Chapter 0:
The crimson moon rise
Sakkaku World : Playmate To Death
POV — ???
I was heading toward my mistress’s throne room after completing the mission she had entrusted to me… regarding the moon.
The darkness filling the room bothered me a little, but I hadn’t come here to complain.I stopped in the center and bowed slightly.
“Mistress…”
A soft hum echoed through the hall.I blinked—And she was there.Sitting on her floating throne, as if she had always been present.
“Nebulous… you’re back already. Tell me, is the dye ready?” she asked in a light, almost amused tone.
“Yes, Mistress. The spell has been cast.”My answer came immediately. Without hesitation.
She seemed… almost satisfied.At that moment, outside—The moon… and the clouds slowly began to take on a scarlet hue.
Thin reddish rays slipped through the window, gently brushing the Mistress’s face without ever truly revealing it.
“Perfect…”
No emotion.No joy, no pride.Just a cold observation. The look of someone whose plans were unfolding exactly as intended.
—The only possible outcome for her.
“This time… let’s see how far they can go.”A faint smile curved her lips.“Let the game… begin.”
POV — Natsuki
Today is a bit of a special day.Well… more like a first.The science club is organizing its very first school event. And according to Mikami, our president—
Everything had to be perfect.I was heading up to the school rooftop to start the preparations when suddenly—An arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“You’re already setting up the telescopes for the event?”
I turned my head.Takano.My best friend since… kindergarten, I think.
The kind of guy who always tries to do the absolute minimum.
“Yeah. Gotta get everything ready before ‘Perfection’ shows up.”
“Oh yes…” he sighed theatrically.According to the news, a Red Moon was supposed to appear tonight at 9 PM. A golden opportunity to attract new members.
Even if, honestly… I didn’t really see the point.The club was already doing pretty well.When we reached the rooftop, it was still daytime.
The air was filled with familiar smells: freshly cut grass, cafeteria food… and that faint metallic scent from the old pipes.Takano set down a box full of decorations against the railing, grimacing.
“Do we really have to use this much red? It looks like a vampire club.”I slapped a planet-shaped sticker on his forehead.
“It’s in the instructions. Mandatory atmosphere.”He rolled his eyes but got to work anyway.As always.
He complained… but he was there.The other members arrived little by little, loaded with equipment. The atmosphere quickly became lively.
And before we knew it—The day was already coming to an end.Thanks to everyone’s efforts, everything was ready on time.
Mikami inspected the place carefully, then nodded.
“Everything is perfect. We can welcome the students and teachers,” she said, clapping her hands.
I let out a sigh and leaned against the wall, pulling out my phone.7 PM.
Still two hours before the event.I looked up at the sky—And froze.A red glow… was already shining on the moon.
(…That’s weird. It’s way too early for that.)
I signaled to Takano.“You seeing what I’m seeing?”He squinted.
“Hmm… no… wait… yeah. That red glow?”I nodded.It was spreading.Slowly.Turning the moon into a reddish mass… almost bloody.
Mikami seemed to notice us and walked over, arms crossed.“What are you two doing away from the group, and what’s with those faces?”
We both pointed at the moon without saying a word.She looked up—And her expression changed instantly.
“Huh… already?! It’s way too early… and it shouldn’t be this red…”Her voice trembled slightly.
Around us, other students started looking out of curiosity.
Then—A laugh burst out.Nervous.Forced.“Ah… ahaha… I can’t stop…”A student clutched his stomach, tears in his eyes.
Then he collapsed.
“Stop looking at the moon!” a teacher shouted.
Too late.Another student fell.Then another.
Some were laughing.A broken, uncontrollable laugh.Others were muttering…And some weren’t moving at all.They just stared at the moon.
“There has to be a logical explanation for all this, right?!” I said, hoping someone would tell me it was just a joke.
Mikami showed me her phone. It was streaming the evening news live.The presenters… were unconscious too.
“We’re not the only ones…”Takano frowned.“But… how are they affected without looking at the moon?”
A club member turned pale, as if she had figured it out.“The atmosphere… it’s being affected too. Look at the clouds…”They were turning red.
As if the sky itself was bleeding.“…huh?”A student murmured:“There’s… something on the moon…”At first—
Nothing clear.Just a shadow.Then a shape.And slowly…A face appeared.
Dark.A distorted smile.White hair waving in the void.It was unreal.Impossible.And yet—Everyone could see it.Unease turned into fear.Fear turned into panic.
“What is that?!”“Is this a prank?!”My heart raced.Takano was shouting something—But I couldn’t hear anything anymore.The world became blurry.Then dark.
Then everything went black.I only felt the cold of the floor.(There has to be… a logical explanation…)…right?
