Strange Game - Anime Mashup

"Tick-tock..."

The sound of water dripping filled the silence, echoing eerily in the small bathroom.

Hoshino Ai stared into the mirror, her reflection staring back.

And then it hit her.

The figure in the mirror was her.

The girl with long purple-black hair turned away abruptly, unable to bear the sight of her distorted appearance. For the first time in her life, she felt repulsed by her own reflection.

So ugly. So hideous.

She had no desire to see it again.

"I... we're infected," she muttered, her voice trembling. "What are we going to do, Lin Ye?"

Even she could grasp the reality—if this infection progressed, death was inevitable.

Lin Ye remained composed, analyzing the situation.

"It's the water," he said finally. "When I came into contact with it, everything started to change."

Hoshino Ai frowned. "But I touched the water before you, and nothing happened to me."

"Not quite. The water neutralized the effects of the strange noises from next door—the moaning. That's Rule 8, remember?" Lin Ye explained. "The sounds didn't just stir our emotions; they made us hallucinate. That's why we were slow to realize what was happening to our bodies."

Hoshino Ai blinked, her mind racing.

"If the sound caused the infection, then…"

Lin Ye nodded grimly. "That's the most likely explanation."

"But the noise has stopped," Ai added, hope flickering in her voice. "Does that mean we're safe now?"

Lin Ye wasn't so sure. He glanced at her—at the worsening dark patches on her face and arms—and felt a chill creep up his spine.

"We can't be certain," he said, his voice low.

"Put on your clothes," Lin Ye reminded her.

Only then did Hoshino Ai realize she was still naked. Her cheeks flushed, even though she knew Lin Ye found her appearance far from appealing in her current state. She quickly grabbed a set of clothes and dressed, fumbling slightly in her haste.

The clock struck midnight.

In the dim light of the room, Lin Ye noticed something unsettling: the black and gray splotches on Hoshino Ai's face were spreading.

Before he could say anything, a knock echoed through the room.

"Knock, knock."

"Senior Lin Ye, it's... me," a voice called softly.

It was Kuroda Hikari.

"I… something's wrong," the voice continued. "Taisuke is losing control of himself. Please, help us…"

Hoshino Ai froze, swallowing hard.

"Should we—?"

Lin Ye shook his head. "In stories like this, the most likely scenario is that whatever's outside the door is trying to lure us out."

Ai nodded nervously. "I see…"

But to her surprise, Lin Ye stood up and began walking toward the door.

"Lin Yej, what are you doing?"

"Stay here," he said firmly. "I'll check it out."

Hoshino Ai hesitated, fear gnawing at her, but in the end, she couldn't bear the thought of waiting alone. Gritting her teeth, she followed him.

"Crack."

The door creaked open.

Outside stood Kuroda Hikari, her face flushed and her twin ponytails disheveled. Her left hand was clenched into a fist, as if she was fighting to maintain control.

"Senior Lin Ye, please… help us…"

But the moment Kuroda Hikari's eyes met his, her expression changed. The fragile rationality she'd clung to seemed to shatter.

"I want you…!"

Time Stop

The world froze.

Lin Ye stepped into the hallway, moving effortlessly through the suspended moment.

He studied Kuroda Hikari carefully. Her skin was smooth and unblemished—no black or gray patches. Yet her flushed face and trembling body hinted at an internal struggle.

Sighing, he scooped her up and carried her into the corridor.

The dim lighting made the atmosphere even more unsettling. Emergency exit signs cast eerie green glows, while the corridor's yellow lights barely illuminated the dark red carpet.

Lin Ye's gaze shifted to Room 307.

The door was ajar, and inside, Sawanaga Taisuke was hunched over, his bloodshot eyes wild as he lunged after another figure—Kuroda Hikari.

Taisuke's movements were frantic and erratic, but like Hikari, his skin showed no visible signs of infection.

"This is the moment to test my theory," Lin Ye thought.

Carrying Kuroda Hikari, he stepped into Room 307.

With a swift motion, he pushed Taisuke aside and entered the bathroom.

Grabbing Taisuke by the collar, Lin Ye dragged him like a sack of potatoes, his limp form offering no resistance.

The plan was simple. If the water neutralized the infection's influence, then exposing them to it was their best chance.

Time resumed

The water sprayed out from the showerhead, but it wasn't clear—it was a mix of black and red liquid, splattering across the bathroom walls and floor.

The liquid drenched Sawanaga Taisuke entirely, dribbling down his face and soaking his clothes.

"Kuroda, I can't take it anymore..." Taisuke roared, his voice thick with desperation. "I want you... Give me..."

But before he could act, the black and red water hit him squarely in the face, momentarily stunning him. He froze, blinking as the liquid ran down his face.

The pause didn't last long. The moment he laid eyes on Kuroda Hikari again, the desire within him reignited like a roaring flame. He scrambled forward, his movements frantic and erratic.

