I'd like to think that my characters have some common sense and wouldn't just go to a place that's absolutely haunted and full of obvious danger. But unfortunately, we don't get to learn any details about their reasoning in this manga and of course Shiori focuses on the creepy rumors somewhat...

More trees are shown...

Shiori: "Plenty of stories are surrounding that forest and most of them aren't pleasant."

...as well as the paw of an enormous beast digging its claws into the soil...

Shiori: "Talk about a huge, black beast roaming the area..."

...and a lost shoe and a broken flashlight on the ground...

Shiori: "...or people going missing and never being found again."
Taku: "Sounds like a really nice place for a trip."
Shiori: "Well, when the sutdents went there, only one minor incident had been reported in over ten years. They probably thought it would be okay."

Flyers of missing people are hung on a board near the forest. They are old, weathered and partially torn.