Strange Game - Anime Mashup

Lin Ye wasn't particularly familiar with the Japanese internet and had no knowledge of specialized websites. He resorted to searching for news related to Chiba through a browser, then browsing the comments to find suitable netizens to chat with privately for information.

However, the efficiency was low—not all netizens were willing to reply.

Still, he managed to glean some useful details.

An Hour Later

Lin Ye stood up, stretched his limbs, and eased his body.

"Exercise to improve physical fitness, learn combat skills to enhance combat effectiveness, and… guns."

Although firearms might not be effective against strange entities, they could prove valuable against any hostile humans, encouraging them to cooperate.

Reflecting on the middle-aged man at the hotel, Lin Ye surmised that similar encounters were likely going to happen again in the future.

"The second priority is money."

He needed money not only for daily expenses and schooling but also to purchase specialized equipment and props that could improve his odds of surviving the "strange games."

Lin Ye understood well that Time Stop wasn't invincible. At the love hotel, while it had prevented direct harm from the strange entity, he had narrowly avoided a far worse fate. Without recognizing the significance of his rising "pollution value" and taking steps to counter it, he could have become fully corrupted, transforming into one of the entities.

While he approached the "strange games" with cautious optimism, he knew preparation and strategy were essential.

Lin Ye grabbed a pen and notebook, jotting down his thoughts.

Hours later, after repeatedly revising his notes, he finally felt satisfied with the result.

It was late. Glancing at his phone, he saw it was already past midnight. Setting his pen aside, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

Soon after, the last light in the small apartment went out.

Lin Ye lay down, closing his eyes as his breathing gradually steadied.

-Morning-

The shrill sound of an alarm jolted him awake. Lin Ye silenced it and immediately got up, starting his routine.

Today marked the beginning of a new regimen.

He donned sportswear and running shoes, heading out for an early morning jog as planned the night before.

Breathless after 45 minutes of jogging, Lin Ye returned to his apartment with buns and milk he'd picked up from a convenience store.

"Nutrition is just as important," he reminded himself.

After a hearty breakfast and a quick shower, he changed into his school uniform and headed for school.

Walking along the tree-lined avenue leading to Sobu High School, Lin Ye found himself enjoying the sight of vibrant and youthful female students. The atmosphere filled him with a sense of lightness and joy.

"This is entirely different from high school in my previous life," he mused.

Lin Ye entered the school gates, climbed the stairs, and arrived at the floor where Class J was located.

In the hallway, a cool girl with long black hair walked toward him with light steps.