Lin Ye, calm and calculating, responded with a swift kick to Taisuke's chest, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"Look at me," Lin Ye commanded, his voice sharp and firm.

Taisuke hesitated, glancing up at Lin Ye—and what he saw made his blood run cold.

"You... Lin... monster..." he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.

The fear seemed to suppress the overwhelming impulse within Taisuke. He began crawling backward, his body shaking violently as if trying to escape the room itself.

"Kuroda," Lin Ye said, turning to her, who stood frozen in the corner. "What do you see when you look at us?"

Kuroda Hikari blinked, still dazed by the series of events. But when her eyes locked onto Lin Ye, her expression shifted entirely. Rationality crumbled, and the same overpowering desire that gripped Taisuke took hold of her.

She lunged at Lin Ye.

"Let me suc—!"

Before she could finish, Lin Ye sidestepped, pinning her firmly against the wall with one hand.

"Look at me," he repeated, his voice steady but commanding.

Hikari's eyes burned with desire, and she squirmed against his grip, trying to break free.

Finally, Lin Ye dragged her under the spray of black and red water.

For a few tense seconds, nothing happened.

Then, slowly, Hikari's thrashing subsided. The manic gleam in her eyes faded, replaced by a mix of confusion and clarity.

Sawanaga Taisuke, who had been writhing on the floor moments ago, also stilled. His erratic breathing calmed, and his expression returned to something closer to normal.

But just as relief began to settle in, Hikari turned her gaze toward Taisuke. Her eyes widened in sheer terror, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.

"Ahhhh!"

Lin Ye immediately stepped forward, covering her mouth with his hand.

"Quiet," he hissed. "What's wrong now?"

Hikari's muffled voice trembled. "Taisuke.. he... he's infected!"

"Infected?" Lin Ye glanced down at Taisuke.

The change was subtle but undeniable—his skin now had faint gray streaks, veins darkened and pulsing unnaturally beneath the surface.

"Me too!" Hikari exclaimed, her voice shaking as she stared at her own reflection in a nearby mirror.

Lin Ye followed her gaze. The infection was spreading across her face, the black and gray patches now stark against her pale skin.

Panic consumed her, and she fainted, collapsing into Lin Ye's arms.

Sawanaga Taisuke, meanwhile, was trembling violently. His eyes darted between Lin Ye and Hoshino Ai, who had just entered the room.

"Please, please don't eat me," Taisuke whimpered, his voice cracking. "I'm not tasty, I swear!"

"Answer my question," Lin Ye said sharply.

Taisuke flinched but nodded frantically. "Anything! I'll tell you anything!"

"What do we look like to you?"

Taisuke hesitated, his face a mix of fear and confusion. "Y-you... You look like good people…"

"Wrong answer."

Lin Ye's foot connected with Taisuke's side, making him yelp in pain.

"Try again. What do we really look like?"

Taisuke stammered, his words barely audible. "Y-your faces... Black and gray... Like the staff in the lobby..."

Lin Ye's suspicions were confirmed.

"Come with me," he ordered, dragging Taisuke to the hallway.

He approached Room 304 and knocked firmly on the door.

"Open up. It's me, Lin Ye."

Footsteps echoed inside, followed by the sound of a lock clicking. The door swung open, revealing Kimimura Mihui.

She stood in the doorway, clad in nothing but her underwear. Her exposed skin seemed unblemished, glowing faintly in the dim light.

"Brother Lin, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft and inviting.

Lin Ye's gaze hardened.

"Where's Tanaka?" he demanded.

"Inside, resting," Mihui replied, stepping aside. "Come in and see for yourself."

Lin Ye stepped inside cautiously. Something about Mihui was off. She didn't exhibit any of the usual signs of infection—no black or gray patches, no erratic behavior—but that was precisely what made her so suspicious.

"Brother Lin," Mihui said, her tone turning playful. "Why don't you relax for a while? I promise you won't regret it…"

Before Lin Ye could respond, Ichiro Tanaka appeared from behind Mihui, his face twisted into a lecherous grin.

"Go ahead, Lin Ye," Tanaka said, gesturing toward Mihui. "She's quite something, isn't she? I'm too old to handle her, but you… You're in your prime."

Mihui giggled, hiding her face in mock embarrassment.

Lin Ye's instincts screamed at him. He immediately activated [Time Stop].

With the world frozen in place, Lin Ye scanned the room carefully.

He approached the bed, where both Mihui and Tanaka's reflections were clearly visible in the TV screen.

The sight made his stomach turn.

Dark gray patches covered their entire bodies. Their eyes were black voids, lifeless and hollow, while shadowy tendrils extended from their forms, twisting and writhing like living entities.

They were no longer human.

These two were fully infected.

It's over for them, Lin Ye thought grimly.

He prepared to drag them to the bathroom for one last test, but a new question nagged at the back of his mind.

Was the water still enough to save them—or was it already too late?