The Reality Where There Was No Turning Back

"I don't want much. How about one million points? I'm sure that's nothing to the Student Council President."

"Dream on! I'd rather drop out than let you get your way!"

Horikita Suzune glared furiously at Bai Yuze. Her own situation didn't matter to her, as long as it didn't affect Horikita Manabu.

Bai Yuze shrugged and mocked her.

"You're still too naive. So what if you drop out? What would that do to restore your beloved brother's reputation?"

Bai Yuze was right. Whether Horikita Suzune dropped out or not, Horikita Manabu's reputation would suffer. If she did drop out, it would only reinforce the claim that he'd bullied a student—even if that student was his own sister.

"You..."

"That's enough, Suzune!"

Horikita Manabu cut her off. He adjusted his glasses and scrutinized Bai Yuze.

"I can give you one million points, but would you like answers to the questions on your mind?"

"You have a way to get them?"

Bai Yuze slapped his forehead. He'd been so focused on getting points that he'd overlooked the information Horikita Manabu would have access to as Student Council President!

"Heh! You wouldn't give them to me for nothing. Are you thinking of trading information for the evidence I have?"

Bai Yuze took a few steps back. He'd noticed Horikita Suzune trying to sneak up on him. Before taking the photo, he'd already checked the area, and there weren't any cameras.

It'd be a disaster if he got caught in a one-two punch from a guy and a girl.

"The points don't matter. I want you to do me a favor."

"Go ahead. I'm not saying I'll agree, though."

"I need you to take responsibility for Suzune's well-being."

Horikita Manabu's shocking words left even Horikita Suzune stunned.

"You... Are you in such a hurry to marry your sister off? I'll have to decline. Your sister's personality is too awful. I couldn't handle her."

Bai Yuze's look of refusal made Horikita Suzune see red.

"You shameless scumbag! As if I'd ever be interested in you!"

To be fair, Horikita Suzune was gorgeous. Her naturally icy demeanor made up for not being able to carry an air conditioner around in summer. She had the figure, the looks, and the figure and looks to make up for her personality.

"That's not what I meant. I mean, I want you to protect Suzune."

Horikita Manabu clenched his fists, then relaxed them. Teasing a guy's sister in front of an overprotective brother was practically asking for trouble.

"Your sister's personality is terrible. If I had to spend all my time with her, I'd be afraid it would shorten my life."

Bai Yuze continued to refuse. Everyone had their own life, and he didn't want to spend the rest of his days constantly keeping an eye on a foul-mouthed, brother-obsessed fool.

"I'm not asking you to watch her every second. You don't have to worry about her at school, but once she leaves campus, you'll need to keep an eye on her."

"Are you saying we'll have a chance to leave school? And that it isn't safe outside, either?"

"I'll answer that in a moment. What do you think of my proposal?"

Horikita Manabu didn't want to discuss that any further, and instead pressed Bai Yuze for an answer.

"Tch... Fine. But if your sister goes looking for trouble, I can't guarantee anything."

"That's fine." Horikita Manabu shot Horikita Suzune a look. "If Suzune gets eliminated, she'll have only herself to blame."

"Is that so? Then why ask me to take responsibility for her safety?"

Bai Yuze was laughing to himself. That was just how tsundere people were: they were stubborn to the core.

"Heh. I just think it'd be embarrassing if my good-for-nothing sister got eliminated too soon."

Horikita Manabu glared at Horikita Suzune, who stood with her head lowered, looking dejected. Her expression was hidden.

"Fine, I'll do it."

Bai Yuze nodded, then put his phone down and walked over to Horikita Manabu.

"So, what do you say? Should we exchange phone numbers? Or add each other as friends..."

Bang!

Bai Yuze's body reacted on its own, and he kicked Horikita Manabu's incoming fist.

"Trying to catch me off guard?"

"I was just testing the situation."

"What was that about?"

Bai Yuze grumbled, then looked over at Horikita Suzune, who was still sulking.

"Can she leave for a bit?"

Horikita Manabu didn't answer. He only glanced at Horikita Suzune. Bai Yuze couldn't help wondering how she'd understood what Horikita Manabu meant when her head was bowed.

Once the unrelated person had left, the two began their conversation.

"Ask away. I'll answer as best I can."

"First question: why me? I'm just an ordinary student."

Bai Yuze was puzzled. He'd only just enrolled, yet Horikita Manabu was already willing to entrust Horikita Suzune to him. It made no sense.

"If you'd asked me this morning, I wouldn't have chosen you. But things are different now."

"Me this morning?! Could it be that you're also...?"

"That's right." Horikita Manabu nodded. "I once absorbed the power of a Gui Dan. That's how I can sense the same power in you."

"What exactly is a Gui Dan?"

Bai Yuze had more and more questions. First there were those strange rules, and now there was this inexplicable power.

"It's complicated to explain. I'll put together a separate file with all this information and send it to you. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Horikita Manabu glanced at his watch, his tone growing slightly impatient.

Bai Yuze knew Horikita Manabu couldn't stay here much longer. As for why, he guessed it might have something to do with Miyabi Nagumo.

"What did you mean when you said it was dangerous outside school?"

"The dormitory." Horikita Manabu sighed. "So many students have died or been injured there that the eerie atmosphere has grown stronger and stronger. It's lethal for new students."

"The dormitory? But you said it was dangerous outside school. What does that have to do with the dormitory?"

"It does. On their first night, new students are randomly transported by a strange energy to a bizarre world. We call it the Rules Horror World.

"New students have to find a way to survive in the Rules Horror World. Only then will the dormitory accept them."

"Can I avoid this so-called selection of the lucky? Maybe by not going back to the dormitory?"

Bai Yuze finally understood. No wonder he'd felt like something was watching him when he entered the dormitory.

He hadn't realized he'd walked right into the wolf's den!

"You're overthinking it." Horikita Manabu shook his head. "Someone's tried that before, but it proved to be pointless."

Bai Yuze fell silent. He was about to ask something else, but Horikita Manabu answered him first.

"You're probably wondering whether dropping out would solve this. I'm sorry, but you still had a chance this morning."

Boom!

Horikita Manabu's words struck Bai Yuze like a bolt of lightning.

"Because of... the Gui Dan?"

Horikita Manabu fell silent at Bai Yuze's question, but Bai Yuze already knew the truth.

From this moment on, he had... no way back.