About twenty minutes later,
Lin Ye finally arrived at his destination.
The large characters for "Chiba Municipal Sobu High School" came into view.
With the setting sun, a few students strolled out of the school. High school girls in black pleated skirts exuded youthful energy, and as a gentle breeze swept by, cherry blossom petals fluttered through the air.
It was April, still the season of cherry blossoms in full bloom.
Dressed in casual clothes, Lin Ye stood out conspicuously in this setting.
He didn't enter the school but waited outside instead.
A minute ago, he had sent a message.
It shouldn't be long before the teacher he was waiting for arrived.
"Maybe I should visit the Service Club later?"
Lin Ye quickly dismissed the thought.
It could wait there was no need to rush.
He decided to go with the flow.
Click, click, click...
The sound of hurried high-heeled footsteps reached his ears.
Looking in the direction of the sound, Lin Ye saw a female teacher with shoulder-length chestnut hair approaching. She wore a black formal uniform, and her pretty face was adorned with bright, clear eyes radiating a soft and gentle aura.
"Sorry for the wait, Lin Ye..."
The teacher was slightly out of breath, clearly having hurried over.
"It's fine, Sensei. There was no need to rush; you could have walked here at your own pace."
This couldn't possibly be Shizuka Hiratsuka. She wouldn't be this gentle and definitely wouldn't be without her signature white lab coat.
"I couldn't let you wait too long."
She took a few deep breaths to steady herself.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Hina Tachibana. I'm a new teacher at Sobu High, in charge of English. However, you're not in any of my classes."
"Then why did you..."
Lin Ye gestured between himself and her.
"Since I contacted you, it's my responsibility to see things through. Also, Hiratsuka-senpai is occupied right now, so I was asked to step in. What's wrong? Don't want my help?"
"With your help, Sensei, I couldn't be more grateful."
If he wasn't mistaken, this teacher was also the heroine from Domestic Girlfriend along with her younger sister, who practically threw herself at the protagonist at the start.
The gathering of anime heroines was becoming quite the spectacle.
At this moment, Hina spoke again with a serious expression.
"Lin Ye, let me confirm one last time. Have you really lost your memory?"
"Yes."
"Alright, then. I'll first help you get acquainted with the school, then show you information about your classmates. From what I've heard, you're usually quiet in class and don't have any particularly close friends. Just keep to that style of behavior for now. Also, make sure to visit a hospital soon. Don't worry about the cost if you need money, I can help."
A good teacher she was genuinely willing to cover his medical expenses out of her own pocket if necessary.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Leading the way, Hina showed him around, with Lin Ye following half a step behind her.
"This is the main building."
"The club activities building."
"The sports field."
She gave brief explanations for each place before finally taking him to the office, where she handed him a stack of student profiles.
"Try to memorize the photos and names. If you can't remember all of them, just get a general idea."
"Understood, Sensei."
Lin Ye quickly flipped through the pages, but his hand paused when he came across a particular profile. His gaze lingered on the passport-sized photo.
Noticing this, Hina smiled.
"She's very pretty, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Wow, you admitted it right away! I thought you'd deny it out of embarrassment."
"She really is pretty."
Yukinoshita Yukino. As her name suggested, she was a beautiful and cold girl, like snow.
Even in the small photo, she exuded the elegance of a high, untouchable beauty.
"A word of advice: Yukinoshita has a rather aloof personality," Hina warned.
She didn't elaborate, but Lin Ye understood the implication.
"High school is a time to focus on academics and get into a good university."
"Sensei, you didn't date anyone in high school, did you?"
"Uh!"
Hina froze for a moment.
That reaction all but confirmed it.
Lin Ye guessed that the original storyline had undergone some changes, much like what happened with Hoshino Ai.
"Don't change the subject. If you're interested in Yukinoshita, you'd better have the grades to match. As your teacher, I understand the feelings boys your age have for girls, but your studies should be your top priority. Got it?"
"Got it. I'll study hard and improve every day."
"Good. Once you're done reviewing the profiles, I'll take you to your place."
The school already had records of Lin Ye's residence.
Before heading there, Hina even treated Lin Ye to dinner grilled eel. It was tasty, and the bones had been carefully removed.
When they arrived at his apartment, Lin Ye retrieved the keys, inserted them into the lock, and opened the door.
It was his own apartment.
"Surprisingly tidy," Hina remarked as she glanced around. This was her first time visiting the apartment of a high school boy living alone.
"Well, I'll head back now. Be sure to prepare for class tomorrow morning."
"I will, Sensei."
As Lin Ye followed Hina Tachibana out of the apartment, he spoke up:
"Sensei, let me walk you to the train station!"
"Alright," she replied.
It was already close to 9 p.m., and the night had fallen, enveloping the surroundings in darkness. Streetlights cast their incandescent glow, dispelling the shadows.
Occasionally, the lights flickered, adding an unsettling atmosphere to the scene.
"This is far enough. The train station is just ahead," Hina said at the corner, gesturing for Lin Ye to turn back.
Lin Ye nodded in agreement, watching her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight. He was about to head back when
A familiar mechanical sound echoed.
[Ding!]
[A strange possessed creature has been detected nearby.][Mission conditions met.]
[Mission issued.]
[Mission Name: A Flicker of Fire in the Night.]
[Mission Type: Reality Standard.]
[Mission Objective: Eliminate the strange possessed creature.]
[Accept?]
[If no response within five seconds, mission will automatically be declined.]
…
A reality-based standard game mission?
So, the eerie game wasn't confined to isolated, independent dungeon worlds it also extended into reality as a playing field.
Should he accept or decline?
There was no question of course, he would accept.
At that moment, a piercing scream from a woman echoed from up ahead.
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