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"Senpai, Senpai, I had the nightmare that Hana-chan mentioned last night."
Seeing Moeha's message, Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly: "Tell me the details."
Fujiwara Moeha: "It was like this: last night after I fell asleep, the woman Hana-chan mentioned appeared in my dream. I was clearly lying in bed, but I could see that woman walk from outside the door into the entrance hall. My body felt like I was experiencing sleep paralysis, completely unable to move. That feeling was super real, not at all like a dream... I just woke up, and my clothes are soaked with sweat."
Moeha sent a pitiful expression: "Senpai, will the dream come true?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. It's normal to have nightmares occasionally. Don't scare yourself. If you have the same nightmare for several days in a row, then..."
Fujiwara Moeha: "Th-then what?"
Amamiya Natsuki: "Then you can go to a shrine to pray."
Fujiwara Moeha: "What Senpai said makes sense. After school this afternoon, Chika and I will go to the shrine to pray."
"…"
After breakfast.
He left for school.
Before the first class even began, Amamiya Natsuki felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
Taking out his phone, it was a message from Fujiwara Moeha.
"Senpai, Senpai, emergency call!"
"Here."
Fujiwara Moeha: "I just arrived in the classroom and saw that many people had dark circles under their eyes!"
Seeing the message, Amamiya Natsuki frowned slightly: "Is it related to the dream?"
Fujiwara Moeha: "That's right, I just asked, and many classmates dreamed of that woman last night."
"…"
If only one person dreamed of it, that would be one thing, but with so many people dreaming of it together, the matter seemed far from simple.
This world is not a purely physical world; evil spirits, games, urban kaidan… nothing is uncommon.
Amamiya Natsuki pondered for two seconds: "Let's go to the Cafeteria for lunch, and you can tell me the details."
Fujiwara Moeha: "Received!"
"…"
Fourth period in the morning.
Physical education class.
Watching Fujiwara Chika prepare to leave the classroom with her friends, Amamiya Natsuki silently hooked his pinky finger.
"Eh?"
Under the effect of the red thread, Fujiwara Chika involuntarily stopped and cast an inquiring look.
"Wait a moment before leaving."
Amamiya Natsuki pointed to the table in front, signaling with his eyes.
Fujiwara Chika blinked, found an excuse for her friend to go ahead, and once most people had left, she scurried over to Amamiya Natsuki, asking curiously:
"Natsuki-kun, what's wrong?"
Amamiya Natsuki said:
"Let's eat lunch together at the Cafeteria."
"Eh?" Fujiwara Chika was startled, quickly covered her pink lips, and shook her head in refusal, "Not the Cafeteria!"
Kissing on the school rooftop was one thing, but to even think of doing that kind of thing in the Cafeteria, people would see them!
Chika secretary's pretty face flushed slightly, and she stammered:
"At most, I'll agree to the rooftop, but definitely not the Cafeteria."
"Didn't you say the rooftop was too hot?"
"Even so, we can't go to the Cafeteria."
"…"
Amamiya Natsuki said softly: "Going to the Cafeteria is mainly because of Moeha."
Fujiwara Chika's beautiful eyes widened in confusion upon hearing this:
"What does going to the Cafeteria have to do with Moeha?"
Not knowing what she thought of, Fujiwara Chika's pink cheeks quickly puffed up, the jet-black ribbon on her forehead began to tremble, and she clenched her fists, saying:
"You wouldn't have taken advantage of Moeha behind my back, would you?"
"I didn't, I wouldn't." Amamiya Natsuki held Chika's small fist and quickly said, "Just listen to my explanation first…"
Fortunately, the matter was simple and was explained clearly in no time.
Fujiwara Chika's anger quickly subsided. Naturally, she wouldn't suspect Amamiya Natsuki of deceiving her, and she furrowed her willow brows, saying:
"Speaking of which, when we had breakfast this morning, Moeha was indeed not in good spirits, constantly yawning, and had a bit of dark circles under her eyes. She only told me she had a nightmare last night, but didn't say anything else…"
The more Fujiwara Chika thought about it, the more anxious she became, worrying:
"Moeha wouldn't have been chosen by the game, just like us, would she?"
