Author's note: As the summary says, the protagonist is the reader (Y/n=your name). This fiction contain contents from all the hnkna games released by Quinrose. So, be aware of spoilers or read at your own risk! Also since this story is narrated from the point of view of those who played the game, there be a lot of game mechanics references. And lastly, english is not my fluent language so, I apologies in advanced if you notice any grammar errors.

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Chapter 1. Meeting the clockmaker.

Cold.

The feel of something cold and hard under my hand awoke me from my slumber. As I open my eyes and got up while my eyes, just freed from the darkness, adapted to my dark and cold surrounding, I realized that I was in the floor.

It's night and the soft wind slightly blows my hair. I'm in a place I never been yet, it's somehow feels familiar. I approach one of the windows and what I saw was the bright lights from the houses from far below, shining like a starry sky. I realized that I'm in some sort of, a tall castle or tower.

"Wait, tower...?"

That's when an extremely close and loud sounds of bells covered my ears.

The sounds continues for about 10 minutes...

"Just stop already! This is unbearable!".

When the sounds of bells stopped, I was yanked by my shoulder from behind. A strong hand that could only belong to a man, gripped my shoulders.

Two sapphires eyes, perfect nose, handsome lips, and long navy blue hair framed his face. I remain in awe at this man before me.

I never seen a guy so perfect like a model in real life... This man must have entered the room while the bells hid his footsteps and I was occupied covering my ears.

"Why are you here?!?! How did you arrive here!? Who are you?! Answer me!".

He said with a low, strong and imposing voice as he shake my shoulders at every question, which caused me to snap from my enchanted state.

"Let go! I should be asking that! Who are you?! Listen I don't--".

As I got his hand off me and looked at his appearances (avoiding looking at his face), I paused in shock as only one word come to me:

"Julius."

...That long black coat and clocks EVERYWHERE! This is definetely Julius Monrey, the shut-in, workaholic tsudere from my favorite game! Only Julius wore so many uneccessary clocks...

I didn't recognize him because his face was so close, and his face wasn't in 2D but in 3D. So real, I couldn't possibly relate him to a fictional character.

I feel my face heating up at the realization while inside I can hear myself screaming: OH MY GODDDD!

I quickly averted my eyes from him, he's not my favorite guy in the game but he's still handsome in person !!!

As I tried to reorganize my thoughts and controll my fangirling, I analyzed the situation I'm in. I'm at Clocktower, Julius's stronghold and I found myself here out of the blue...

...OMG, what did I drink last night?!??

More importantly this is a dream, right?!?? It's gotta be a dream. After all Hnkna is a fiction! There's no way I'm inside the game. Should I pinch my cheeks to confirm it?!

"Ouch!". As I did so, I felt a sharp pain on my left cheek. Okay, this is not a dream and if it is, it's really realistic.

As I panicked while gripping my skirt, I realized I'm wearing a dress!!! Not any dress, Alice's Liddel, the heroine's clothes!

Did I just got kidnapped and then people cosplayed me as her and brought me here with another dude cosplaying??

I checked my hair... Nah, it can't be cosplay. My hair color is still the same and I have no blonde wig on.

Then why? I looked around again, the stoned walls looks real and that style of of arcs doesn't exist in any of the famous buildings I studied from Art's history textbook.

Is this... actually... REAL?

I heavily inhale at the sudden realization while bringing both my hands infront of my mouth as my eyes widen.

Images and scenes from my experience with the game and manga fluid in my mind. Guns, Axes, Hot guys, Stalker, Creepy and dangerous Jester, a Bug reading my thoughts as he please, a directionaly challenge Crazy guy and most importantly... BAD ENDS.

...my mind was pretty much filled with both excitement and fear.. Actually mostly fear.

skin slapped against skin sounds echoed in the empty dark room. My face forcefully moved to the other side by a force on my right cheek.

Julius slapped me.

It didn't hurt though, he didn't put any pressure... If he slapped me seriousely I've be in the floor now.

"Oi, woman! You there?! Listen to me. Ah, good you're back. I've been calling you countless times... ". He said as he looked at me angrily with disbelieving eyes.

Oh, I spaced out... Thank you Julius for bringing me to my senses!

"You been looking around and making weird faces. What's wrong with you... Ughh, nevermind. How do you know my name? You're not a roleholder and you obviousely not a faceless. Wait...!It can't be... You're an OUTSIDER!?".

I sure am... I shouldn't even be in this story AT ALL! At his words, I could only stare at him. Because I couldn't possibly say aloud "I AM" and EXPLAIN I know him and this world(Hnkna) because he was a guy from a dating/romance game... If I did that, he would tag me as the weird delusional girl. Plus, there's a risk he shot me down for having impure thoughts of him... To ensure my safety, I just decided to stick to the original Alice response.

