Why is my Isekai in the Slice of Life anime was become a Horror Story?

Chapter 3: My Youth Romantic Comedy is was Become a Horror Story

She couldn't remember why she ended up in this place.

The last memory Shinomiya Kaguya had was of an ordinary school day. Yet, when she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on a filthy, dusty, and foul-smelling bed in a rundown room, seemingly abandoned for who knows how long.

Kidnapping? Blackmail? Imprisonment?

Terrifying possibilities raced through her mind.

No matter what the case was, this was undoubtedly an unprecedented emergency. She needed to prepare herself mentally to face any potential scenarios.

In that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya instantly shifted into combat readiness.

Taking her, the heir of the Shinomiya family, from Shuchiin to this place was definitely not something an ordinary kidnapper could accomplish.

Therefore, she had to be extremely cautious and figure out her surroundings first. Acting rashly could lead to unforeseen consequences.

Within a short period, Kaguya had already thought everything through and immediately devised a course of action.

She opened her eyes just slightly, without moving her body, and swiftly scanned the room. Almost instantly, she noticed a man lying right next to her. He seemed to be asleep, but his head twitched slightly, clearly indicating that he was also secretly observing the room.

From her angle, it was difficult to accurately guess his age, but he seemed to be a young man between 18 and 22. His clothes looked fairly ordinary, but they were stained with some suspicious red and white marks.

He appeared to be about 183 cm tall, around 25 cm taller than her, with a build that wasn't frail. If he had been trained, facing him directly would make it very challenging for her to incapacitate him immediately. Hence, she couldn't act recklessly.

Being this close to a strange man was something Shinomiya Kaguya, who had always been raised as a "girl in a glass cage," found utterly intolerable.

However, her strict upbringing and self-discipline made her acutely aware of the situation: she was in an unfamiliar environment with no help and no clear information. Caution was paramount.

This man could be a victim like her or someone planted by whoever was behind this. Either way, judging by his feigned sleep and covert observation, it was evident he was a cautious individual.

This also meant he had likely realized she was pretending to sleep. If so, he was undoubtedly on guard against her, and any chance of catching him off guard was almost nonexistent. Her next best move was to maintain as much distance from him as possible.

If Hayasaka were here, with her capabilities… No, as a daughter of the Shinomiya family, she shouldn't be thinking such useless thoughts. In any case, she couldn't afford to keep waiting. She needed to act now!

As Shinomiya Kaguya rapidly calculated her strategy, her body instinctively tensed.

But just as she was about to make her move, a sharp, piercing sound echoed, causing her to completely lose control of her body. Then, the strange noise Takakai had heard earlier became clear in her ears as well.

[...Player Shinomiya Kaguya, this is the first game you are participating in. Game level: Dusk.]

[Your victory condition: Escape the Shirakawa Apartment.]

[Time limit for this game: Seven days.]

[Currently transmitting to you...]

The content announced by the voice wasn't much different from what Takakai had heard, except for the name being mentioned.

However, unlike Takakai, who seemed somewhat accustomed to bizarre occurrences, Shinomiya Kaguya had absolutely no idea what was happening.

Terror overwhelmed her mind. If not for an invisible force restraining her body, her face would have surely betrayed a dramatic change.

What the hell is going on?

She couldn't move her body.

Even her breathing seemed to freeze. No, as the voice spoke, she genuinely lost the ability to breathe.

From head to toe, every part of her body became immobilized. The sensation was akin to an explorer accidentally falling into ice, frozen completely, becoming an artifact for future generations to discover. Unless freed, she wouldn't be able to move again.

But what shocked Kaguya the most wasn't the paralysis itself.

When the voice resounded, not only did her body stop moving, but she also completely lost all sense of self. If not for her strong will compelling her to focus on checking her breathing and heartbeat, she wouldn't have realized that she had stopped breathing, her heart had ceased to beat. It felt as though every sensation in her body had abandoned her, as if her soul had left her body.

This was far beyond anything a kidnapper could achieve.

This event was utterly irrational, defying all logic, something that couldn't happen in reality.

What kind of twisted situation have I gotten myself into?

