Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

However, classes continued as usual, and the teaching progress was not stopped because of this incident.

That being said, if too many students in a class are absent, shouldn't the homeroom teacher do something? It doesn't seem right for all the teachers to just continue teaching as if nothing is wrong and not take the decrease in student numbers seriously at all.

Should we report this issue?

By the way, which students were absent from class because they went home?

Seeing that Zi had turned around, he was thinking as he started to walk away from there.

Then, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and froze on the spot.

It's a bit strange; I can't remember the names of my classmates.

Since they are classmates with whom we don't usually interact, it's hard to notice if they disappear, right?

This feeling is quite uncomfortable. I should be able to remember the names of all my classmates, right?

However, I really can't remember which classmates asked for leave to go home.

Speaking of the classmate sitting next to me... is it Xiaohua? Yes, it should be Xiaohua.

Why do I have no memory of her? She was always around me, making a ruckus every day...

Could it be that... I'm still dreaming?

Snapped!

The moment Miko had this absurd idea, the light in the bathroom next to her suddenly went out.

When the startled Miko turned around, she saw that the entire toilet was shrouded in darkness, so dark that she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face.

Why did the light suddenly break?

Besides, isn't it daytime now? There should be windows in the toilet, so how come you can't see anything after the lights are turned off?

Somewhat puzzled, Jianzi didn't intend to stay there and turned to leave and return to the classroom.

【…】

The girl took a step, then stopped.

Just now, she seemed to hear a sound coming from the darkness, like... the sound of breathing?

Come to think of it, someone went into the restroom just now.

Seeing that Zi silently took a step back.

She couldn't see anything in the dark toilet, but she was instinctively terrified by the eerie and oppressive environment and dared not go any closer.

【…】

Is that...who is crying?

I think I heard crying coming from inside.

Is it because the light is off that they can't find the switch to open the cubicle door and can't get out?

Boom--boom--

As Miko was thinking this, she heard something make a dull thud against the wooden toilet stall door in the darkness.

Boom--boom--

In the complete darkness, the sound continued incessantly, one after another, as if it would never stop.

Jianzi had already retreated to the entrance of the toilet.

She considered asking the girl who had gone into the restroom, but an indescribable sense of terror overwhelmed all her senses, leaving her with no choice but to back away.

At that moment, she stopped in her tracks because she bumped into someone coming from behind.

"What's wrong? Why are you blocking the doorway?"

A questioning voice came from the girl behind him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't notice."

Yotsuya Miko apologized profusely and then tried to leave, but the other person reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

"What's wrong? Did something happen in the restroom?"

The girl asked again, somewhat curiously.

"It's just that the light is broken, so it's a bit dark inside now."

Driven by her instincts, Miko's desire to leave this place grew stronger and stronger. She answered casually, but suddenly felt that one of her shoulders had become a little wet.

"Really? I can't see it!"

The girl was still asking questions.

But Jianzi's movements had stopped.

She turned her head and looked at the hands gripping her shoulders—hands with all their nails pulled out, skin peeled off, and bloody and mangled.

She looked up again at the girl.

I looked at the girl whose eyes had been gouged out, her eyelids sewn onto her scalp, exposing two huge eye holes.

Crimson blood flowed continuously from the other person's eyes.

She simply stood there, her hand on Miko's shoulder, continuing to grin, and asked her:

"Really? I can't see it!"

The next moment, Miko suddenly raised her head and propped herself up from her slumped position on the table.

She was covered in cold sweat and breathing heavily without being able to control herself.

Was that a dream?

She looked around and saw students gathered in twos and threes, chatting about their own things. No one noticed her sudden awakening.

"What's wrong? Why do you suddenly look so absent-minded?"

An orange head suddenly appeared from the side, staring at Jianzi with great curiosity.

She is Yotsuya Miko's classmate and best friend in the class, named Yurikawa Hana. She is an energetic, somewhat silly, and quite attractive cute girl.

"No...nothing..."

Yotsuya Miko shook her head and forced a smile at her friend.

Ding-dong-

The school bell rang at that moment.

One by one, the students returned to their seats, and although Yurikawa was still worried about Miko and wanted to ask her a few more questions, she could only obediently return to her seat and sit down.

Did I fall asleep during the break between classes?

Seeing the child's gaze sweep around.

The girls' college she attended had only female students, with about 30 students in a class, and the number of students sitting in their seats now... was 12 in total.

When did this class shrink to so few people?

Why does everyone seem so indifferent, as if it's a trivial matter that less than half the class is present?

Something must be wrong.

Seeing that Zi had placed her hand under the table, she silently clenched the hem of her skirt.

Something about what happened in this classroom, what happened to everyone, is definitely... not right.

Without a word, time at school came to a swift end.

After that bizarre and terrifying nightmare, nothing else noteworthy happened at school. The only notable thing was the increased number of students discussing "Alice's Game."

Everyone was so enthusiastic.

Everyone was very excited and seemed very enthusiastic.

Jianzi inexplicably felt that the smiling faces of the people she saw were gradually distorting, turning into something that humans could not and should not have.

I have to do something.

As school was about to end and she looked out the window at the approaching dusk, Jianzi couldn't help but have this thought in her mind.

What terrible thing is happening at this school?

She was unable to find the cause or a way to stop this bizarre event.

But she was the only one here who could sense that something was wrong and that something was happening.

Therefore, if anything needs to be done, only she can do it.

But what should we do?

Aside from sensing that something was wrong, I didn't have any other skills.

What exactly should we do?

Should I go and find someone who can help me?

Should you share what's happening here with others and seek help from adults?

Such a thought arose in the girl's heart and quickly spread.

It was as if someone was whispering something to her, which made her think that way.

I want to go and find someone who can help me...

Is there anyone who can help me?

Who can be my friend?

Xiaohua…no, she knows nothing. I can't ask her for help; she can't help me…

Ask Mom for help... No, Mom can't handle this either. The only person I know who might know how to deal with this situation... Yes, maybe that person can...

After all, he can see the world I see, and he can see those terrible things just like I can. Maybe he can help me after he knows what's happening here. He's probably the only person I can turn to for help right now.

So let him become my friend.

Seeing this, she took a deep breath and secretly made up her mind.

After the school bell rang, she packed her things as quickly as possible and left the school, not even bothering to walk the same way as Yurikawa.