I was heading toward my mistress’s throne room after completing the mission she had entrusted to me… regarding the moon.
The darkness filling the room bothered me a little, but I hadn’t come here to complain.I stopped in the center and bowed slightly.
“Mistress…”
A soft hum echoed through the hall.I blinked—And she was there.Sitting on her floating throne, as if she had always been present.
“Nebulous… you’re back already. Tell me, is the dye ready?” she asked in a light, almost amused tone.
“Yes, Mistress. The spell has been cast.”My answer came immediately. Without hesitation.
She seemed… almost satisfied.At that moment, outside—The moon… and the clouds slowly began to take on a scarlet hue.
Thin reddish rays slipped through the window, gently brushing the Mistress’s face without ever truly revealing it.
“Perfect…”
No emotion.No joy, no pride.Just a cold observation. The look of someone whose plans were unfolding exactly as intended.
—The only possible outcome for her.
“This time… let’s see how far they can go.”A faint smile curved her lips.“Let the game… begin.”
POV — Natsuki
Today is a bit of a special day.Well… more like a first.The science club is organizing its very first school event. And according to Mikami, our president—
Everything had to be perfect.I was heading up to the school rooftop to start the preparations when suddenly—An arm wrapped around my shoulders.
“You’re already setting up the telescopes for the event?”
I turned my head.Takano.My best friend since… kindergarten, I think.
The kind of guy who always tries to do the absolute minimum.
“Yeah. Gotta get everything ready before ‘Perfection’ shows up.”
“Oh yes…” he sighed theatrically.According to the news, a Red Moon was supposed to appear tonight at 9 PM. A golden opportunity to attract new members.
Even if, honestly… I didn’t really see the point.The club was already doing pretty well.When we reached the rooftop, it was still daytime.
The air was filled with familiar smells: freshly cut grass, cafeteria food… and that faint metallic scent from the old pipes.Takano set down a box full of decorations against the railing, grimacing.
“Do we really have to use this much red? It looks like a vampire club.”I slapped a planet-shaped sticker on his forehead.
“It’s in the instructions. Mandatory atmosphere.”He rolled his eyes but got to work anyway.As always.
He complained… but he was there.The other members arrived little by little, loaded with equipment. The atmosphere quickly became lively.
And before we knew it—The day was already coming to an end.Thanks to everyone’s efforts, everything was ready on time.
Mikami inspected the place carefully, then nodded.
“Everything is perfect. We can welcome the students and teachers,” she said, clapping her hands.
I let out a sigh and leaned against the wall, pulling out my phone.7 PM.
Still two hours before the event.I looked up at the sky—And froze.A red glow… was already shining on the moon.
(…That’s weird. It’s way too early for that.)
I signaled to Takano.“You seeing what I’m seeing?”He squinted.
“Hmm… no… wait… yeah. That red glow?”I nodded.It was spreading.Slowly.Turning the moon into a reddish mass… almost bloody.
Mikami seemed to notice us and walked over, arms crossed.“What are you two doing away from the group, and what’s with those faces?”
We both pointed at the moon without saying a word.She looked up—And her expression changed instantly.
“Huh… already?! It’s way too early… and it shouldn’t be this red…”Her voice trembled slightly.
Around us, other students started looking out of curiosity.
Then—A laugh burst out.Nervous.Forced.“Ah… ahaha… I can’t stop…”A student clutched his stomach, tears in his eyes.
Then he collapsed.
“Stop looking at the moon!” a teacher shouted.
Too late.Another student fell.Then another.
Some were laughing.A broken, uncontrollable laugh.Others were muttering…And some weren’t moving at all.They just stared at the moon.
“There has to be a logical explanation for all this, right?!” I said, hoping someone would tell me it was just a joke.
Mikami showed me her phone. It was streaming the evening news live.The presenters… were unconscious too.
“We’re not the only ones…”Takano frowned.“But… how are they affected without looking at the moon?”
A club member turned pale, as if she had figured it out.“The atmosphere… it’s being affected too. Look at the clouds…”They were turning red.
As if the sky itself was bleeding.“…huh?”A student murmured:“There’s… something on the moon…”At first—
Nothing clear.Just a shadow.Then a shape.And slowly…A face appeared.
Dark.A distorted smile.White hair waving in the void.It was unreal.Impossible.And yet—Everyone could see it.Unease turned into fear.Fear turned into panic.
“What is that?!”“Is this a prank?!”My heart raced.Takano was shouting something—But I couldn’t hear anything anymore.The world became blurry.Then dark.
Then everything went black.I only felt the cold of the floor.(There has to be… a logical explanation…)…right?
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