By now, there was no one else in the classroom. Amamiya Natsuki reached out and pulled Chika into his embrace. The sweet scent of the girl immediately filled his nostrils, and he said softly:
"I've tested it. Moeha and her friend can't see evil spirits, so they're clearly not players. However, this world isn't normal, and there's no guarantee they won't encounter other things."
Fujiwara Chika's pretty face tensed, and she said with a serious expression:
"Let's go find Moeha now!"
Regarding her own sister, Fujiwara Chika could not rest assured no matter what.
"It's not too late to meet at the Cafeteria at noon," Amamiya Natsuki reassured her. "Nothing will happen during the day, don't worry."
Fujiwara Chika finally calmed down a little, "Alright then, let's hurry to class."
"Wait a moment." Amamiya Natsuki held Chika secretary, and said earnestly, "I was just wronged, I can't get up without a kiss."
Fujiwara Chika: "...Take advantage of!"
After physical education class.
Worried, Fujiwara Chika didn't even change her clothes, still wearing her gym uniform, and pulled Amamiya Natsuki straight to the Cafeteria.
Not long after arriving at the Cafeteria, they saw Fujiwara Moeha and yesterday's junior high school girl walking in hand in hand.
"Sister, why are you at the Cafeteria?" Fujiwara Moeha asked curiously.
"I suddenly felt like eating at the Cafeteria," Fujiwara Chika's gaze shifted to Moeha's friend, and she indeed saw that the other party had a pair of panda eyes, looking tired and listless. Her expression couldn't help but become serious, "Moeha, did you have a nightmare last night?"
Fujiwara Moeha said aggrievedly:
"I already told Sister this morning that I had a very scary nightmare last night, but you were only focused on looking at the daily horoscope and weren't listening to me."
"You were looking at it too," Fujiwara Chika said, feeling a little guilty. Her hair was still tied in a ponytail and swung lively behind her. "Anyway, tell me in detail about last night's dream."
Fujiwara Moeha asked in confusion:
"Why is Sister suddenly interested in nightmares?"
"Everyone, let's eat first," Amamiya Natsuki said from the side. "We can talk while we eat."
The four of them ordered their meals, then carried their dishes and sat down together at a corner table.
Amamiya Natsuki and Chika sat together, while Fujiwara Moeha and her best friend sat on the other side.
"Moeha, tell me about last night's nightmare again," Fujiwara Chika eagerly asked.
"Oh…"
Fujiwara Moeha was originally a chatterbox, and as soon as her two small lips touched, she began to talk incessantly.
Since it was her first nightmare, Fujiwara Moeha's mental state was still good, and the content of the nightmare was largely similar to her previous descriptions.
Glancing at Moeha's friend, who was still dispirited and hadn't even touched her chopsticks, Amamiya Natsuki broke open a pair of disposable bamboo chopsticks and handed them over, saying:
"You can eat now."
The junior high school girl's voice was faint as she took the chopsticks, saying weakly:
"Thank you, Senpai…"
Mika's nightmare content was the same as Moeha's: an inability to move, a rare state of lucid dreaming, and then watching a woman approach her from outside the room. At this very moment, the eerie woman had already entered the bedroom, and was only a short distance from the bed.
"I have a feeling that something very scary will happen once that woman comes to the bedside." The junior high school girl's face showed a look of horror, and misty tears welled up in her eyes. "I tried not to sleep, but I couldn't help it, I was so sleepy. My parents are too busy, and when I told them about the nightmare, they just thought I was overthinking and said they'd take me to a Psychiatrist when they had time on the weekend… It's not a psychological problem at all, many people in the classroom have dreamed of it!"
"Mika, eat something first." Fujiwara Moeha's voice was gentle as she softly comforted her friend, "After school this afternoon, we'll go to the shrine to worship, and maybe we won't have nightmares anymore."
The junior high school girl's eyes were misty, and she shook her head, saying:
"Worshiping is useless, I've already been to the shrine."
Amamiya Natsuki and Chika exchanged glances, then he said in a deep voice:
"How many people in your classroom are having nightmares now?"
"Hmm…" Fujiwara Moeha tilted her head in thought, "But at least more than half of them have dreamed of it."
Fujiwara Chika frowned and said:
"Who had the nightmare first?"
"I don't know."
The two junior high school girls shook their heads in unison.
