Chapter 11: The Deadly Hide-and-Seek Begins

As the group rushed, panting, into the building, the large door behind them slammed shut with a resounding bang. It seemed to be propelled by some unknown force.

Bai Yuliang turned back and tried to open the door, only to find it as solid as a wall. No matter how he pushed, it wouldn’t budge.

“It seems we’ll have to complete the assignment properly after all.”

After speaking, he turned his gaze into the building, and the others followed his lead, looking ahead.

Inside the abandoned dormitory building, a vast and dim emptiness stretched before them.

A musty odor permeated the air, growing more pronounced the deeper they ventured. Sparse moonlight slanted in through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing like fine gauze.

Numerous patches of paint had peeled from the surrounding walls, revealing mold and decay. It was clear no one had entered this place for a very long time.

Just as the group exchanged bewildered glances, a notification sound chimed from a phone.

[You have received a message from Teacher Matsui]

Everyone pulled out their phones to see what it was.

[Teacher Matsui: “Congratulations, students, on successfully entering the dormitory building! I honestly expected some kind of mishap. (Smile 🙂)”]

[“Now, I shall begin to outline the specific details of your assignment. Please study them carefully. For this assignment, you have two methods of completion.”]

[“The first: Remain inside the dormitory building for 48 hours, after which the original entrance door will open automatically.”]

[“The second: A key to the back exit is hidden in one of the dorm rooms, allowing you to leave early.”]

[“Please note: Some dorm rooms contain strange entities. Do not, under any circumstances, disturb them.”]

[“You now have ten minutes to hide. After ten minutes, the owner of this place will begin searching for you.”]

[“I wish you all success in completing your assignment. (Smile 🙂)”]

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Upon seeing the messages, Ogiwara Tai raised his newly bought phone, nearly dropping it again. He hesitated, however, before sullenly retracting his hand.

“I knew that dog-faced Matsui was up to no good!” he cursed.

“I think it would be better to discuss a strategy first,” Qichuan Feng suggested. “We only have ten minutes of protection time. Soon, we might have to face searches from the owner of this place.”

“Owner? How can there be an owner in this dilapidated place? No one’s been here for ages!” Ogiwara Tai said, throwing his hands up.

“Ah, Teacher Matsui didn’t say it had to be a person,” Bai Yuliang said mysteriously. “What if it’s a ghost?”

“Hey, don’t talk nonsense! This is the 21st century. Ghosts? Where would ghosts come from?”

Despite Ogiwara Tai’s words, a hint of panic undeniably flickered across his face.

“Heh heh… Some things can’t be explained in detail right now. In any case, let’s first discuss how we’re going to complete the assignment,” Bai Yuliang said with a serious expression. “The name of this assignment is [Deadly Hide-and-Seek], so it’s clear that we need to keep hiding. If we get caught, there will likely be some terrible consequence.”

“Isn’t it easy to hide in this dormitory building?” Qichuan Feng asked, crossing her arms in confusion. “My relatives were involved in the construction of this dorm project. From what I know, this dormitory building cost a fortune to build. It has twenty floors, and each floor has twenty rooms. In such a large area, couldn’t we just find any place to hide?”

“I always feel it won’t be that simple…” Bai Yuliang frowned. “If it were really that simple, this assignment wouldn’t have us five people involved.”

The others pondered this, finding considerable merit in his words.

“Then let’s not hide at all; let’s just look for the key!” Koda Hikari said anxiously. “If we find the key, we can leave early and won’t have to suffer!”

Bai Yuliang glanced at the fellow, understanding that Koda Hikari’s eagerness stemmed from not bringing food or water, thus wanting to escape quickly.

“Hey, didn’t you read what that dog-faced Matsui said carefully? The key is in a dorm room, yes, but some dorm rooms have strange entities, don’t they? What if we wake them up?” Ogiwara Tai hooked an arm around Koda Hikari’s shoulder, speaking grimly. “If you ask me, hiding safely is the best option! This place is huge; there’s enough room for all five of us to hide!”

“But…”

“Shut up! I’ll share some of my newly bought stuff with you, that’s it! Keep complaining, and you won’t get any!”

Upon hearing this, Koda Hikari, who had been about to argue, finally fell silent. He had always been Ogiwara Tai’s subordinate, long accustomed to following his words.

Seeing that his somewhat boisterous subordinate was dealt with, Ogiwara Tai spoke again.

“Alright, I think if the five of us stay together, if we make any noise, it’ll be easy for us all to get caught at once.”

Ogiwara Tai laid out his plan.

“Based on my experience playing hide-and-seek, it’s safest for everyone to find their own hiding spot.”

Iwata Noriko and Qichuan Feng considered this for a moment, finding it quite sensible, and nodded in agreement. Koda Hikari, having just accepted Ogiwara Tai’s ‘red date’ (a euphemism for a bribe or favor), naturally wouldn’t object.

Only Bai Yuliang wore a strange expression. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Hey, haven’t you watched horror movies? The person who suggests splitting up at the beginning is usually the first to die.”

“You black-hearted merchant, don’t you dare curse me!” Ogiwara Tai’s face was as black as charcoal. “I think you’re the one who wishes I’d die the most! Stop spouting nonsense. In any case, go wherever you want! Just don’t stay with me! You make me sick!”

With that, Ogiwara Tai turned directly and walked deeper into the corridor without looking back.

“Uh…”

Koda Hikari looked back and forth indecisively, hesitating for a few moments. Finally, he stomped his foot and followed his boss.

Now, only Bai Yuliang and the two girls remained, exchanging glances.

“One minute left,” Bai Yuliang sighed, looking at them. “What do you two think? Are you planning to do the same as him?”

“We…” Iwata Noriko was about to speak when she was suddenly interrupted.

“Hmph…” Qichuan Feng looked at him suspiciously. “From your tone, it sounds like you really want to stay with us two girls, doesn’t it? You don’t have any strange ideas, do you?”

“Ah?”

“If you do, you’d best abandon them,” Qichuan Feng said seriously, pulling Iwata Noriko closer. “Noriko is a karate master. While I appreciate the supplies you gave us earlier, I believe the two of us can successfully complete this assignment on our own.”

She led her best friend deeper into the stairwell as well, but paused midway, turning back to say, “Good luck to you too, Yuliang.”

Watching their retreating figures, Bai Yuliang’s previously amiable expression turned remarkably cold.

‘They’re all overestimating themselves…’

‘Indeed, no matter where you go, such people always exist.’