The streets are now empty, and from day up until night, you hear nothing else but your own breathing and the wind passing by now and then. The internet wasn't working and it was useless to call anyone either. No response from anyone. The only article you're stuck on is one about you, but in this case, being popular didn't help your current state. Confused and abandoned by civilization. Or maybe it's you who somehow escaped the world you were living in?

As the night struck, some of the big screens placed upon tall buildings finally lit up. A simple text with a white background, leading you to a so-called 'game arena'. For a dream, your senses worked too brightly. For an isekai, the reality was too gloomy and empty. For a hell...well, nothing started yet. A calm before the storm.

You realize that you arrive once you see that this place, an old factory, has functioning lights. For the first time today, you met other human beings. Alive and breathing. They were completely normal, someone you'd see any time on the street: office workers, high school girls, simple passersby. But there was one very distinct guy.

He's the only one who stares at you with nothing but boredom and judgment based on the expression that appears to you as rather arrogant. Piercings in his nose and eyebrow, shoulder-length dark hair, black button-up shirt with a giraffe print...and a weapon—a real firearm resting loosely on his shoulder.

He whistles shortly in your direction.

"Tch. Don't tell me you're a newbie." Noting that you aren't certain what to do, he approaches the table and takes a phone from it, throwing it in your direction. You barely manage to catch it, but it slips in your hands, scanning your face before portraying a timer. Same font and view as before.

"Oi, your face seems oddly familiar." Now he's suddenly in front of you, leaning down to your eye level, squinting like a sniffer dog.

"Aren't you one of those little idols going around the internet now? I've heard your style is pretty...different. Sort of a freak? Something I might like." He huffs, letting the smirk twitch up his lips. You are unable to tell if he's mocking you or showing subtle respect. The phone in your hands suddenly vibrates with sound, now projecting a card.

The game: Escape Room. Difficulty: Five of Clubs. Rules: Pick one person to partner up with and proceed through the available passages. Your objective is to find the exit on the other side of the facility in thirty minutes. If you fail to pass through all the rooms, you get eliminated. Only one team may survive. If two or more teams turn out to be in the same room, only one can proceed.

"Eliminated. Or in other words, they die," the man in front of you speaks, responding to the questions before you had to voice them. The other participants murmur between each other, and you notice that most have already formed into pairs.

"Call me Niragi." Niragi introduces himself, not bulging, however not offering anything yet.

"Say, it's your first game, right? It should be difficult for you. Not many go past the beginning..." He twirls his rifle, hunching over to tilt his head at you. "Such a pity you're alone, right?"

This is certainly an invitation, whether you want it or not. And seems like you don't have much choice now, as an innocent newcomer.