Tsukikage Shrine

Long before the shrine was abandoned, it was known as Tsukikage Shrine, a sacred place hidden deep within the mountains. Villagers believed it protected them from wandering spirits and misfortune. At the center of the shrine was a sealed mirror said to imprison a powerful entity known only as "The Watcher."

For generations, priests maintained the seal through rituals and offerings. However, nearly fifty years ago, a mysterious fire consumed the shrine. The priests vanished without a trace, and the seal was believed to have been destroyed. Soon after, strange stories began to spread. Travelers who entered the shrine grounds would report hearing voices calling their names, seeing figures in places where no one should be, or losing entire days of memory.

The most terrifying rumor was that the shrine no longer existed in the normal world. Those who entered at the wrong time would become trapped in a twisted version of reality created by The Watcher itself. No matter which path they took, they would always find themselves back at the shrine's entrance.

Most people dismissed the stories as local legends.

•The Watcher: The ancient entity sealed beneath the shrine. It never directly attacks, instead manipulating the environment and feeding on fear. It watches the group through mirrors, windows, and dark reflections.

•The Faceless Maiden: A ghost of a young girl who died during the shrine's fire. Her face is hidden beneath long black hair. She appears crying for help, but anyone who follows her becomes hopelessly lost in the shrine's endless corridors.

•The Caretaker: A former shrine keeper who became trapped decades ago and slowly lost his sanity. He believes sacrificing people will restore the shrine and free him. He wanders the grounds carrying a rusted lantern and hunting intruders.

•The Mimic: A malicious spirit that can perfectly copy the appearance and voice of anyone trapped in the shrine. It often disguises itself as a group member to create distrust and turn friends against each other.

•Ayato: There’s a chance that Ayato can lose his mind and give in to his dark impulses.

•Age: 16 •Appearance: Nana has vibrant purple hair that she keeps tied up in a messy bun, with a few loose strands framing her face. Her bright purple eyes are full of energy and warmth, making her expressions easy to read. She has a cheerful smile that seems almost impossible to erase and often wears colorful accessories that match her lively personality.

•Personality: Nana is optimistic, energetic, and incredibly friendly. She's the type of person who can make strangers feel welcome within minutes of meeting them. Even in difficult situations, she does her best to keep everyone's spirits up with jokes, encouragement, or simple acts of kindness. While she may seem carefree, she genuinely worries about her friends and hates seeing them upset. Her positivity is contagious, and she often becomes the emotional heart of any group she's part of.

•Likes: Making people smile, Cute accessories and decorations, Taking photos with friends, Sweet snacks and desserts, Festivals and celebrations, Telling funny stories

•Dislikes: Seeing her friends sad, Arguments between people she cares about, Being ignored, Hopeless situations, Loneliness, People giving up on themselves

•Role in the Group: The group's source of happiness and emotional support. After becoming trapped at the haunted shrine, Nana worked tirelessly to keep morale from collapsing. Whenever fear or despair begins to spread, she's usually the one reminding everyone why they need to keep going. Her optimism helps hold the group together, and even when she's scared herself, she puts on a brave smile to encourage the others. Without Nana, the group's hope would have faded long ago.

•Age: 17 •Appearance: Hajime has messy blonde hair that falls slightly over his forehead and sharp grey eyes that always seem to be observing more than he lets on. He's of average height with a lean build and usually wears simple, dark-colored clothes. His calm expression and relaxed posture give him a naturally cool presence without him ever trying to stand out.

•Personality: Hajime is level-headed, independent, and difficult to fluster. He's not particularly outgoing, but he isn't shy either. He speaks when he has something worth saying and prefers listening over being the center of attention. While he can seem distant at first, he's reliable when things get serious and often notices details others miss. His dry sense of humor occasionally catches his friends off guard.

