During the morning break, Adrian usually stayed in the classroom.
Starting today, though, things would be different.
He had gone to see Shizuka Hiratsuka and successfully registered a new club: the Paranormal Research Club.
🎭
Just as the name suggested, it was a club dedicated to investigating supernatural phenomena.
His goal was simple.
If anyone at school encountered something paranormal, they’d come to him for help.
That way, he could take the case as a club request, deal with it quickly, earn Apocalypse Points, and prevent the anomaly from spreading.
The club had only just been established.
The room contained nothing more than a large table and a few chairs.
He planned to recruit a few members that afternoon.
The school required at least five members before the club could officially remain active.
Just as he was about to start cleaning the room—
Knock, knock.
Someone was at the door.
“Come in?”
Who could it be?
The door opened.
It was Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Standing behind her was Yukino Yukinoshita.
Hiratsuka scanned the empty clubroom before settling her gaze on Adrian.
This troublesome student of hers.
He ranked first in every exam with perfect scores.
His athletic performance was flawless too.
He was good-looking as well.
Neat, short black hair.
Clean-cut, handsome features.
Striking golden heterochromatic eyes.
Fair skin with a healthy warm complexion.
He looked energetic, confident, and refreshingly masculine.
And yet…
This outstanding student had suddenly decided to establish a Paranormal Research Club to study supernatural phenomena.
Even stranger…
The girl standing behind her, Yukino Yukinoshita, the third-ranked student in the entire grade, wanted to join it.
🙋♀️
Hiratsuka genuinely felt like the world had gone insane.
“Adrian, Yukinoshita has something she’d like to discuss with you.”
Adrian looked at them curiously.
“What is it, Ms. Hiratsuka? Yukinoshita?”
Hiratsuka sighed and ran a hand through her hair.
“It’s like this. Yukinoshita wants to join your… Paranormal Research Club.”
“Oh?”
He looked at Yukino in surprise.
Feeling those golden eyes on her, Yukino instinctively smoothed down the hem of her skirt.
Adrian looked away.
“Sure. I happen to be short on members.”
He agreed without hesitation.
“Good. Then my job here is done.”
After giving the two of them one last complicated look, Hiratsuka let out another sigh and left.
The door clicked shut.
Yukino quietly sat on one of the stools without saying a word.
Adrian could easily tell she was conflicted.
With a teasing smile, he said,
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about what happened yesterday.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Yukino instantly lost her composure.
“Anyone who experienced something that terrifying would have… that kind of reaction. It’s a perfectly normal physiological response. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t go around talking about it, Adrian.”
No matter how calmly she tried to explain herself, the bright red tips of her ears and her tightly clenched fists betrayed her.
After all…
Being seen wetting herself from sheer terror was unimaginably embarrassing.
😳
Adrian couldn’t help thinking this side of Yukino was actually rather cute.
Far more charming than her usual icy demeanor.
Noticing the amused look in his eyes, Yukino felt both embarrassed and irritated, but there was nothing she could do about it.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Then she finally asked what she had really come here to know.
Her expression turned serious.
“…Can you tell me what that woman… that monster… actually was?” 😨
Adrian glanced at her before answering calmly.
“Sometimes, ignorance is a blessing.”
People who couldn’t see evil spirits were the lucky ones.
Yukino was smart enough to understand exactly what he meant.
She bit her lip and clenched her fists even tighter.
She refused to give up.
“But I want to know.”
Adrian simply waved a hand.
“I’m not going to tell you. I have my reasons.”
Partly because he wanted to protect her.
And partly because of the rules surrounding the Apocalypse itself.
“But I…”
She had just started to speak—
Then suddenly stopped.
Do you wish to understand the true meaning of life?
YES or YES?
😈
The eerie words and voice appeared directly before her eyes.
“You can see it too?”
Adrian’s voice broke the silence as he looked toward Yukino.
The exact same message had appeared in front of him, and she was staring blankly at hers as well.
“You can see it too? What… is this?”
Yukino’s face was full of confusion.
Adrian shook his head and quickly analyzed the situation.
“I don’t know. It doesn’t give us a ‘No’ option. Just pick one and adapt to whatever happens.” 🤨
Knowing how many apocalyptic anomalies lurked within this world, he didn’t believe for a second that this was some kind of prank.
He selected YES.
The next instant—
A powerful sensation of weightlessness washed over him.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing inside a dilapidated classroom.
😵
Before he even had time to look around, another prompt appeared.
Welcome to the Apocalypse Game!
Congratulations!
You have been selected as one of the five players participating in the first game!💀
Player Objective: At least one player must survive for seven days.
Failure Penalty: The game will descend upon reality.
At the very same moment, the Apocalypse Chat Group issued another notification.
You have come into contact with one of the world’s anomalous apocalyptic factors!
Connection to the Apocalypse Chat Group established.
Rewards have been converted into Apocalypse Points!
“…”
The flood of messages hit Adrian completely by surprise.
“…..”