Strange Game - Anime Mashup

Looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was furious and on the verge of losing her temper, Tachibana Hina quickly smiled and gestured to her senior to remain calm. She pointed to herself, indicating she would handle the matter.

"Student Lin Ye, skipping classes isn't a good behavior. But it's okay as long as you don't do it again. Still, losing your memory is a serious matter. I believe you're a good child," Haruna said gently.

Lin Ye frowned. Why did it feel like the teacher on the other end of the line was treating him like an elementary school student?

The voice was young, as though it belonged to someone who had just graduated from college. Maybe she doesn't have much experience dealing with high school students, Lin Ye mused.

"Teacher, I'm serious. I've lost my memory and can't recall a lot of things," Lin Ye said firmly.

Hina hesitated. It didn't feel right to confront him directly—it might provoke a rebellious response and strain their teacher-student relationship.

"It might be related to the murder that happened after the concert I attended," Lin Ye added.

Both teachers froze in shock.

"Murder? What murder?"

"When I came to my senses, I realized I couldn't remember a lot," Lin Ye explained.

"Um… classmate Lin Ye, what you're saying…" Haruna trailed off, finding it hard to believe.

"It's true. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department recorded my interrogation," Lin Ye assured her.

Hina's expression shifted to concern. If the police were involved, it had to be true.

"Lin Ye, are you okay? Are you hurt?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Teacher. Just missing a lot of memories."

Hina glanced at Shizuka, silently seeking her advice.

Shizuka, still skeptical, scratched her chin thoughtfully before nodding slightly.

"I understand your situation for now. Do you need help? I can come to Tokyo and pick you up," Hina offered, demonstrating her commitment as a teacher.

Lin Ye blinked in surprise. An offer for her to come personally?

"That won't be necessary. I'll come to school myself. I'm not entirely clueless—I just don't know where the school is," he said.

"Chiba City. Sobu High School," Hina replied.

A brief silence followed, prompting Hina to ask, "What's wrong, student Lin Ye? Is there a problem?"

Lin Ye chuckled nervously. "Suddenly, some images flashed through my mind. I recall a teacher named Hiratsuka Shizuka. Could that be you, Teacher?"

Sobu High School! Of course, he knew it.

"No, no, that's not me," Hina replied with a small laugh, glancing at Hiratsuka. It seemed her senior had left quite an impression, if Lin Ye remembered her even after losing his memory.

Hiratsuka, meanwhile, wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Clearly, the impression wasn't a positive one.

"Hiratsuka-senpai is right here. I'll let her speak with you," Hina said, handing over the phone.

"This is Shizuka Hiratsuka," she said, her voice sharp. "If I find out you're pretending to have amnesia, you'll regret it."

Lin Ye chuckled nervously. "I swear, Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm telling the truth."

"Oh really? You said earlier you were meeting Sakurajima Mai. Even with memory loss, you're chasing after celebrities?"

"I thought she might know something about me. It was just a lead I wanted to follow," Lin Ye explained.

Hiratsuka snorted. "Come back to school. I'll wait for you there. And for your sake, this better not be an excuse to skip classes."

"Understood, Teacher."

Before ending the call, Hiratsuka added, "I have contacts in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. I'll verify your story. If you're lying, this is your last chance to come clean."

"I'm not lying," Lin Ye said firmly.

"Fine. Do you have money for the trip? If not, I'll arrange for someone to pick you up," Hiratsuka offered.

"I have enough, thank you," Lin Ye assured her.

Hiratsuka ended the call, placing the phone on her desk.

"Hiratsuka-senpai, do you think he's telling the truth?" Haruna asked.

"I don't know yet, but I'll find out." Hiratsuka dialed another number.

"Miwako, I need a favor. One of my students claims he was involved in a murder case in Tokyo last night. Can you confirm?"

After a brief pause, Miwako Sato replied, "Give me a few minutes to check."

Five minutes later, the phone rang.

"The case is real. The attacker is dead, and the death was initially ruled accidental," Miwako said. "But the circumstances are… strange. The body was moved, surveillance footage is missing, and a witness—the idol's manager—is hospitalized in shock. It's too suspicious."

Hiratsuka frowned. "I see. Thanks for confirming. Let me know if anything changes."

"Sure thing. And next time I'm in Chiba, you're treating me a barbecue."

"Deal," Hiratsuka said with a faint smile before hanging up.

Turning to Hina, Hiratsuka said, "He's telling the truth… but there's more to this than he knows."

Haruna sighed in relief but felt a pang of sadness for Lin Ye's predicament. "Hopefully, he can recover his memories and start fresh."

Hiratsuka chuckled dryly. "He's lucky to still be alive. That's what matters most."

