Rei Kigata, a skeptical first-year student at Ishido Middle School, dismisses paranormal phenomena until he begins receiving the midnight-delivered "Horror News." This mysterious newspaper predicts future events with chilling accuracy, starting with his teacher's fatal car accident, which Rei witnesses firsthand the next day. Compelled by this encounter, he continues reading despite dire consequences: each edition shortens his lifespan by 100 days.

The Horror News forecasts daily supernatural or catastrophic occurrences—ghost encounters, alien visitations, yeti sightings, and psychic disturbances—dragging Rei into investigations where he often witnesses or becomes entangled in the events. His explorations delve into UFO lore, astral projection, and cryptid theories, though the newspaper favors exposition over visceral horror.

Throughout the series, Rei remains static—consistently fearful and reactive to the predictions. His personal background, family, and life beyond the curse remain unexplored. His actions focus solely on verifying the newspaper’s forecasts and surviving their outcomes. The lifespan reduction, while a constant threat, never visibly affects his physical state or prompts deeper reflection on mortality. The curse persists unresolved, concluding without meaningful change to Rei’s circumstances.