Chapter 14: [Nonexistent Person]

Translator: Larbre Studio  Editor: Larbre Studio

Nakagawa Aokiji did not mean literal sacrifice.

“The game that was created by Class 4 of the second grade was a game called [Nonexistent Person]. The rules of the game were straightforward, select a person from the class and ignore him completely. Treat him like an invisible man and pay no attention to whatever he did. In short, treat him like a nonexistent person.”

The winter was over, and the spring weather was nice and cool. Even though it was close to dawn, the temperature at night was still freezing.

After listening to what Aokiji just said, a sudden chill came over them as they felt a strong sense of absurdity. It was not because they were frightened, it was because they did not expect that the vast fire incident was all because of a game.

They didn’t really understand the details of the incident. They knew that the protagonists of the event were all the students from the fourth class of the second grade, and a transfer student, Ito Shunji.

Indeed. At that time, the students intended to choose the person by drawing lots after they came up with the game.

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However, nobody wanted to be the [Nonexistent Person]. So someone suggested that since all of them already knew about the game, it would defeat the purpose of the game, even if they succeeded in choosing someone to be the [Nonexistent Person].

The reason was that the chosen person would have known about this game and that everybody else was just acting. If it were the case, the game would be meaningless and therefore, no fun.

As a result, the students of Class 4 of the second grade racked their brains to think of a way to optimize the game.

Just when they almost wanted to give up, the teacher announced that a student would transfer to their school in a few days.

The students from Class 4 of the second grade were very excited. They had finally found the most suitable person to be the [Nonexistent Person]!

And this was the initial cause of the fire incident in Akichi High School.

“Aokiji, how could we not know about this incident?!” Masato Yamazaki freaked out upon hearing it, but he was not done talking, “You didn’t even inform us before coming here.”

The others nodded along. Although they did know a little regarding the incident, they were definitely not as well informed as Aokiji.

Aokiji smiled, “I’m telling you guys right now for the sake of intensifying the atmosphere. Wouldn’t it be very boring if you knew about it earlier?”

Even though they came to Akichi High School without preparation, Aokiji had already inquired into the incident, mainly to enhance the atmosphere while exploring the high school.

Based on what he could see, it was beneficial.

“But wouldn’t the teacher step in?” Chiba Shiori suddenly opened her mouth. She looked at Aokiji and asked, “Normally, when a student transfers to another school, he would have to make a self-introduction… Don’t tell me, the game had already started that time?”

Even if the game started and all his classmates treated Ito Shunji as the [Nonexistent Person], he could still talk to the teachers and students from other classes.

If this happened, Class 4 of the second grade would not be able to pull off the game.

Kimura Kazuki glanced at Shiori and nodded. This story was indeed full of flaws from his point of view. Maybe it was just like what Aokiji said, it was only to enhance the atmosphere.

“It was said that even the teachers participated in the game,” Aokiji did not ignore Shiori’s question and replied directly. “As for the students from other classes, Class 4 of the second grade had told them in advance. The game that was only supposed to be played amongst themselves eventually became a game that was played by the whole school.”

Aokiji noticed the doubt on Shiori’s face and smiled.

“At that time, the President of the Student Union of Akichi High School was from Class 4 of the second grade, and he was the biggest delinquent in the school.”

“Huh? I thought only those who are good in studies and of excellent moral characters can be the Student Union President?” Suzuki Aichi remarked, “When I was in high school, a senior of that nature held the post of President of the Student Union.”

Without waiting for Aokiji to reply, Yasuda Aoi, who was standing next to him, smiled and said, “Aichi, yours was a special case. For the sake of the college entrance examination, the majority of high school students were devoted to learning, both mentally and physically. Along with the addition of club activities, they couldn’t serve in the student union.”

Aokiji rolled his eyes at Yasuda Aoi, who talked out of turn. He knew that Yasuda wanted to show off in front of Aichi and thus, decided not to say much.

Kazuki nodded quietly, seemingly deep in thought.

One could only do so much. Kazuki could study and hold the positions of the Head of Department of Sword Believers’ Club and the President of the Student Union at the same time.

He believed that no one in the school would reject him if he wished to be President.

In spite of that, he did not do so as it would be very tiring. There was a limit to what a man could do, it would be impossible for him to do that.

The person who was serving as the President of the Student Union in Sakura Kyu Academy was one of the members of the Sword Believers’ Club, Yanagawa Izumi.

This guy’s grades were awful, he did not have the inborn talent for studying. His study plan for the guy was basically useless, which was why Kazuki told him to be the President of the Student Union.

The college entrance examination in Japan was different from those of other countries.

The examination was divided into two sessions. The first session primarily consisted of written exam to examine the capability of mastering knowledge from textbooks. The second session would be either a college interview or a professional assessment, testing one’s ability, and also his skill in answering questions.

These two sessions of examination could help in further discovering the students’ potentials. They would then enroll the students based on their performance or overall results.

If Yanagawa Izumi fails his written exam, he might still get a chance to further his study, as he was the former President of the Student Union.

“Those female leads in anime, paragons of virtue, serving as the Student Union Presidents and the Head of Department in clubs, bantering flirtatiously with the male lead, are fictitious,” Sakai Reiko who was next to him mocked.

Aokiji could not help but smile. The horrifying atmosphere that he rendered just now dissipated after all the interruption.

Contrary to what one might expect, Shiori had been thinking. Unlike Kazuki, she was a real novelist. Even though the sales of her first published work was not very good, at least she had taken the first step to become a novelist.

The editor told her that there were two quick ways to gain popularity.

First, she could write a light novel that was guaranteed to be popular. As long as it was well-liked, manga, cartoon adaptation and popularity would come surging.

Secondly, she could write a non-mainstream light novel, gather some fans first, and make steadfast progress. There was no need to reach for what was beyond her grasp.

Which was why she chose the supernatural genre. And for the sake of writing, today she deliberately came to Akichi High School, a school that was discussed on all paranormal forums and infamous for its supernatural incidents.

“Mr. Nakagawa, how did you know about these?” Shiori realized that she was straightforward and smiled faintly.

“I apologize, I just wanted to know about the incident five years ago as it will help me in my writing.”

Aokiji laughed, “There really is nothing to hide. If you investigate thoroughly, you will find out something about the fire incident five years ago. Almost all the students in Class 4, the second grade were taken away. There was actually a sick student who had requested a leave of absence and was resting in the dormitory. He managed to escape death by sheer luck.”