No, now wasn't the time to panic. Fear wouldn't help. What she needed was to determine her next course of action.

Born into a cold and emotionless conglomerate clan, Shinomiya Kaguya had been rigorously trained to steel her mind from a young age. Even in this completely incomprehensible situation, she forced herself to remain calm and listen to the end of the strange voice's message.

Sacrifice Game? Escape the Shirakawa Apartment? A seven-day time limit?

And then there were four hints that followed, sounding like meaningless riddles. Yet, since the mastermind had provided this information, it surely held significance.

A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in Kaguya mind, but with the limited information at hand, she couldn't draw any useful conclusions.

As soon as the voice ceased, her body gradually regained its ability to move. Shinomiya Kaguya immediately sat up, carefully moving her hands and feet to check her condition. Her gaze quickly shifted to the man lying beside her.

"What… the hell is this…?"

On the other side, Takakai's reaction was far more pronounced.

The sudden loss and return of control over his body left him feeling utterly unnerved. He rolled off the bed but instinctively grabbed a piece of paper from the bedside table. Then, backing away as he stood up, his gaze fixed firmly ahead.

The two locked eyes, their gazes intersecting for a moment.

"Ah uh, kuhum, hello there? Lovely weather today, isn't it?"

Not knowing what to say in this situation, Takakai thought it best to start with a greeting. As he spoke, he waved at Shinomiya Kaguya, who was sitting on the bed, trying his best to put on the most harmless-looking smile he could manage.

"…That voice earlier, you heard it too?"

Her eyes flicked to the piece of paper in Takakai's hand. Shinomiya Kaguya stepped off the bed, standing at the edge while maintaining a distance of about three meters, and asked.

Based on the events that had just unfolded, it was highly likely that this man, like her, had been abducted and thrown into this place. While other possibilities couldn't be ruled out just yet, initiating a conversation was necessary. After some consideration, Kaguya decided to probe by starting a dialogue.

"If by 'the voice,' you mean the one that announced I've become a player in the Sacrifice Game and immobilized my body, then yes, I heard it. So, are you another person dragged into this irrational situation like me?"

Takakai responded while stepping back to increase the distance between them, ensuring both would feel safer.

"I see. I'm Shinomiya Kaguya. Can you tell me your name?"

Kaguya's calm and cold expression betrayed no emotion. Her voice carried almost no fluctuation, making it impossible for Takakai to discern her thoughts.

The black-haired girl, dressed in the Shuchiin Academy uniform, though still bearing a hint of youthful immaturity, exuded an icy aura so intense it felt suffocating. Compared to her depiction in the anime, her real-life presence was overwhelmingly different.

Takakai thought to himself, if he were a young, inexperienced man, it might have been challenging to maintain composure under Kaguya's piercing gaze, as sharp as a blade.

However, for Takakai—who had been struggling to survive after losing both his parents—Kaguya's aura wasn't enough to fluster him. He quickly regained his composure and responded:

"I'm Takahashi Takakai."

"Ah, Shinomiya-san, if I'm not mistaken, you also lost consciousness suddenly, then woke up to find yourself here, right?"

"That's exactly what happened to me. I was cleaning up at home, and then I suddenly found myself here. It seems like we've been caught up in something truly horrifying. Do you have any experience with situations like this?"

"By the way, this printed paper is something I just found. It doesn't seem to fit in with this dilapidated place, so I thought it might contain some useful information. Whether it's written by the person behind all this or something else, I think it holds certain value. Would you like to take a look?"

Takakai structured his words logically, maintaining a steady pace that wouldn't make the listener uncomfortable. As he spoke, he held up the printed paper.

While keeping an eye on Kaguya's movements, Takakai glanced briefly at the contents of the paper, noticing the title "Rules for Living at Shirakawa Apartment."

Even so, Takakai maintained his cautious attitude, not stepping any closer to Kaguya.

The current situation was filled with far too many incomprehensible elements. Moreover, Takakai vividly recalled that in the original manga from which Shinomiya Kaguya came, this petite girl, standing under 160 cm tall, possessed combat abilities far above average.

