Strange Game - Anime Mashup

"I… I think so too. There's strength in numbers. If six people take turns standing guard overnight, they can remind each other of any unusual occurrences and provide assistance when needed," Mihui said, voicing her agreement immediately.

Kuroda Hikari nodded in support, feeling the same way.

Ichiro Tanaka, still shaken from his strange encounter outside, found comfort in the idea of staying with others.

In the end, all eyes turned to Lin Ye and Hoshino Ai. Hoshino Ai, naturally, deferred to Lin Ye's decision—his judgment had become her anchor.

"The four of you can stay together," Lin Ye finally said. "Miss Hoshino and I will share a room tonight, but I suggest that two people should share each room."

The moment he spoke, the others' expressions subtly shifted.

Lin Ye's calm, logical approach had already established him as the group's de facto leader. His opposition or suggestions held weight, steering the group's decisions away from chaos.

Only Hoshino Ai seemed to interpret his words differently.

'Don't overthink it, Ai-chan', she told herself, clenching her fists to focus. The pressure from her small hands steadied her thoughts.

Under these circumstances, Ai knew Lin Ye's reasoning wasn't inappropriate. He had chosen her as his partner simply because she was the best candidate, and she wasn't about to let anyone—or anything—take her place.

No matter what, she would ensure Lin Ye agreed to share a room with her.

Meanwhile, the remaining four began discussing their arrangement among themselves.

After some deliberation, they decided to rent a room together, believing that sticking as a group would offer the best defense against the dangers of this "strange game."

Lin Ye had no objections.

The rooms were adjacent, which was a reasonable compromise. He nodded as the group finalized their plan.

Check-In at the Lobby

Lin Ye, Sawaga Taisuke, and Ichiro Tanaka approached the self-service check-in machine in the lobby. Faced with the machine's silent presence, Taisuke and Tanaka hesitated, their unease evident.

Lin Ye, unfazed, initiated the process. Moments later, he completed his check-in and retrieved a room key. His ease emboldened the others, and, under Tanaka's urging, Taisuke reluctantly followed suit.

Lin Ye's room number was [306], while Taisuke and the others received [308].

With the check-in completed, the group prepared to head to their respective rooms on the third floor. But before they could leave, Lin Ye casually addressed Taisuke.

"By the way, Taisuke, do you know someone named Ito Makoto?"

The question left Taisuke frozen in place, a look of shock crossing his face. But before he could respond, everything suddenly stopped.

Lin Ye had activated his superpower: time stop.

This was Lin Ye's first test to see if his ability could still be used in the strange rules of this "weird game."

To his relief, it worked. The restriction he had feared didn't apply here. This was good news; his ability was his trump card. However, Lin Ye understood that relying solely on it wouldn't ensure survival. His analytical skills and logical deductions were just as critical.

In the frozen world, Lin Ye glanced at the clock—it, too, had stopped ticking. Without wasting time, he turned his attention to the group.

Investigation

Starting with Taisuke and the others, Lin Ye conducted a quick search of their belongings.

Taisuke and Kuroda Hikaru's school IDs revealed they were first-year students at Sakakino Academy. Tanaka and Mihui's work IDs confirmed their professions, aligning with their earlier introductions.

Nothing seemed suspicious or out of place with their identification.

However, when Lin Ye checked Mihui's bag, he found something intriguing: an unopened box of condoms.

He paused, thinking for a moment, then pocketed the item.

Hoshino Ai, still conscious during the time stop, witnessed this and couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. 'What's Lin Ye planning? Surely, he's not thinking…'

Suppressing her thoughts, she watched as Lin Ye approached each member of the group, examining them more closely.

To ensure no one had been "replaced" or tampered with—especially the returning Ichiro Tanaka—Lin Ye used a more direct method. He delivered a firm but controlled punch to the abdomen of both Tanaka and Taisuke.

Satisfied with their reactions, he turned his attention to the two women.

Lin Ye hesitated briefly before following through with the same test. Despite her fear of pain, Mihui didn't resist.

When Lin Ye finally reached Hoshino Ai, she panicked internally. 'Don't hit me! I'm scared! Please be gentle!'

To her surprise, Lin Ye didn't punch her. Instead, he pinched her cheeks hard with his thumb and forefinger.

With his inspection complete, Lin Ye took one last look around the hall, searching for any additional clues. Finding none, he returned to his original position and released the time stop.

Time continues

As time resumed, the group's reactions were immediate.

"Ah! That hurts!"

"Who hit me?"

"My stomach…"

"Ouch…"

"Ouch! My face! It hurts!"

Everyone cried out in confusion, glancing nervously around the room.

Lin Ye calmly clutched his own hand, feigning pain. His expression was grim, adding to the unease.

A shiver ran through the group as the realization dawned: they had been attacked by an unknown entity.

"This hall… it's haunted!" Taisuke exclaimed.

The group huddled closer together, panic bubbling just beneath the surface.

For now, they could only press on and hope the rules held some truth—because breaking them wasn't an option.