"I can't remember clearly, it was just a few days ago, someone in the class suddenly started discussing nightmares."
Amamiya Natsuki interlaced his fingers and asked again:
"In the past few days, have you encountered any strange people, or any memorable special events?"
Both young girls began to think seriously, but unfortunately, there were still no clues.
Fujiwara Moeha bit her chopsticks: "I haven't done anything special these past few days, nor have I encountered any strange people or events. Just classes, shopping, going to KTV to sing, just like usual."
As expected of sisters, their interests are exactly the same as your sister's: eating, drinking, and having fun.
Mika followed weakly: "I usually play with Moeha-chan."
"Natsuki, what should we do?"
Fujiwara Chika cast a worried glance.
Mika's panda eyes were not faked; this matter was clearly not as simple as a prank.
"Calm down," Amamiya Natsuki squeezed Chika's fingers under the table. "After we finish eating, we'll go to the junior high department to see for ourselves."
"…"
After lunch.
Everyone went to the junior high department together.
The junior high department and the high school department are on the same campus, so they are actually very close. In a short while, they followed Moeha to the junior high classroom.
"Senpai, we're at the classroom," Fujiwara Moeha enthusiastically invited, "Come in and play with Sister."
"I prefer to observe in secret." Amamiya Natsuki stopped, "Chika, you go in and ask."
"Leave it to me."
Fujiwara Chika nodded in agreement and walked into the classroom with Moeha.
Amamiya Natsuki stood in the hallway, silently observing through the window.
Most people in the classroom had already finished their bento. Some were daydreaming, some were talking, but the atmosphere was clearly a bit subdued.
Amamiya Natsuki scanned the room and immediately saw five junior high school students with obvious dark circles under their eyes. Their mental state also seemed tired and listless, as if they were startled birds, easily frightened by the slightest disturbance.
Clearly, the contagious nightmare was not a prank.
A moment later.
Fujiwara Chika and Moeha walked out of the classroom together.
"Moeha and I have counted," Fujiwara Chika said in a low, serious voice. "Out of thirty people in the classroom, twenty-one have had the same nightmare so far."
"I didn't expect so many people to have the same nightmare." Fujiwara Moeha clutched her chest, clearly startled, and already feeling that something was amiss. "Senpai, this kind of thing can no longer be explained by 'daytime thoughts, nighttime dreams,' can it?"
"Don't panic, you must believe in science." Amamiya Natsuki's tone was steady. "Besides your classroom, have people in other classrooms had nightmares?"
"Senpai, please wait a moment, I'll go ask."
Fujiwara Moeha turned and walked into the next classroom.
This Moeha holds a position in the Student Council of the junior high department, and she is extremely popular, getting along well wherever she goes.
After a short while, Fujiwara Moeha came trotting out, saying in a low voice:
"I asked around, and no one else has had the same nightmare. It seems only our classroom dreamt of that woman."
Everything must have a source.
No other classrooms had any issues, yet the classroom Moeha was in had a collective nightmare outbreak. There must be a reason for it.
Amamiya Natsuki gently pressed his fingers to his brow, a flash of insight crossing his mind, and asked, "Moeha, has anyone in your classroom been absent from school these past few days?"
Fujiwara Chika reacted as soon as she heard it.
Reasoning backward, the person most severely tormented by the nightmare must be the one closest to its source.
"Someone didn't come to class today," Fujiwara Moeha quickly said. "It was Hinata, who sits in front of Chika. She said yesterday that the woman had already walked to her bedside and she could even clearly see the woman's face."
Fujiwara Moeha continued:
"Yesterday there was an art class, and Hinata even drew that woman in art class. I took a look at it then; it was so scary."
Fujiwara Chika quickly pressed, "What did that woman look like?"
"Hmm…" Fujiwara Moeha extended a finger, looking up and said, "Her mouth and eyes were black holes, exactly like those scary horror pictures. Many people were frightened by it back then."
Amamiya Natsuki said in a deep voice, "Where is that drawing? Do you know where it is?"
"I don't know. I went out to play after class," Fujiwara Moeha shook her head. "The teacher didn't make us hand in our homework, so maybe Hinata took it home or threw it away."
Amamiya Natsuki reached out and patted Moeha's little head, then said, "When a classmate is sick and takes leave, shouldn't you go visit her?"