In the original story, Kaguya was capable of using brute strength to overpower a normal man and had even once subdued a 175 cm tall male high school student with her bare hands, rendering him unconscious on the spot. She was also formally trained in archery, swordsmanship, and hand-to-hand combat.

At the moment, with her heightened state of alertness, Takakai felt that if he got too close, she would likely unleash a series of moves like a "Suplex" in WWE, and he might even be knocked unconscious on the spot.

"Place it on the table, we can look at it together."

Shinomiya Kaguya did not answer Takakai's first question, only responding to the second.

She pointed to a low round table at one side of the room, then moved to stand on one side of the table, facing Takakai across it.

"Look together?"

Takakai was a bit confused by this. Was she planning to stand next to him to read it together? But clearly, she was in an extremely alert state right now and even seemed to be distancing herself from him.

"Reading the text in reverse is not an issue for me. You just need to put it on the table."

Perhaps sensing the confusion in Takakai's eyes, Kaguya briefly explained while maintaining her distance across the table, still wary of him.

"If you're sure, then it's fine."

Understanding Kaguya's intent, Takakai slowly placed the printed sheet on the round table, right in the center. The text was positioned for him to read easily, while for Kaguya, she would have to read it in reverse.

However, since she had confirmed this was no issue, Takakai didn't need to keep up his "knightly spirit" during such a tense situation. No matter how beautiful this girl was, this could still be a life-or-death situation, and he didn't have the time to think further.

After placing the sheet down, Takakai let go of it and stepped back, maintaining a distance as he stood facing Kaguya across the table, then focused his gaze on the contents of the printed sheet.

Shinomiya Kaguya maintained her alert stance while her eyes also skimmed over the text on the sheet. Just as she had said, reading the text in reverse didn't pose any difficulty for her, and she even read faster than Takakai. In the blink of an eye, Kaguya had grasped the entire content of the sheet.

[Rules for Living at Shirakawa Apartment]

The bold and large red title caught the reader's eye immediately.

[When you see this rule sheet, you most likely just woke up in this apartment. Perhaps you still don't understand what has happened. You might be thinking of immediately opening the door and leaving, calling the police, or doing something else.

But I advise you not to do that. Read this rule sheet immediately, read it all, and memorize it, because this is the only thing that can help you survive here.

Understand that, from the moment you were chosen by Shirakawa Apartment, there is no way for you to escape. Adapt to the rules, try to survive – that is the only thing you, we, and all those trapped here must do.]

The content was printed in regular Calibri font, but everything was bolded for emphasis.

As he read this, Takakai felt a growing unease welling up from deep inside his mind, but he tried to stay calm and continued reading the specific rules.

Rules:

1. The Shirakawa Apartment can only be entered or exited from 8:00 AM to 5:50 PM. Outside of these hours, you are absolutely forbidden to enter or exit the apartment, and you cannot use any other entrance except the main door.

(Sometimes, you can enter or exit safely around 7:59 AM or 5:51 PM, but that's only "sometimes." Those who are confident they've figured out the safe window often pay a heavy price. I don't think you want to be one of them.

If you plan to try leaving through other exits like windows, I can only say: don't do it unless you have no other choice.)

2. After 9:00 PM, you must absolutely stay inside your room.

(Stay in your room, the one you woke up in. After 9 PM, any place in the apartment other than your room will become unsafe, even hallways or stairwells.

Many people have paid the price for this. Don't worry about the time, the clock in your room is absolutely accurate. It will not lie to you.)

3. When you hear the sound of a baby crying and knocking on the door at the same time, do not open the door, and do not make any noise. Pretend there is no one in the room until the sounds stop.

(Sometimes, at night, the apartment will become very unstable, but you just need to pretend like you don't know anything. For this apartment, children are the greatest taboo.

I cannot explain further, you will understand when the time comes. For now, the only thing you need to remember is: here, curiosity is unnecessary. If you want to survive, don't be curious.)

4. After dark, do not turn on any lights or make any noise in your room.

(This rule is essentially an extension of Rule #3. Do not turn on the lights, do not talk, keep your room dark and silent as if no one has ever been there. This is mandatory for survival.

Of course, don't forget to lock the door. After all, that's common sense, I don't think it needs to be written as a rule.)

