Love Hotel, huh!
Rei had never been to one before, but on his very first day after transmigrating, he was invited by a girl to a love hotel. His luck after transmigrating was just too good.
But… this couldn't be right, could it? A honey trap, perhaps!
Rei subconsciously glanced at Hoshino Ai beside him.
The girl's face was breathtakingly beautiful, her long, dark purple hair gently swaying in the evening breeze. Her beauty was like a vibrant red rose in full bloom.
Yet, why did Hoshino Ai's face look so pale, as if she had encountered something terrifying?
At that moment,
Hoshino Ai, who had been lagging behind, suddenly quickened her pace and grabbed Rei's wrist with her small but surprisingly strong hand.
"What's wrong?"
There was something troubling Hoshino Ai.
"Let's… go to another hotel," she said.
Before Rei could respond, she pulled him and turned in the opposite direction.
Unnoticed, a thin mist had already obscured the path they had come from. Hoshino Ai pulled Rei's wrist, hurrying forward. By now, Rei also sensed something was off.
Having read numerous eerie and supernatural tales in his past life, he couldn't help but feel the atmosphere was abnormal.
The vast street was deserted, with only him and Hoshino Ai. Not a single pedestrian or vehicle was in sight. The surroundings were eerily silent, and the streetlights grew dimmer, as if they had entered an isolated, anomalous world.
After a few minutes,
a distant light appeared, like a beacon guiding their way.
Hoshino Ai quickened her pace,
but soon,
she froze. Her right hand, still gripping Rei's wrist, trembled violently, and her body turned icy cold, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
"Love Heart Love Hotel."
Rei softly repeated the hotel's name.
"We… we were walking in the opposite direction. This… it's impossible."
A trembling voice emerged from the girl with dark purple hair. Hoshino Ai's fear was slowly spilling over.
She instinctively moved closer to Rei, as only he could give her a sense of security.
"Rei-kun, let's go," she pleaded.
But this time, Rei grasped her wrist in return and shook his head.
"Given the current situation, we can't leave this mist-shrouded area. Trying again would only be a waste of time. Moreover, I suspect there's a time limit for checking in. If we exceed it, I think something bad might happen."
Rei spoke calmly, recalling the settings of some works he had seen in his past life.
"However, I'd like you to tell me what you know about this."
"Just once, let's try one more time. I'll tell you what I know on the way," Hoshino Ai pleaded, her large eyes glistening with desperation.
She didn't want to go to that dangerous love hotel.
"Alright."
Rei agreed,
and the two turned once more, hurrying in the direction away from the Love Heart Hotel.
Compared to before, Hoshino Ai was practically clinging to Rei this time, with no distance between them.
Rei felt like he was being taken advantage of.
What a loss!
"We… must have been drawn into… a supernatural game," she said.
"The government said ordinary people wouldn't encounter supernatural things, so why… why did I encounter it!"
As she spoke, Hoshino Ai complained, afraid, and trembling.
"Miss Hoshino, get to the point," Rei urged.
"Ugh, Rei-kun doesn't care about a girl's feelings at all. He'll never have a girlfriend."
"You rejected my confession, so naturally, I don't have a girlfriend," Rei retorted.
"Well, how could I accept a public confession from a fan? I'm an… idol. If an idol falls in love, fans turn into antis."
But Hoshino Ai's emotions calmed slightly.
"Actually, I've heard rumors about the Love Heart Hotel. About six months ago, a couple died there, and there was an accident. The government declared it a rumor, but the Love Heart Love Hotel was closed for renovations. Most importantly, the hotel is in Shinjuku, not in Chiyoda where we are."
From the central location, Chiyoda is about five kilometers from Shinjuku, a nearly 20-minute drive.
It's not a distance you can walk in a few minutes.
"This time, the supernatural game likely chose the Love Heart Love Hotel as its setting, wuwuwu…"
She looked up, only to see the sign of 'Love Heart Love Hotel' again.
They were back in front of the hotel.
She felt like crying!
Hoshino Ai wanted to cry.
From the girl's words, Rei gained a deeper understanding of this world.
This wasn't a simple, everyday anime world but a mixed world filled with supernatural, eerie, and horror elements.
It was dangerous.
But it was fine,
he was a superpower user. With his time-stopping ability, how could he lose?
Facing Hoshino Ai's reluctance to move forward, Rei adjusted his mindset and forcefully pulled the girl toward the hotel's entrance.
Confronting the issue head-on was the best solution.
Finally, Hoshino Ai followed nervously, her eyes half-closed, fearing she might see something terrifying.
"Welcome."
As they entered, a welcoming voice echoed in the lobby.
Rei looked around.
The spacious lobby was brightly lit with incandescent lights. A clock hung on the wall, and vending machines hummed softly. The check-in counter was unmanned.
"No monsters, you can open your eyes now," Rei said, patting Hoshino Ai.
The girl finally opened her eyes, and the bright environment eased her anxiety slightly.
People naturally gravitate toward light.
"Let's see if there are any clues here," Rei said, scanning the area. He suddenly noticed a white sheet of paper on the check-in counter and walked over to pick it up.
In bold letters, it read: **Love Heart Love Hotel Check-In Rules**.
Hoshino Ai followed and read the text on the paper.
"Love Heart Love Hotel Check-In Rules. To ensure all guests have a pleasant and enjoyable night, please strictly adhere to the following rules."
"This is a rule-based supernatural game," Hoshino Ai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
She had never participated in a supernatural game, but related information circulated privately, and many knew about it, though there were no reports online.
"In this type of supernatural game, as long as we follow the rules, we can successfully clear it and leave alive."
Rule-based supernatural games had pros and cons, but for someone like her, it was a good choice. At least she didn't have to face the supernatural directly or fight eerie monsters.
Hoshino Ai glanced at Rei.
With him here, this time-stopping powerhouse, she felt safe. Fans wouldn't abandon their idol, would they!
"Read the rules."
**Rule 1**: This hotel is a love hotel. Each room must be occupied by 2 or more people.
**Rule 2**: You can obtain a room key card through the self-service check-in machine. All rooms are freely selectable, but check-in will stop after 10 PM.
**Rule 3**: This hotel is unmanned, with no staff. If anyone claims to be staff, ignore them, especially at night.
**Rule 4**: In case of an emergency, use the stairwell to reach the first-floor lobby and seek help from the front desk.
**Rule 5**: The key card is important, so keep it safe. Check-out begins at 6 AM the next day. Return the key card to the key card machine.
…
Five rules.
"Six o'clock tomorrow morning," Hoshino Ai realized. If they held out until 6 AM the next day, they could successfully clear the game and leave.
Instantly, she felt motivated and hopeful.
Just then,
the mechanical voice of 'Welcome' sounded again.
Footsteps approached from the entrance,
and more people arrived.
Hoshino Ai instinctively panicked.
Could these newcomers be supernatural beings!