt that such reactions would likely increase in the future.

"The second thing is money."

He needed money for his daily life and studies, as well as to purchase specialized tools and equipment for dealing with the "strange game" in order to improve his survival rate.

Lin Ye knew very well that "time stop" was not invincible. For example, at the Love Heart Love Hotel, although the strange entity couldn't harm him while using time stop, if he hadn't noticed the "pollution value" and thought of a solution, he too would have been possessed and eventually turned into one of the strange entities.

He could take an optimistic approach to the "strange game," but tactically, he had to take it seriously and make full preparations.

Lin Ye took a pen and paper and started writing in his notebook.

Soon, the white pages were filled with words. He then began to erase and revise them repeatedly until he felt satisfied.

It was late at night.

Lin Ye glanced at his phone. It was already past midnight. He put down his pen, went to the bathroom to wash up, and quickly, the last light in his small apartment went out.

Lin Ye lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and soon his steady breathing could be heard.

Ding ding ding...

Ding ding ding...

The alarm clock rang.

Lin Ye turned it off and immediately got up.

His exercise began today, starting with a morning run.

He changed into his sportswear and running shoes, following the plan from yesterday to begin jogging.

Hoo...

Hoo...

Half an hour later, Lin Ye returned to his apartment, holding steamed buns and milk he had bought at the convenience store.

"Nutrition is also something to keep an eye on."

After eating and taking a quick shower, Lin Ye changed into his school uniform and headed to school.

Walking down the tree-lined path toward Soubu High, Lin Ye looked at the energetic high school girls ahead, feeling relaxed and happy.

This felt completely different from his high school life in his past life.

Entering the school gate and climbing the stairs, Lin Ye arrived at the floor where Class J was. Just then, a cold-looking girl with long black hair walked toward him with light footsteps.

Lin Ye didn't greet her. He felt that even if he did, she probably wouldn't respond, so it was better to say nothing.

Soon, the school bell rang.

There were no special events throughout the day.

After school, Lin Ye changed into new clothes and headed to his target destination for the day—Chiba Park.

"At around 9 PM, someone was walking in the park and heard a mysterious female voice. But when someone gathered the courage to search, nothing was found. This happened for three consecutive days."

Lin Ye began his stakeout at 8 PM, but by 10 PM, he hadn't heard any mysterious female voices, nor had there been any prompts from the game.

"I'll come back in a couple of days and check again."

Next, Lin Ye carried out field investigations based on strange news he had found online, like the "zombie corpse at the crematorium" and "moving statues at the shrine."

The first one allegedly involved a crematorium worker who discovered a corpse standing and walking during a night shift, scaring him so much that he ran away. The next day, however, the corpse was found lying back in its original position.

The second incident was about a shrine priestess who forgot something and, after dinner, went back to the shrine to retrieve it. There, she saw the statue come to life and smile at her. The terrified priestess fainted on the spot and woke up in the middle of the night, escaping from the shrine.

However, in both cases, Lin Ye found nothing and didn't trigger any tasks.

On Friday afternoon after school,

Lin Ye was once again called to the life guidance office of Shizune Hiratsuka.

As usual, Hiratsuka Shizune, dressed in a white lab coat, looked at Lin Ye with a helpless expression.

"Sigh, what have you been doing lately? You look mentally exhausted and like you're not getting enough rest."

"Well..." Lin Ye hesitated.

"Tell me,"

She clenched her fist, making a 'crackling' sound, which was meant to intimidate him.

"You know, teacher, boys in high school have those days..." Lin Ye muttered.

"Tell me the truth, or I'll use the iron fist on you."

"You won't be able to hit me, teacher."

"Oh?"

Hiratsuka Shizune stood up, her eyes locked onto Lin Ye, and a smile crept onto her face as she slowly spoke:

"Do you want to try? See if I can hit you?"

"No thanks. If you can't hit me, that would be really embarrassing."

Swish!

The sound of a fist cutting through the air.

But it missed.

Hiratsuka Shizune was stunned. Even though she consciously pulled back her strength at the last moment, there was no way it could have missed!

Crash!

Lin Ye immediately grabbed his stomach, his face pale, and let out a painful noise.

"Hiratsuka-sensei... you're hitting me! Help... help!"

Hiratsuka Shizune: ???

"Don't say nonsense…"

She panicked. She had seen mischievous students before, but never one like Lin Ye.

"Stop shouting! Fine, fine, tell me what you want, and I'll grant it."

"I need a girlfriend."

"Find one yourself."

"I want the right to take leave anytime."

"…"

So that was Lin Ye's true purpose!

"That's impossible."

But Hiratsuka Shizune didn't outright reject him.

"If you have a good reason, I might approve it."

Swish!

Lin Ye shook his clothes.

"Thank you so much, teacher! I'll study hard and aim for the top of my grade to show you."

"Heh, if you can really get first in the grade—no, even third place—then I might consider giving you that right."

It wasn't that she didn't believe Lin Ye, but the gap between him and first place was just too wide. After all, Yukinoshita Yukino had been in first place since the beginning of the semester, and the second-place student was still 15 points behind her. It wasn't something anyone could easily surpass.

"It's a deal."

"I was waiting for you to say that!"

Lin Ye extended his hand toward Hiratsuka Shizune, leaving her wondering if she had just been tricked by him.

Could he really make it into the top three?

"Deal."

Hiratsuka Shizune finally gave in and agreed.

Lin Ye left with satisfaction.

Next, he was planning to visit Chiba City General Hospital again.