Ding! Ding!
During the lunch break, Nanashi typically stayed in the classroom.
But from today onward, things will be different.
He had sought out teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka and successfully formed a club—the Paranormal Research Club.
As the name suggested, its purpose was to study the supernatural and the unexplained.
His goal was simple.
If students encountered anything paranormal, he wanted them to come to him. That way, he could quickly respond, solve the issue, and earn Doomsday Points while also preventing the anomalies from spreading.
The clubroom had just been set up.
For now, it was just an empty space with a large table and a few stools.
He planned to recruit members in the afternoon—at least five were needed to make it an official club.
Just as he was about to start cleaning, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in?"
Who could it be?
The door opened.
Standing there was Shizuka Hiratsuka.
And behind her—
Yukino Yukinoshita.
Shizuka scanned the room before settling her gaze on Nanashi.
This student was giving her a headache.
He consistently ranked first in exams, scoring perfect marks.
He excelled in physical education, achieving top results.
On top of that, he was good-looking.
His short black hair was clean and neatly styled.
His facial features were sharp yet refined.
His golden, heterochromatic pupils stood out strikingly.
His skin was fair with a slight yellow undertone.
He had a masculine yet energetic presence.
And now, this exceptionally talented student suddenly wanted to establish a Paranormal Research Club to study supernatural phenomena?!
As if that wasn't baffling enough—
Behind her, Yukino Yukinoshita, the third-ranked student in their grade, had decided to join this so-called Paranormal Research Club!
Shizuka felt like the world had gone mad.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, Yukinoshita-san, what can I do for you?"
Nanashi asked casually.
Shizuka ran a hand through her hair, clearly irritated.
"Well, it seems Yukinoshita wants to join your... Paranormal Research Club."
"Oh?"
Nanashi looked at Yukino in surprise.
Feeling the weight of his golden gaze, Yukino instinctively tugged at the hem of her skirt and turned her head away.
"Sure. I need more members anyway."
He agreed without hesitation.
"Great. That's settled then. I have nothing else to do, so I'll be on my way."
Shizuka gave them both one last look, sighed, and left.
The door closed behind her.
Yukino silently took a seat on the bench, her expression unreadable.
Nanashi watched her for a moment.
Half-jokingly, he said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about what happened yesterday."
The instant those words left his mouth, Yukino lost her composure.
"When you encounter something terrifying, it's only natural to react! Stop spouting nonsense, Nanashi Fumei."
Her voice was composed, but her reddened earlobes and tightly clenched fists told another story.
After all, being caught in a moment of sheer terror was beyond humiliating.
Nanashi found this flustered version of Yukino unexpectedly charming.
Far better than her usual cold and distant demeanor.
Sensing his amused gaze, Yukino felt both embarrassed and frustrated but had no way to fight back.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Then, with a serious and conflicted expression, she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"Can you tell me what that… thing was yesterday?"
Nanashi met her gaze, then spoke calmly.
"Sometimes, ignorance is bliss."
Those who couldn't see evil spirits were the lucky ones.
Yukino understood what he meant.
But she refused to accept it.
She clenched her fists tighter. "I want to know."
Nanashi exhaled and waved a hand dismissively.
"I'm not telling you. I have my reasons."
It wasn't just about protecting her—it was about the deeper truths of the apocalypse.
"But I…"
She started to argue but hesitated.
At that moment—
A strange voice echoed in her mind.
[Do you want to understand the meaning of life?]
[YES or yes?]
Bizarre words appeared before her eyes.
"…Did you see that?"
Nanashi's voice cut through the silence, his gaze fixed on Yukino.
He had seen the same message.
And judging by how Yukino was staring ahead, she had too.
"You saw it too?" Yukino asked, confused. "What is this?"
Nanashi shook his head, analyzing the situation.
"I don't know. But it's not giving us the option to refuse. Just pick one and go with it."
Knowing the world was filled with doomsday factors, he doubted this was a mere prank.
He selected YES.
The next moment—
A strange weightlessness overtook him.
When he opened his eyes again—
He was in a worn-down classroom.
Before he could even take in his surroundings, another message appeared.
The Doomsday Game Begins
[Welcome to the Doomsday Game!]
[Congratulations! You have been selected as one of the five players for the first round!]
[Player Mission: Ensure someone survives for seven days.]
[Failure Penalty: The game merges with reality.]
At the same time, a notification appeared in the Doomsday Chat Group.
[You have come into contact with one of the world's abnormal doomsday factors!]
[The Doomsday Chat Group has been connected. Rewards will be converted into Doomsday Points!]
"…?"
A flood of information overwhelmed Nanashi, leaving him momentarily stunned.