After escaping the source of the thunderous footsteps, Natsukawa Kanade and Kaguya Shinomiya wasted no time searching the dimly lit rooms they encountered along the way. Every creaky door they pushed open revealed eerie interiors—dust-covered furniture, tattered curtains swaying as if moved by unseen hands, and the occasional ominous flicker of a faulty lightbulb. Yet, despite the unnerving atmosphere, they found no sign of the ghost they were supposed to seek.
Kanade had suspected from the start that their so-called objective wasn't an actual spectral entity but rather another student playing the role. The game's setup made that much obvious. However, even if they had confirmed this detail, it wasn't enough to clear the stage. No hints had been left behind, no guiding light to lead them towards completion. Instead, their search had yielded something else—props scattered across the different rooms, each with bizarre descriptions and cryptic instructions.
Kanade picked up one of the items and read aloud:
"Shock Bell: Ring this bell once in front of the Butcher to temporarily paralyze him for 5 seconds. Single-use item. (Tip: Make sure to shake it HARD. If the sound is too faint, he might not hear it, and, well… that would be unfortunate for you!)"
Another read:
"Invisibility Talisman: Stick this onto your forehead to turn invisible for 20 seconds. Single-use item. (Tip: Keep quiet while using this! Sudden noises will still alert the Butcher!)"
And yet another:
"A Token of Love: A cherished memento exchanged between lovers. Holds deep sentimental value. (Tip: Don't discard it just because it seems useless. You might regret it!)"
Finally, he came across one that made his eyebrow twitch slightly:
"Taunting Doll: An infuriating doll designed to draw the Butcher's attention. Once activated, the Butcher will relentlessly pursue the wielder. Even discarding it won't break his focus. (Tip: If you're afraid of nightmares, use with caution! The best strategy is to pair it with an escape item. Good luck, brave souls!)"
Kanade exhaled, shaking his head. They really put effort into this.
With an experienced eye, he quickly pieced together the nature of this game. Props, chases, puzzles—everything screamed "live-action horror RPG." And with it being a first-person experience, adrenaline would inevitably spike, keeping their hearts hammering in their chests.
"I think I get it now," he muttered under his breath before turning to Kaguya, who was watching him with mild curiosity. "Let me explain."
She nodded, waiting for his breakdown.
"This whole thing is a horror-themed role-playing game," Kanade began, holding up the various items they had found. "The goal is pretty straightforward: we have to use these props to evade the boss—aka 'The Butcher'—while searching for a way to clear the stage. Think of it as an escape room mixed with a horror survival game."
"So the 'Butcher' is the source of those footsteps we heard earlier?" Kaguya asked.
"Most likely." Kanade nodded. "At first, I assumed we just had to avoid him while searching for the 'ghost,' but seeing these props changes things. It's clear that we'll have to engage with him at some point."
Kaguya frowned slightly. "Wouldn't it be easier to just find a staff member and ask for a stamp?"
Kanade smirked. "If only it were that simple. But think about it—if all we had to do was run into a staff member, why scatter these props everywhere? We've checked every room on this floor and found nothing but these tools. That means the real objective—whether it's the 'ghost' or something else—is downstairs, where the Butcher is lurking."
Kaguya's expression grew contemplative as she processed the information. Kanade continued his analysis.
"In games like this, enemies usually have movement restrictions. For example, the Butcher might only patrol the first floor and won't chase us upstairs. The fact that we haven't heard any footsteps for a while proves this theory. If he could move freely, we would've encountered him again by now."
"So, what do you suggest?" Kaguya asked.
"We need to head downstairs and see what's going on. But…" Kanade hesitated for a brief moment before glancing at their hands, still interlocked as per the game's rules. "We can't separate, which means you'll have to come with me."
Kaguya blinked, then furrowed her brows. "And? Why are you hesitating? Are you worried that I'll get scared?"
"Well…" Kanade scratched the back of his head. "It's not exactly comforting knowing we'll have to face a grotesque, possibly blood-covered maniac lurking in the shadows."
For a moment, Kaguya was silent. Then, in a tone filled with absolute confidence, she replied, "President, the Shinomiya family does not fear anything. Others fear us."
Kanade stared at her, momentarily speechless. Then, with a resigned sigh, he chuckled.
"Well, now that you've said that…"
Looks like they were going downstairs after all.
===================
Natsukawa Kanade tightened his grip on Kaguya Shinomiya's hand, leading her down the dimly lit staircase with careful, deliberate steps. Every creak beneath their feet sent a shiver down his spine, but he pushed forward, keeping his eyes locked on the floor below. Peering over the handrail, he cautiously stuck his head out, scanning the central corridor for any signs of movement.
And there it was.
Just as he had suspected, a hulking figure loomed ahead. Easily towering over two meters, the sheer bulk of the "butcher" made him resemble a monstrous sumo wrestler, his broad frame blocking off the only visible exit. The dim lighting concealed his face in an eerie shadow, but the sheer size of his silhouette was enough to send a chill down Kanade's spine.