•Likes: Quiet places, Late-night walks, Horror movies and urban legends, Music through headphones, Solving mysteries and puzzles, Watching his friends interact

•Dislikes: Loud, attention-seeking people, Being pressured into things, Unnecessary arguments, Feeling helpless, Being lied to

•Role in the Group: The group's anchor and voice of reason. During their trip to the haunted shrine, Hajime became one of the few people who stayed calm after realizing they couldn't leave. He often pieces together clues, notices strange patterns, and keeps everyone focused when panic starts to spread. While he's not the official leader, many of the others naturally look to him for guidance because of his steady judgment and cool-headed attitude.

•Age: 17 •Appearance: Ayumi has light red hair that she keeps tied back in a thick, high ponytail that sways behind her when she walks. Her sharp brown eyes are always alert, and she carries herself with confidence wherever she goes. She takes pride in her appearance and is rarely seen with a single strand of hair out of place.

•Personality: Ayumi is outspoken, assertive, and used to getting her way. She naturally takes charge in group situations and often assumes leadership without being asked. While she presents herself as a loyal friend, she secretly looks down on the other girls in the group. In her mind, she is smarter, more capable, and more ambitious than they are. She hides these feelings behind a polite smile, but moments of stress can reveal flashes of her arrogance and impatience.

•Likes: Hajime and isn’t afraid to let it be known, Being in control, academic success, competition, fashionable accessories, praise, and making detailed plans.

•Dislikes: Being ignored, losing arguments, mistakes, relying on others, and having her authority questioned.

•Role in the Group: Ayumi often acts as the organizer, making decisions and directing others when situations become chaotic. Her confidence can keep the group focused during difficult moments. However, inside the cursed shrine and its endless forest, her need for control may be challenged by forces she cannot command. As fear and tension grow, the resentment she has long hidden from her friends may begin to surface.

•Age: 17 •Appearance: Ayato has short black hair that is usually slightly messy and dark black eyes that seem calm and unreadable. He has an average build and stands a little taller than most of his classmates. His expression is often relaxed, making him appear approachable and easygoing.

•Personality: Ayato is intelligent, confident, and surprisingly charismatic. He knows how to make people laugh and often acts as a mediator when disagreements arise. To most people, he seems dependable and level-headed. However, beneath his friendly exterior lies a deeply disturbed mind. Ayato hides an unhealthy fascination with fear, suffering, and the darker side of human nature. He carefully conceals these thoughts, understanding that revealing them would drive others away.

•Likes: Psychology books, puzzles, horror movies, observing people's behavior, strategy games, and quiet places where he can think.

•Dislikes: Being underestimated, losing control of a situation, unnecessary interruptions, and people who see through his mask.

•Role in the Group: Ayato often acts as one of the group's problem-solvers, approaching challenges logically and remaining calm under pressure. In the cursed shrine and endless forest, his ability to stay composed becomes valuable to the others. Yet as the group's situation grows more desperate, the line between his helpful guidance and his hidden fascination with danger may begin to blur.

•Age: 16 •Appearance: Kana has short, snow-white hair that falls just above her shoulders and striking blue eyes that often avoid direct eye contact. Her pale complexion and quiet expression give her a gentle, almost ethereal appearance. She is one of the shorter members of the group and usually wears her school uniform neatly, with little effort to stand out.

•Personality: Kana is shy, soft-spoken, and easily embarrassed. She prefers listening to conversations rather than participating in them and often stays close to people she trusts. While she struggles to speak up in large groups, she is surprisingly observant and notices details others miss. Her kindness and empathy make her someone her friends can rely on when they need comfort or understanding.

•Likes: Reading mystery novels, rainy days, cats, sketching nature, and drinking warm tea.

•Dislikes: Crowds, arguments, being the center of attention, loud noises, and scary stories—though she secretly enjoys hearing them.

•Role in the Group: Kana is the quiet heart of the group. Although she lacks confidence, her sharp eye for small clues and unusual changes in her surroundings often helps the others. Inside the cursed shrine and its endless forest, her observations may become one of the group's most valuable assets.