Please let me read some mysterious short-shorts!!

I love ghost stories and tales with mysterious endings, and although I wanted to do a project like that last year, summer passed without it coming to fruition.
Just as I was thinking, 'This year for sure!', I received a request to 'do a short-short!' from Kitako-san, who participates in the monthly BL novel writing project I host.

The stories Kitako-san creates are interesting because they are a bit tricky, or the endings are twisted like a rakugo performance, pleasantly betraying expectations.
Sometimes an irrepressible perverted side comes out, but as a member of the Perverted Ladies Club, I am proud of that too.

Personally, for scary stories or stories with mysterious endings, I like ones written in a simple style like the revolutionary true ghost story collection 'Shin Mimibukuro,' ending in a way that leaves you wanting more, like, 'Wait, what was that?!'
So, I immediately adopted Kitako-san's proposal because it felt just right.

With that said, this time, titled 'Mysterious Short-Shorts', I am calling for submissions of stories ranging from genuinely scary ghost stories to tales with 'What was that?' mysterious endings, all within 3000 characters!

To those who usually participate in the BL project:
This time, 'synopses,' 'genres,' and 'afterword articles' are unnecessary.
Please post only the work itself.
Although I haven't made it the title this time, please feel free to write in BL if you'd like!

*① What is 'Mysterious' (Fushigi)?
Something strange and bizarre. Something mysterious that cannot be understood by common sense. Also, that state.
Something that cannot be expressed in words or fathomed by the heart.
Refers to the wisdom or divine power of Buddha. A wonder.

Please post a novel or personal experience within 3000 characters about things or events in the world that cannot be explained by words or experience.

・Genuinely scary ghost stories - scary stories: A wide range of horror to folklore, from true ghost stories, fictional ghost stories, yokai, spirits, to local customs—stories that give you goosebumps.

・Human-horror stories: This person is somehow strange. Strange stories derived from twisted human relationships; stories that interpret that, in the end, living humans are the least trustworthy.

・Mysterious stories where you wonder, 'What does this ending mean?': SF, fantasy, etc., endings that make you wonder, 'Why did it end up like this?' Stories that confuse you with tricky endings or settings rather than horror.

・Strange creature stories: Non-human, monsters, UFOs, aliens, urban legends, insect stories.

・Ghost stories that are surprising but heartwarming: Stories with a heartwarming or slightly funny ending.
Funny episodes like clumsy ghosts or strange ways of dealing with them.

*If you use phobias as a subject (neurological disorders where one feels excessive fear toward specific situations or objects, such as heights, enclosed spaces, clusters, clowns, etc.), please be sure to include a warning tag.

*If you use war or disasters as a subject, please also attach a warning tag. However, I believe that true stories you have experienced yourself and want to tell for the future, or experiences heard from grandparents or survivors, are things to be cherished and passed down.
Please do not forget to be considerate of bereaved families and relatives, and by all means, please share them with us.

Please let me read stories that leave me feeling scared or thinking, 'That's strange!'

*② Please summarize it into a story that can be completely finished in just one chapter. I want to read your carefully selected one story.
It is okay to use characters or settings from your own novels when you need characters for a completely original work, but please refrain from writing just a continuation of your own novel or an excerpt from a specific scene.
Please also refrain from writing citations from your own novels or explanations of characters.

As someone who writes novels myself, I understand the attachment to one's own work; they are as precious as family or friends, aren't they?
However, this time I want to make it a project where we simply enjoy the fear, the mystery, and the 'What is going on?!' and focus on reading the story that you create, experienced, or heard.

If you would like to challenge yourself with the above project, please declare your participation in the comments section of this article by saying, 'I'll do it!'
Feel free to leave questions or other casual comments as well!

A challenge from an anonymous person! Sudden, quick 'Let's become Dazai' project (This has already ended!!)

Since I started placing an anonymous question box, I've been receiving requests, and I am very grateful.
The requests are quite demanding, but my feeling is like the movie I love, 'The A-Team!' Bring it on! But since we are writing BL, maybe we are the B-Team. Well, setting that aside.

This time, I received this project proposal!

This is basically a comedy contest.
But it's super interesting!
Among the literary masters one admires when writing, Osamu Dazai is one with a very strong personality.
There are a certain number of people in the world who find it easier to live by keeping themselves in unhappiness, and I think Dazai is synonymous with that.
Dazai's works empathize with the unhappiness, misery, and despair that everyone experiences, gently寄り添う (nestling up to) that pain.
I like 'Tokatonton'; I really understand that feeling.

Now, I would like to carry out this idea as a surprise, one-off insert project for brain training and self-discovery.

Considering everyone's work and family circumstances, I will let you know the date first.
On the morning of the event, your editor-in-charge, Nami-san, will post a 'novel prompt' on a note article for immediate submission, so please write your impromptu novel within 30 minutes at your own timing! There is no limit to the number of characters!

I think anyone can find 30 minutes in a day.
If you have interruptions like changing trains, invitations from little friends, phone calls from big friends, your husband coming home, an Amazon delivery battle, a cat's whim, a dog's howling, or an ill-timed stomach ache, it is okay to stop the clock and resume after you are done.
I want as many people as possible to enjoy it, so the 30 minutes of creative time will be equal for everyone.
Please be sure to keep to the time.

Let's jump on the anonymous person's 'all-okay, total affirmation of mannerisms, writing habits, and the rush of the pen when you're on a roll'!
I think this idea is wonderful.
Knowing what you value and what you are bad at will surely provide good insights for your future creative work.
Once again, thank you for the interesting proposal.

And so.

For now, since it's the first time and I don't know the procedure, at 8:00 AM on Thursday, July 9th, your editor-in-charge, Nami-san, will post an article titled 'Sudden, Quick 'Let's become Dazai' Project Held' on note.
Please write a novel based on that 'prompt' in 30 minutes, and post it within that day (by 23:59) by citing the 'Sudden, Quick 'Let's become Dazai' Project Held' article.

⚠️This project has ended!
It was a sudden project, but thank you for your many participations!!

An anthology of the previous 'Challenge from the Unsettling Lady, Kashiko-jo' project!

A collection of short stories that drift in a safe worldview, with a spoonful of unsettling atmosphere.

#noteBL is a BL novel project that gives shape to various prompts, themes, and sometimes the selfish desires of those who want to read or write something specific.
Whether you are tired of the classics, want to read the classics but also want to try something different, or are a beginner to BL, we are looking for various requests and supportive comments for the writers who take on the challenge so that everyone can enjoy it.

Please also make use of the anonymous question box; we will share the opinions, impressions, and enthusiasm we receive in our articles and on X.
If the content is complicated, please feel free to use the DM function.
The question box is set up so that even those without a note account can use it.
There is no need to be reserved, so please let us hear from you.