He instinctively held his breath. Without the flashlight on, he couldn't make out any finer details, but that was probably for the best. He was willing to bet the actor's horror makeup was gruesome beyond belief, and not seeing it clearly spared them from unnecessary mental trauma.
After double-checking their surroundings and confirming that the corridor only had one clear path forward, Kanade pulled back and turned to Kaguya, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"I'm positive the 'ghost' we're looking for is hidden in one of the rooms behind that 'butcher.' Of course, it's also possible that they're trying to be tricky and hid them in one of the rooms ahead instead."
"Which means…?" Kaguya leaned in, listening intently.
"No matter what, we have to get past that guy," Kanade said, keeping his tone even. "There's no way he'll just stand there and let us waltz by. That's where our props come in."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the handful of items they had gathered so far.
"For starters, we can use the 'Invisibility Talisman' to sneak past him and search the front rooms first. If we don't find anything, we'll use the 'Taunting Doll' to lure him away and then freeze him with the 'Shock Bell.' That should buy us enough time to check the rooms behind him."
Kaguya blinked, looking between the props and Kanade's serious expression. "You came up with all that just now?"
Kanade smirked slightly. "What, don't believe me?"
"No, it's just… you make it sound so easy." She crossed her arms, half-impressed, half-annoyed. "Meanwhile, I was only thinking about how to use the props to not get caught."
"Defense is important," Kanade admitted, "but offense and strategy are what really win these kinds of games."
Kaguya huffed but ultimately nodded. "Fine. Let's do it your way."
With her agreement secured, Kanade wasted no time. He peeled the backing off the 'Invisibility Talisman' and firmly stuck it to his forehead. A moment later, he grabbed Kaguya's wrist and stepped out into the open corridor, striding forward with the confidence of someone who knew they couldn't be seen.
Just to be sure, he even whipped out his flashlight and pointed it at his own face, illuminating the talisman's presence. 'See? I'm using the item properly.'
The massive figure at the end of the hall visibly stiffened for a second, as if processing this information.
Then, without warning, he took a step forward.
Kanade felt his stomach drop. That wasn't right. He wasn't supposed to react at all. The rules clearly stated that the 'Invisibility Talisman' made them undetectable for twenty whole seconds. And yet…
The butcher took another step. Then another.
And then he picked up the pace.
"…Ah?" Kanade's brain short-circuited for a moment. His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the giant start moving faster. What about the rules? What about the agreement that he couldn't see them?
Could it be that he forgot about the rule?
Just as Natsukawa Kanade was about to break character and verbally remind the so-called "butcher" NPC of the established game mechanics, a sudden tug at his sleeve snapped him back to reality. Kaguya Shinomiya's grip was firm, her crimson eyes wide with urgency.
"President, we should run. If we don't move now, he's going to catch us."
"...Fine," Kanade replied, albeit with a hint of reluctance. Internally, though, he had already made up his mind—after this, he was going straight to the old lady NPC to demand an explanation. There was no way he was letting a faulty game mechanic ruin his perfect playthrough.
With that settled, he grabbed Kaguya's hand and sprinted back the way they came, both of them moving as quickly as they could. Heavy footsteps thundered behind them, the butcher giving relentless chase. It wasn't until they reached the staircase that the hulking figure suddenly stopped, almost as if an invisible leash had yanked him back. Slowly, he turned around and lumbered back to his original position.
"So the first floor is his territory..." Kanade muttered to himself, nodding as his theory was confirmed. But what about the invisibility talisman? That should have worked. Could it be that someone else had used the item before, and the NPC had learned to ignore it after its first use?
Just as he was trying to make sense of it all, Kaguya, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up.
"President, could it be... that the talisman only works for one person?"
Kanade blinked and turned to her. "That's impossible, right? If that were the case, then this item would be completely useless. After all, we have to hold hands the entire time."
"..."
Kaguya's mouth opened, then closed. Her brain was a battlefield of conflicting thoughts. Should she tell him the truth? If she did, would he misunderstand? Would he think she was just using their handholding as an excuse? Worse yet, would he assume she was madly in love with him?!
The mere thought made her face heat up. She was drowning in her own overcomplicated thought process when, fortunately—or unfortunately—someone else made the decision for her.
"Why are you two still standing here? Leave quickly! If you don't, you'll never escape within the next three minutes!"
The hunched old lady NPC had appeared again, her cane tapping impatiently against the wooden floor as she spoke. This time, she actually bothered to give them a timer.
"..."
Kanade wasn't about to let this chance slip away. Wasting no time, he immediately relayed what had happened, detailing their failed attempt at using the talisman and his theory about someone else using it before them. He expected a quick and simple answer.
Instead, the old woman simply raised an eyebrow, then shifted her gaze toward Kaguya. Her stare was strange—too strange. It wasn't the usual scripted response an NPC would give; rather, it was a deep, knowing look, as if she was assessing something unseen.
