Love Heart Hotel.
Lin Ye had never been to one before, and certainly never expected his first day in this strange new world to lead him there. That Hoshino Ai—a famous idol—would be the one inviting him made the situation feel surreal, almost absurd.
Yet doubt gnawed at him. Could this be a trap?
He glanced at Hoshino Ai.
The girl beside him had an ethereal beauty. Her long, purple-black hair swayed in the night breeze, and her features were as flawless as a delicate porcelain doll's. She was radiant, like a blooming crimson rose under the moonlight.
But why did her face pale as though she'd seen a ghost?
At that moment, Hoshino Ai, who had been walking a step behind, quickened her pace and grasped Lin Ye's wrist. Her hand was small but surprisingly strong.
"What's wrong?" Lin Ye asked, narrowing his eyes at her sudden shift in demeanor.
Hoshino Ai's voice trembled. "Let's go to another hotel," she said quickly, tugging him in the opposite direction.
Lin Ye frowned but followed her lead. A thin mist had quietly crept over the road they had just traveled. Hoshino Ai gripped his wrist tightly, her steps hurried.
He began to sense that something was amiss.
As someone who had consumed his fair share of supernatural fiction in his previous life, Lin Ye couldn't ignore the signs. The deserted streets, the chilling quietness, and the dimming streetlights—everything screamed unnatural.
A few minutes later, a faint light appeared in the distance, glowing like a beacon through the fog.
Hoshino Ai froze mid-step. Her hand trembled violently, her face ashen, and her entire body seemed to shiver as if submerged in ice water.
"Love Heart Hotel," Lin Ye muttered, reading the sign in front of them.
"We… we were walking in the opposite direction. This… this is impossible," Hoshino Ai stammered, her voice quaking with fear.
She instinctively inched closer to Lin Ye, as if proximity to him could shield her from whatever horrors awaited
"Lin Ye-kun," she whispered shakily, "Let's just leave. Please."
Lin Ye, however, grasped her wrist firmly and shook his head.
"As things stand, we're trapped. Trying to leave again would be futile. Besides," he added calmly, "I suspect there's a time limit for staying in this area. If we exceed it, something bad might happen."
He paused, scanning their surroundings. "Now, I need you to tell me what you know."
"Just once," Hoshino Ai pleaded, her starry eyes glistening with desperation. "Let's try leaving one more time. I'll tell you everything on the way."
Lin Ye sighed but nodded. "Fine."
Lin Ye agreed.
The two of them turned around again and walked quickly in the direction away from the hotel.
This time, Hoshino Ai stayed closer to him, nearly clinging to his side. Lin Ye couldn't help but feel slightly awkward at her sudden proximity.
"...I'm being taken advantage of," he muttered under his breath.
The dense fog thickened as they walked, the oppressive atmosphere growing heavier with every step.
"We must've been pulled into… some sort of strange game," Hoshino Ai murmured, her voice tinged with frustration and fear. "The government said ordinary people wouldn't encounter things like this. So why… why did it happen to me?"
"Focus," Lin Ye said curtly. "Get to the point."
Hoshino Ai pouted. "Wow, Lin Ye-kun, you're terrible at comforting girls. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."
"You rejected my confession, didn't you? Of course I don't have a girlfriend," Lin Ye replied flatly.
"W-well, how could I accept a fan's confession in public? I'm an idol! If I started dating, all my fans would hate me," Hoshino Ai retorted, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks.
The banter seemed to help calm her nerves slightly.
"About half a year ago," she began, her voice soft but steady, "there was a rumor about the Love Heart Hotel. A couple supposedly died there under mysterious circumstances. The government brushed it off as a hoax, but the hotel was shut down for 'renovations.'"
Lin Ye raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Hoshino Ai continued, "The thing is… the Love Heart Hotel is in Shinjuku Ward, not Chiyoda Ward where we are. It's at least five kilometers away. We couldn't have reached it on foot in just a few minutes."
Her voice wavered as she added, "This must be the setting for the weird game we're trapped in…"
At that moment, the familiar glowing sign of the Love Hotel loomed before them again.
Hoshino Ai's composure broke. Tears welled up in her eyes. "No… not again!"
Lin Ye absorbed her words carefully, piecing together the grim reality. This was no ordinary world. It was one that blended elements of horror, the supernatural, and danger.
It was undeniably treacherous.
But Lin Ye remained unfazed. With his ability to stop time, how could he lose?
"Come on," he said firmly, pulling Hoshino Ai toward the hotel's entrance. "The best way out of this is to face it head-on."
Hoshino Ai hesitated but followed, her hands clutching his arm as though her life depended on it. Her eyes were squeezed shut, bracing for whatever horrors awaited inside.
"Welcome," a mechanical voice greeted them as they stepped into the brightly lit lobby.
Lin Ye surveyed the space. It was clean and well-lit, with vending machines humming softly in the corner. A clock ticked on the wall. The check-in desk, however, was eerily unmanned.
"See? No monsters. You can open your eyes now," Lin Ye said, patting Hoshino Ai on the shoulder.
Reluctantly, she cracked her eyes open. The brightness of the lobby offered a faint sense of relief.
"Let's look for clues," Lin Ye said.
Approaching the registration desk, his eyes caught on a piece of paper. Picking it up, he read aloud:
"Love Heart Hotel Check-in Rules.
'To ensure that guests have a wonderful and enjoyable night, please abide by the following rules.'"
Hoshino Ai peered over his shoulder, her voice trembling but hopeful. "A rules-based strange game…"
She exhaled shakily. "If we follow the rules, we might make it out of here alive."
Rule-based weird games have their pros and cons, but for an ordinary person like her, it was a preferable choice. At least she wouldn't have to face terrifying creatures or fight against strange monsters.
Hoshino Ai glanced sideways at Lin Ye.
With him—that has a time-stopping abilities—she felt a sense of security. Fans would never abandon their idols!
"Look at the rules," she said.
Rule 1: This hotel is a love hotel, and the maximum number of people per room is two.
Rule 2: Room cards can be obtained through the self-service check-in machine. All rooms are available for selection. Check-in closes at 22:00.
Rule 3: This is an unmanned hotel with no staff. If anyone claims to be a staff member, please ignore them, especially late at night.
Rule 4: In case of an emergency, use the staircase to reach the first-floor lobby and seek help at the front desk.
Rule 5: The room card is crucial. Please keep it secure. You may check out after 6:00 AM the next day by returning the card to the room card machine.
"Tomorrow at six o'clock…"
Hoshino Ai's voice trembled slightly as realization struck her. If they could hold on until six o'clock in the morning, they would survive and be able to leave.
Suddenly, she had a goal. Motivation sparked in her chest, filling her with a glimmer of hope.
But then—
"Welcome."
The mechanical voice echoed in the lobby once more.
Footsteps resounded from the entrance.
Someone else was approaching.
Hoshino Ai's body stiffened, her breath hitching.