5. There are no children in Shirakawa Apartment. If you see any children here, do not interact with them, try to stay away.

(No one who has been chosen has ever been a child. The youngest person to appear here was 20 years old. Moreover, no one except us, the chosen ones, can enter this apartment. There has never been an exception.

So, do not engage with any children you see here. If you don't believe it, you can try, but do so at your own risk.)

6. If you are blocked by a child and cannot avoid them, climb onto a high cabinet and wait until they leave.

(If you've ever been in the apartment hallway, you will notice many cabinets placed here, each about two meters tall, almost touching the ceiling, but you can still climb on top of them. These cabinets were set up by us, and we usually leave some useful items behind.

When you have no other way to go, if you can still do it, climb on top of the cabinet. Some people who violated Rule #1 have survived by doing this, so if you find yourself in such a situation, remember to stay on top of the cabinet until 8:00 AM.)

7. If you encounter children in the apartment and are lucky enough to survive, do not mention anything about them, whether it's discussing it with others, talking to yourself, or even writing it down.

(Perhaps you've realized that this rule intentionally leaves some things unsaid, just like I said before, children are the greatest taboo in this apartment. I can't explain why, but after you go through it, you will understand why this must be the case.

Trust me, at that point, you will remain silent. Before you encounter that situation, all you need to do is try to follow the rules and pray you don't face that "fortunate moment."

If you survive, don't think that being alone gives you permission to relax, don't speak, don't write it down. Many people have paid the price for this, even involving others.)

8. Room 304 in Shirakawa Apartment does not exist, do not communicate with anyone who claims to be from Room 304.

(When you meet anyone who is not a child in Shirakawa Apartment and decide to interact with them, the first thing you need to do is identify which room they are from. As long as they're not from Room 304, they are someone you can trust, at least enough to communicate normally.

However, if they claim to be from Room 304, do not interact with them anymore. Even if they used to be your friends, they are no longer the same. Stay away from them, do not communicate, and if necessary, you can use force, but absolutely do not cause any injuries that could be fatal or make the person faint. This is absolutely forbidden.)

9. Every 3 days, residents must stay in Shirakawa Apartment for at least one day, and can leave for a maximum of two days.

(If you think you can just escape the apartment and be free, you are greatly mistaken. Many people thought this, but they can only leave for two days. When the third day comes, whether they want to or not, they will return to Shirakawa Apartment.

In this case, they usually return at night, and by then, you will understand what it means to return to the apartment. I don't think you'll want to know.

Those who are chosen by the apartment find it very difficult to escape, but we don't need to give up. People like me and my friends, many others haven't given up yet. Survive, only survival, will allow us to find the real way out.)

10. After spending 6 consecutive nights in Shirakawa Apartment, you cannot stay in the apartment on the 7th night. You cannot stay for 7 consecutive nights.

(The number 7 seems to have some significance in Shirakawa Apartment. Some say 7 days here represent a cycle of reincarnation. I don't know if that's true, but I know that those who stay for 7 consecutive days in the apartment, on the 7th day, they will disappear, even if they are in their own rooms.

So, don't stay too long in this apartment. Sometimes, stepping out a little is good for your health, don't you think?)

Reading up to this point, you must have understood a bit about the situation of this apartment. You might think I'm over-worrying, but trust me, everything I've written here is not a joke.

These are the rules that each of us must follow. Every one of them is paid for with lives, so cherish them as you would cherish your own life.

I am Xu Sheng, a long-time resident of this apartment, my room is 309. If you want more information, you can come find me during the day, except on Sundays. I'm usually here on other days.

...

A long list of rules, it might seem like a lot at first glance, but Takakai didn't take too long to finish reading the passage.

However, finishing the reading was one thing.

The mental feeling after reading it was another.

This… this is basically horror story rules, right? It's definitely horror story rules!

My youth, my harem in my anime world, the main character in my Akikan fanfic, how did I end up as a test subject in a horror story like this!?

Tell Me Why!? Why? Why? Why? Why? Wryyyyyyy!!!

At this moment, Takakai struggled to maintain his composure, but inside, he was already screaming.