"I don't know what you mean... But please help me go home!!". I beg him with pleading eyes.

Being brought to your favorite game is surely a blessing but, I have an exam next week and I studied for an entire month for that. If, I stay here and go with the flow I'll surely end up forgeting everything... And even if I return for the test as I recall Hnkna is frozen time. It's like dream. When you woke up everything in the other side is unchanged. So, for the sake of my memory condition, I have to return right now. Missing the exam is not an option as well, since I need to get a high score or else, farewell scholarship~

Julius, heavily sighed, looking exasperated. He looked at me as if I'm a nuisance... Well, I can't blame him, Im stealing his precious time from his work.

"I think you still have time to return... And the sooner you return, the better it is for both of us." he coldly said.

My eyes instantly become joyous as a smile form in my petite face. I reach to shake his hand in mines to thank him and show my gratitude but, suddenly realization hit me.

I looked at the ground searching for a small crucial item that the otome heroine should have. The item is nowhere in sight so, I checked my pocket; when my fingers touched something smooth, cold and hard, my heart pounded a little. After all, it's the first time I finally see this item in real life. (kinda like the feeling you have when you see your favorite cosplay accessory)

In my hand, there's a light transparent blue vial with a heart form glass plug. I stared at the vial in awe, it didn't weight a lot but it was clearly fine glass. But, that's not what surprised me. Or rather, what shocked me was...

... that it was EMPTY .

Crap. I mentally cursed in my head. I knew what's the vial real purpose but I currently don't know how to deal with it 'cause I myself don't know what I should have. (sorry for being vague here... I don't want to SPOIL anything from the games that haven't been translated yet).

Ughh. What's the point of knowing this flag when what I have to avoid, is already triggerd?!

I stared at the vial, as all the happiness I felt just a second ago, slowly fade and was replaced by sadness and hurt. I was relieved though, that even Julius was upset or rather irritated at the sight of the empty vial in my hand.

I helplessly look at Julius and asked with a discouraged voice: "What now, Julius? I think I drank what's inside this..."

"It can't be helped. It's too late now. Wait, now that I think about, you never told me, how you know my name. Well, I demand an explanation. Now that were at it, tell me your name."

He said as he crossed his long arms and looked at me from above(he's tall), waiting for an answer. And here, I thought I could avoid lying any further and go home... Oh, well. Better continue to use Alice's responses.

"Peter White. He told you're name when I asked him about this tower. Peter, the white rabbit with red eyes was also the one who brought me here, and made me drank from vial".

So, far this was the only excuse I could come up with. I could have sticked more at Alice's version of the story but saying that Peter abducted me because he's a stalker sounded wrong because I wasn't the Alice of this story. Plus, I don't want to anger that guy by stealing his Alice identity.

"Oh, and I'm Y/n."

I extended my right hand to him but it remained unshaken, as Julius was now lost in his thoughts as he murmurs:

"Peter White, huh... Damn, that rabbit just does what he pleased! But this time to actually break a rule..."

"Emm, Julius? You there?"

To think he scolded me earlier and even slapped me for facing out! Should I slap him for revenge? It's only fair~

I shyly move my hand to his face but when only two or three inches separated us, his attention returned to me. As an natural instinct, I quickly retreated my hand behind my back in response, while trying to keep my expression to neutral and calm and suppressing a giggle.

We stared at each other for a few second. With him staring at me like and adult scolding a child with just a stare. In the end, Julius was the one to first break from the stare, he was calmer now, and if he was still irritated then he was hiding it well.

"From what I can understand Peter didn't fully told you how to leave, correct?" he said with a more calmer tone.

"Yes. Peter told almost nothing about how I can go home. With no one to count on, I asked for your help. After seeing how fast you realize I'm not from here, I thought you could explain me."

Julius sighed again, "I guess I have no choice but, help you... You're not in your world anymore. You're in the country of Hearts and your stay in this world solely depends on you. But to do so, you have to know about this world and its people. Do you understand?"

"Okay, I get it." I calmly said.

He stared at me again in silence before adding:

"You're particularly calm giving you're current situations. Normally people would panic..."

Oh, he's right! I'm too calm for this! Well, it can't be helped it, I already had my moment of panic a while ago.

"I'm just... good at adapting."

Julius gave a suspicious glance that I could only avoid by looking at my hands, as I tried to look a little nervous.

"Hmm... I understand. Anyway, you can't stay here. You want to go home?Go out and explore this country, met its people! So, please get out of my tower, your presence distract me from my work."

He signed again and he give a signal to follow him. After a long stair we finally arrrive at the first floor and at the entrance. Julius give me a last glance before opening the the tower's door.