Kaguya stiffened under the scrutiny, unease crawling up her spine.
"Maybe it's just as you say," the old woman finally said, her voice cryptic. "But that doesn't matter now. The talisman is useless. Make good use of your remaining exorcism items and escape."
And just like that, she hobbled away, not even giving Kanade a chance to protest.
"..."
Kanade watched her go, his expression unreadable. These NPCs were slacking. First, a rule-breaking butcher, and now a dismissive old woman? If he ever found out who was playing these roles, he was going to write down their names for future reference.
But now wasn't the time for complaints—there was an escape to plan.
"Alright, since we can't use the talisman, we'll have to rely on the other items," he said decisively. "We'll use the 'Taunting Doll' to lure him away, then ring the 'Shock Bell' to freeze him in place. That should buy us enough time to search the rooms."
Kaguya nodded in agreement, though her mind was still preoccupied with the old lady's unsettling gaze. What was that about? Why did she look at her like that?
Shaking off her unease, she followed Kanade as they made their way back to the corridor. This time, he wasted no time in pulling out the 'Taunting Doll.'
"You big idiot, come here!"
The doll let out a mocking cry in a grating, high-pitched voice.
The effect was immediate. The butcher let out an enraged growl and charged straight at them, his heavy footsteps sending tremors through the wooden floor. The two students turned on their heels and bolted up the stairs once more.
"It worked!" Kanade exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he exchanged a glance with Kaguya.
Now came the crucial part.
Kanade adjusted his pace, keeping just enough distance so that the butcher could see them but never quite reach them. Step by step, he led their pursuer toward the end of the corridor, where they reached a dead end.
The butcher loomed closer and closer, his shadow stretching across the dimly lit hall. Kanade watched intently, waiting for the perfect moment. It had to be just right—
Closer... closer...
"NOW!"
With a swift motion, Kanade pulled out the 'Shock Bell' and shook it furiously.
The effect was instantaneous.
The butcher froze mid-step, his towering frame completely immobilized. It was as if an invisible force had bound him in place, stopping him dead in his tracks.
Natsukawa Kanade exhaled sharply, gripping Shinomiya Kaguya's hand as he whispered, "Look down at your feet. Don't look up, no matter what."
Without hesitation, he bolted forward, pulling Kaguya along. They had no time to waste. The stun effect wouldn't last forever, and if they hesitated even for a moment, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Miss Kaguya, for once, listened without question. Despite her burning curiosity about what the "butcher" truly looked like, she resisted the urge to glance back. Instead, she kept her head low, focusing solely on Kanade's footsteps as she followed him.
However, her unwavering obedience came at a cost—she didn't notice the sudden drop at the stairwell's edge.
Her foot hovered over empty air.
"Kaguya, watch out!"
Before she could register the danger, Kanade reacted instantly, yanking her back just in time to prevent a nasty fall. The force of his pull sent her stumbling, but instead of collapsing onto the cold floor, she found herself enveloped in something warm and solid.
!!!
H-hugging?!
Kaguya's brain short-circuited as her entire face turned beet red.
"Are you okay?" Kanade's voice was laced with genuine concern, oblivious to the inner turmoil consuming the girl in his arms.
The faint, muffled yelp from earlier hadn't escaped his ears, and he worried she might've twisted her ankle or taken some other injury in their frantic sprint.
"N-no, I'm fine! Thank you, President…" Kaguya stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
She prayed the dim lighting would conceal the crimson flush creeping down her neck. If he saw her like this, she'd never recover from the embarrassment.
Kanade let out a small breath of relief, but his momentary ease was shattered by the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps echoing behind them.
The "butcher" was moving again.
That oppressive, suffocating aura returned in full force, and Kanade wasted no time. He grabbed Kaguya's wrist, ready to flee—
Only for her to suddenly let out a small, involuntary whimper.
"…?"
Kanade stopped in his tracks and turned to her. Though she tried to hide it, the faint trembling of her legs betrayed her.
"Did you… sprain your ankle?" he asked, eyes narrowing in concern.
Kaguya hesitated before nodding, unwilling to lie.
Kanade felt a cold chill—not from fear, but from sheer urgency. This was bad. Not only were they running out of time, but now, one of them was injured. Escaping while evading the butcher's pursuit was already a tall order. With Kaguya unable to run properly…
He made a quick decision.
"It's fine, President. You should go ahead. I can— EHHHH?!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Kanade scooped her up into his arms without hesitation.
"S-S-S-S-Sorry?! What are you—?!"
"You can yell at me later," Kanade said, his tone firm but gentle. "Right now, we need to focus on getting through this."
Kaguya was too stunned to protest further.
With renewed determination, Natsukawa Kanade tightened his grip and took off at full speed, pushing forward with everything he had.
After all—
A true gamer never gives up until the very last second!