In a hotel room in Tokyo

Lin Ye sat on the edge of his bed, lost in thought.

"Sobu High School," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "This world really is a mix of so many familiar works."

Excitement bubbled within him. What other surprises awaited for him?

Lin Ye got up, washed, and changed his clothes. He wasn't in a hurry to leave for Chiba just yet.

"If Mai is in Tokyo, I'll go see her. If not, I'll find another opportunity later," he muttered to himself.

A sudden ding-dong echoed as Lin Ye stood outside Hoshino Ai's room next door, ringing the doorbell.

He pressed the button several times, but there was no response.

"Did something happen?" he wondered, quickly pulling out his phone to call her.

After a few rings, the call connected. A groggy voice came through the line.

"Morning... Lin Ye," Ai mumbled.

"I'll open the door right away," she added hurriedly.

Moments later, the door clicked open.

"Sorry, I was still asleep," Ai said, rubbing her eyes.

Her disheveled purple-black hair framed her face, with dark circles under her eyes betraying her exhaustion. She was dressed only in pink underwear, her fair skin exposed in the cool morning air. Her youthful figure showed hints of someone still growing, her delicate features blending innocence and charm.

Noticing Lin Ye's gaze, Ai's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Shyly bowing her head, she retreated back into her room. Despite his accidental glimpse, she couldn't help feeling self-conscious.

Ten minutes later, Ai emerged freshly washed and dressed, her face still tinged with a faint blush. She perched on the edge of the bed, glancing at him.

"What are your plans for today?"

"I want to visit Mr. Saito (Ai's manager) at the hospital. I heard from a friend that his condition isn't good," Lin Ye explained.

"I'll go with you," Ai offered without hesitation.

"Thanks. What about you? Any plans for today?"

Ai's expression shifted slightly as Lin Ye continued, "I'm planning to look for Mai."

Her eyes widened.

"Really? You're going to find Sakurajima Mai?"

"Of course, but I don't know where she is right now," he admitted.

Hearing this, Ai felt a wave of relief. If Mai was out of reach, Lin Ye wouldn't be able to go after her.

Lin Ye leaned closer. "Ai, as an idol, you must have some way to find out where Mai Sakurajima is, right?"

Ai felt like crying. 'He's asking me to help him find her? This is too much!'

"Ai, you don't want to help me?" Lin Ye teased lightly.

"It's not that I don't want to," Ai muttered reluctantly. She finally sighed and gave in. "I'll ask around, but I can't promise anything."

"Good," Lin Ye replied with a smile.

Reluctantly, Ai began sending inquiries to her network. Deep down, she hoped no one would have information about Mai.

The two headed to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, where they opted for the buffet.

Lin Ye selected milk, bread, fried noodles, and some fruit, while Ai took only milk and fruit, avoiding any high-carb foods.

"Being an idol is tough. You can't even eat properly," Lin Ye remarked.

"Sometimes I eat more," Ai admitted, her eyes lighting up. "I love cakes and milk tea, especially strawberry cake. It's so good!"

She sighed, adding, "But I usually stick to a strict diet to maintain my figure."

"You should eat more. Your body needs the nutrition to grow. Just exercise to stay in shape," Lin Ye advised.

Touched by his concern, Ai smiled and grabbed some bread and sausage, eating them without hesitation.

"Sizzle..." Ai's phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at the screen and couldn't hide her smile.

"It looks like Sakurajima Mai is filming in Kyoto right now. If you want to see her, you'll have to go there," Ai announced.

Lin Ye nodded thoughtfully. Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto would take about three hours, half a day with additional transit time.

"I'll wait for another chance. I should head back to Chiba first," Lin Ye decided.

After checking out of the hotel, Lin Ye and Ai took the train to the hospital where Saito was staying.

At the hospital entrance, the two faced each other.

"Goodbye. Call me if you need anything," Lin Ye said.

"Mm," Ai nodded.

As Lin Ye turned to leave, Ai suddenly called out, mustering her courage.

"Lin Ye-kun, I'll definitely become... a bigger star than Sakurajima Mai one day. I'll make you support me again!"

The morning breeze caught Ai's long purple-black hair, making it flutter gracefully. Her sparkling violet eyes brimmed with determination, and her lips curved into a faint, confident smile.

In that moment, she looked like a dream—an image of timeless beauty etched in Lin Ye's mind.

"Good luck," Lin Ye replied, smiling softly before walking away.

Ai watched him disappear into the distance, her gaze lingering. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

"Is this... love?"

A warm realization dawned on her.

"It must be love!"

For the first time, Ai understood what it felt like to love someone. It was exhilarating, and she wanted to hold onto this newfound feeling forever.