Gee-, he's exactly like from the game he actually really kicked me out... Once I stepped outside I was reminded that it was still Night!

"Emmm, Julius. I can't walk around alone when it's night... No offense, but I hardly know this place and I don't know anyone. Are you deliberately sending a girl off alone in the middle of the night?!" I asked Julius with a bit of incredulity in my tone.

"Oh, right..." He quickly answered.

Julius took a spanner/wrench from his pocket. When he hold it, it radiated a soft light before turning into a gun. I know I've seen this scene as a CG but seeing it in real life was really... Magical.

He pointed his gun up in the air and he shot. I covered my ears at the sudden gunfire sounds but, my eyes were staring at the sky. With this my amazement of this dream or reality reached new highs.

The dark starry night changed into day with clear ciel sky with randow skattered soft clouds, then it turned into evening with the crimson sunrise coloring the houses and the sky with warm colors. Then it turned night again and finally at noon the time change stopped.

It was an amazing scene, to which I could only watch speechlessly at its magic effect.

"Okay, with this you have another timeperiod before its night again. So, take advantage of the daylight to wonder around". Julius said as his gun turned to its initial form which he soon returned to his pocket.

With my attention back to Julius I eagerly expressed my amazement:

"That was AMAZING! I think no natural fenomenon in my original world could rival that!!! Magic in this world is awesome~ Julius, if I stayed here will I also be able to do that and get my personal magical gun?! Please, say yes! ~"

At little annoyed at my eagerness and my sudden approach closer to him, Julius could only look at me in distress as he tried to put some distance between us.

"Hey hey, you're too close. Back off a little." he grumpily retorted back.

"I don't think so... I mean you could use the hourglasses but... Ughhh, why am I even explaining this! Listen you want to return home, right? Wonder around and gather information. I already lost so much time..."

Julius said as he put both his hands on my shoulders and forcefully turned me in front of the street.

"Oh, okay..." I said with disappointed tone as I took a step forward. I'm annoyed that he didn't answered me clearly but I was more disappointed and sad that his tone didn't cover his annoyance because of my presence. Julius used to be my favorite when I read the manga of this game world so, I still hold a soft affection for him.

Being treated so coldly by my previous my favorite guy is really heartbreaking.

I then, keep walking forward following the bricked street. Since his coldness and distance still sadden me, I walked with eyes looking down untill from behind I heard Julius masculine voice. It was almost a whisper but I heard him.

"...Be carefull."

I looked at Julius one last time before he shutted the door behind him. His face was covered by his dark blue bangs so I couldn't see his expression. But, just the hearing him said those two words quickly brighten my mood.

I couldn't help but smile...

Julius was still a caring man even if I'm not his Alice.

I looked ahead of me and observed at the colorful and vibrant houses and buildings.

"I wonder what I should do now..."

I said aloud, I remember that soon after the heroine left the tower, she visited the other domains: Hatter mansion, Heart castle and the Amusement park. I'd like to visit my 2D guys but my top priority is to go home first. If I recall correctly Alice goes home at the 210th turn. So, basically I just have to constantly change time periods and chat with the main characters untill the game automatically reach the End Game...

Sounds like plan! I better grab some hourglasses which I can use to change the time!!!

With that in mind, headed to the nearest forest! Because from my gameplay I remember that Alice found hourglasses there.

Meanwhile, back at the clock tower, Julius is at his desk fixing a broken clocks. The sounds of the numerous clocks in the room filled his surrounding.

"...that girl... Why does she has the same clothes as Alice ? ".

End of chapter 1.

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Author's note again~

First of all, I thank you for reading this chapter untill the end. You may be asking why I chose the reader as a protagonist, rather than Alice or an OC?

Well, I personally adore Alice from Hnkna so, I wouldn't dare to substitute her with anyone (like my oc or something...). I actually wanted to use Alice at first, but I changed my mind. I wanted to make a mystery fanfiction where as you continue to read you get closer to the truth.

And what other way I could do it, other than starting the fanfiction in the future timeline!! Plus I almost took 100% inspiration and references a suspense manga "Are you Alice?". Be aware though that this story is different.

As for the protagonist/You/reader, she doesn't take Alice Liddel's place at all. She's like, and at the same time not, an OC. As a regular fanfiction reader, I don't appreciate Original characters because I feel like there's a stranger or impostor in my favorite story. Though, I don't hate them so I'll occasionally add OCs later but, only with minor roles.

So, instead of a OC protagonist. I decided to make the Reader(Y/n) the protagonist. Obviousely I will try to not see myself in the heroine, instead I try to guess what a Hnkna veteran player would do if she end up inside the game.

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Please comment!! I truly want to know what you guys feel after reading this! I myself am anxious with questions! Like are thrilled?! Is this story worth a try?! :3