Fujiwara Moeha looked up with her small face, a bit hesitant: "Well, Hinata and I aren't that close…"
Fujiwara Chika decided, "It's settled then. After school this afternoon, Natsuki and I will come find you."
"…"
The two afternoon classes passed quickly.
The dismissal bell rang on time.
"Natsuki-kun, let's go quickly." Fujiwara Chika walked over impatiently.
Shinomiya Kaguya had already noticed that the two had only returned after lunch break. Now, seeing Chika pulling Amamiya Natsuki and not even going to the Student Council, clearly intending to leave, she couldn't help but ask, "President, where are you and Chika going?"
"It's like this…"
Amamiya Natsuki quickly explained the situation.
The Sheltered Young Lady's brows furrowed slightly, and she said, "President, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Right now, it's only a suspicion. No one knows what's really happening," Amamiya Natsuki said softly. "I thought I'd tell you after I figured out the situation."
Shinomiya Kaguya crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Are you going to do a home visit now?"
"That's right," Fujiwara Chika nodded. "We've already arranged it with Moeha."
"I want to go too." Shinomiya Kaguya didn't want to be left behind.
Amamiya Natsuki reminded her, "The Student Council still has work to finish."
As President, you're running off with the secretary right after school. How can you say the work isn't finished!
Shinomiya Kaguya clasped her hands over her lower abdomen and quickly said, "Today's workload isn't much. We can trouble Kashiwagi a bit, and ask Kaguya-senpai for help. The remaining work can be handled tomorrow morning."
"Achoo—"
Koyasu Tsubame, who had just walked out of the classroom, covered her nose and sneezed, thus being clearly assigned.
Seeing that the Sheltered Young Lady had made up her mind, Amamiya Natsuki agreed, "Let's go, we'll act together."
"…"
The three quickly arrived at the junior high Department.
"Sister, Natsuki-senpai, and Kaguya-senpai, good afternoon." Fujiwara Moeha stood downstairs, waving and calling out.
Fujiwara Chika got straight to the point, "Moeha, did you get the phone number and address?"
"It's already done." Fujiwara Moeha put her hands on her hips, lifted her small face to take credit, "During the first class break, I went to ask the teacher. I just called Hinata's home, but…"
At this point, Fujiwara Moeha suddenly bit her lower lip, a worried expression appearing on her small face, and she whispered, "The person who answered the phone was Hinata's mother. The housewife said Hinata is in the Hospital."
Amamiya Natsuki raised an eyebrow slightly, "And then?"
"It seems she's in a coma…" Fujiwara Moeha lowered her voice. "Hinata didn't come downstairs for breakfast this morning. When she was found, she was already unconscious, and then her family sent her to the Hospital. They say she hasn't woken up since."
Fujiwara Moeha nervously squeezed her fingers and whispered, "Senpai, Hinata being in a coma… could it be related to that nightmare?"
"Don't overthink it," Amamiya Natsuki's voice was steady. "Or it's just a coincidence."
Fujiwara Moeha mumbled, "So many people in the classroom dreamt the same nightmare, how could it be a coincidence?"
"Stop talking so much," Fujiwara Chika waved her hand. "Let's go visit your classmate first."
"…"
The four talked as they left school and headed straight for the Hospital.
There was no conversation along the way.
Upon arriving at the Hospital, they quickly found a ward according to the address.
A housewife with red, swollen eyes sat by the bed, while a pale-faced junior high school girl lay on the bed, clearly Moeha's classmate.
"Miss, how is Hinata doing?"
The group quietly entered the ward to offer their condolences.
"It's all my fault… Hinata has been saying she's having nightmares these past few days, not sleeping well at night… Her father and I were busy with work, thinking we'd take her to the doctor when we had time on the weekend, who knew…"
Listening to the housewife's weeping, Amamiya Natsuki narrowed his eyes, looking at the junior high school girl on the bed. A prompt slowly appeared before him.
[You have carefully observed and discovered the aura of a curse lingering around the other party…]
[You have discovered that you seem to be able to dispel the curse and awaken the other party…]
"A curse?"
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze lowered slightly, lost in thought.
Since evil spirits exist in the real world, it's not strange for curses to exist.
The question is… is this nightmare curse that has engulfed the class related to the game?
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