Lin Ye decided against greeting her, sensing that even if he did, she likely wouldn't respond. It seemed better to stay silent.

~~~

The day passed without any notable events.

After school, Lin Ye changed clothes and headed to his next destination: Chiba Park.

"Around nine o'clock at night, some people claim to have heard a mysterious female voice in the park. Others searched for the source but found nothing. This has reportedly happened for three consecutive days."

Lin Ye began his vigil at eight o'clock, but no mysterious voice appeared by ten. Moreover, there were no prompts from the strange game.

"I'll come back in a couple of days," he decided.

Over the next few days, Lin Ye investigated other strange occurrences he'd uncovered online, including rumors of "corpses resurrecting in crematoriums" and "statues walking in shrines."

The first incident involved a crematorium worker on night duty who claimed to have seen a corpse stand and walk. Terrified, he fled. When he returned during the day, the corpse was back in its original position.

The second involved a shrine maiden who, after dinner, returned to retrieve a forgotten item. She reported seeing a deity statue come alive and smile at her. Fainting from fear, she woke up in the middle of the night and escaped the shrine.

Despite his investigations, Lin Ye found no clues, nor did he trigger any new tasks.

-Friday Afternoon, After School-

Lin Ye once again found himself in Hiratsuka Shizuka's life guidance office.

Wearing her signature white coat, Hiratsuka looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Hey, what have you been doing at night lately? You look exhausted, like you're not getting enough sleep."

"Uh…"

"Explain." She clenched her fist, making an audible "click," a clear warning.

"Well, you know, Sensei… high school boys have their, uh, moments…"

"Tell the truth, kid, or I'll deal with you with an iron fist."

"You can't hit me, Sensei."

"Oh?" Hiratsuka stood up with a menacing smile. "Would you like to test that theory?"

"On second thought, it'd be so embarrassing if you missed," Lin Ye quipped.

"Swish!"

A gust of air accompanied her fist, but Lin Ye dodged it effortlessly.

Hiratsuka was shocked. Even though she had held back, he'd avoided her strike entirely!

"Bang…"

Lin Ye suddenly clutched his stomach, grimacing in pain.

"Teacher Hiratsuka… hit me… help… help!"

"???" Hiratsuka was stunned. She had never encountered a student this theatrical.

"Stop shouting! Alright, alright—tell me what you want, and I'll consider it."

"I need a girlfriend."

"Find one yourself."

"I want permission to take leave whenever I need to."

"…"

This, she realized this was his true aim.

"Not a chance," she replied firmly, though her tone softened slightly. "But if you have a valid reason, I'll consider approving it."

"Deal!" Lin Ye exclaimed, shaking his coat dramatically.

"Don't think you can fool me. Show me some results first."

"If I get into the top three in the grade, will you agree?"

Hiratsuka laughed. "Top three? Fine. If you manage that, I'll allow it."

Yukinoshita Yukino, the perennial first-place student, was leagues ahead. It seemed impossible for Lin Ye to catch up.

"Deal," Lin Ye said with a grin, extending his hand.

Hiratsuka hesitated. Was she being played by this student?

Lin Ye left, visibly pleased.

Next, he planned to go to Chiba City Hospital again.

This week, Lin Ye visited Chiba City Hospital for the second time. Four days had passed since Kenji Hirano, the man possessed by a strange spirit, had been discharged. Of the two individuals seriously injured in the Chiba Station fire, one had regained consciousness and been transferred to a general ward, while the other remained under observation in the ICU.

According to what Lin Ye learned from the medical staff, the prognosis for the more severely injured patient was grim. His vital signs were weakening, and he was expected to survive no more than two days.

However, Lin Ye still had not triggered the game task he was anticipating.

In the first-floor lobby, Lin Ye sat in a quiet corner, lost in thought.

"Did I make a mistake in my judgment?"

He questioned whether he had been too quick to connect the strange eyes of the possessed man with the photos from the news, the fire, and the mysterious burning incidents.

Lin Ye stroked his chin, reflecting deeply, but remained convinced that his judgment was correct.

"Maybe it's a matter of probability. Not everyone will trigger strange events," he reasoned.

Satisfied with this thought, Lin Ye stood. He disliked the smell of disinfectant that filled the air and decided to head back to his apartment, read, and rest. Tomorrow, being Saturday, would be a good opportunity to explore Chiba City further.

In the lobby, several young nurses in uniform were chatting as they walked past.

"I'm so exhausted these days," one of them said with a dramatic sigh. "Finally, I can have a proper rest. A whole day and a half off! I'm so happy."

A young woman in a pink nurse's uniform showed a rare expression of relief. The relentless days of overtime had pushed her mental and physical limits, and she desperately needed a break.

"I'm so envious of you, Ren," another nurse said.

"You just had a day off last week. Why envy me? I'm stationed at the intensive care unit—it's exhausting," Nanase Ren replied.

"But the salary is good!" her colleague teased.

"I'd give up the extra pay for fewer hours of rest," she muttered.

The nurses continued their lighthearted banter as they passed Lin Ye. A faint smile appeared on his calm face.

"My analysis and judgment are correct after all," he thought.

[Ding!]

[A strong and strange aura is detected from nearby individuals]

[The conditions for triggering the task have been met]

[Now releasing the task...]

[Task Name: Hurricane]

[Task Type: Regular]

[Objective: Ensure the safety of that individual]

[Do you accept? If no response is given within five seconds, the task will be automatically rejected]

The prompt appeared just as the nurses passed by. Among the three, Lin Ye detected a strong, strange aura. Considering their roles, Lin Ye surmised that the ICU nurse, Nanase Ren, was the source. However, from the nature of the task, it seemed she wasn't possessed by a spirit but carried an aura that could attract or initiate strange occurrences.

"That's her," Lin Ye decided.

This realization prompted him to act immediately. He couldn't afford to lose track of her.

Using his ability to stop time, Lin Ye entered the nurses' dressing room. By coincidence, the three nurses were in the middle of changing. Underneath their uniforms, pale skin and alluring curves were revealed, evoking a charming and seductive aura.

Lin Ye quickly exited the room and resumed time, muttering to himself, "As expected of a nurse; they're even more attractive in their uniforms."

Suppressing any wandering thoughts, he refocused on his goal.

Minutes later, the nurses emerged, walking together as they exited the hospital. Lin Ye observed them, expecting them to head for the station, but they soon parted ways at the hospital gate. Lin Ye quietly followed Ren as she walked alone.

The sound of light footsteps echoed in the quiet street as Ren made her way home. A nurse in the ICU, her daily workload was intense, and her decision to work there had been partly motivated by a desire to avoid persistent advances from male colleagues. Even so, the pressure weighed heavily on her.

"Finally, I can rest tomorrow," she thought, feeling a sense of relief at the prospect of a long-overdue break.

Her relief was short-lived. A strange feeling crept over her, as though someone were following her. She glanced back several times but saw nothing.

"Am I imagining things?" she murmured.

She quickened her pace, recalling recent reports of kidnappings in Chiba.

Suddenly, as she turned a corner, she nearly collided with a man.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she stammered, bowing deeply in apology.

"Sorry? You nearly ran into me," the man said, his tone laced with malice as his eyes roamed over her. "Miss, if you really want to apologize, have dinner with us."

Ren realized too late that two more men had approached from behind, cornering her.

Her heart sank. These men weren't just loiterers—they were trouble.

"Come on, have a drink with us. We won't bite," one of them said with a sneer.

Panic set in. Ren turned to run, but the men were faster, cutting off her escape.

Just then, a calm voice rang out, "Hello."

Lin Ye stepped into view, catching the group off guard.

The thugs sized him up, unimpressed. "Get lost, kid. This ain't your business."

Lin Ye remained unfazed. "Picking on strangers isn't a good idea."

The nearest thug, angered, threw a punch—only to collapse moments later, clutching his stomach. His companions fared no better, one wielding a knife but falling just as swiftly. In mere seconds, the three men lay groaning on the ground.

Ren stared in shock as realization dawned—she'd been saved.

"Thank you..." she began, but her voice faltered. She recognized him—the man in the hospital lobby.

Her gratitude turned to alarm. Without thinking, she turned and ran, her heart pounding.

Lin Ye stood frozen, stunned by her reaction.

At this time, Nanase Ren saw a bus, Bus 18, slowly approaching the station, relief washed over her as she boarded, leaving Lin Ye behind.

Lin Ye stood frozen, stunned by her reaction.

"Why did she run? Does she think I'm stalking her?" he murmured, perplexed. t/l: you are bro

"And... bus 18 doesn't have a stop here," he muttered, his unease growing.