Daniel's POV.
Then, the confirmation email popped up. My bank balance plummeted. I'd slaved away for fifteen days in that humid, loud factory, only to burn through my earnings in less than a minute. After the figures and the shipping, I was left with just enough for transportation and basic daily expenses. In short, I was broke again.
I sat quietly, the clicking of my mouse echoing in the silent room. A nagging feeling started creeping into the back of my mind. Was it right to blow all my money like that without budgeting? I didn't regret the purchase, but a small, rational voice suggested I could've paced myself, maybe bought them one at a time to have some cash for emergencies.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling fan spinning lazily. I was falling back into my old spending habits. But why did I do it?
I glanced around my room. My posters were slightly curled at the edges, and my shelves were packed. Half of them were of Rem. A slow smile crept onto my face. It was worth it.
I'm an otaku through and through—in thought, word, and deed. This is how I support my "love life." This is how I show my love for what I'm passionate about. Whenever I think about adding a new Rem collectible to my stash, my entire perspective shifts. It runs through my veins.
"My waifu is just too perfect," I said, reaching over to pick up my Rem stuffed toy and giving it a small, affectionate kiss.
In that fleeting second, the terrifying memory of that blue-haired woman's cold smile as she attacked me flashed in my mind—a grim reminder of the nightmare I'd had. I swallowed hard and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the image of the spiked iron ball out of my head. It didn't happen. It was just a weird dream. My beloved would never come to life just to try to end me.
"No, no, that can't be true. I need to forget that ever happened," I muttered to the empty room.
Rem is Rem, and as always, she's the only one I'll ever love. The only image I hold of her is that of a perfect maiden from a fantasy world.
Just then, Elisa's voice cut through the air, startling me. She had been watching from my bed the whole time. "You look like an idiot doing that. Aren't you scared of yourself, loving a 2D character from a show?"
I turned my chair slightly, feeling defensive. Is it crazy to love an anime character this much? Maybe. But what's wrong with it? What is love, anyway?
"Shut up, normie. You don't understand how I feel," I shot back, hugging the plush a bit tighter.
There's no clear definition of love—it's a choice your heart makes. What's the difference between my love for a 2D character and others' love for their partners? Just because I can't talk to her in person doesn't mean the feeling isn't real. It's like lovers separated by distance, never destined to meet again.
"I get that some people love each other despite being far apart, but you can't twist reality, Didi," Elisa said, swinging her legs off the bed. "Your case is different—they're real people, and you're just delusional."
She walked over to my desk, leaning against the edge. "Only an idiot would love someone they've never felt, spoken to, or seen in person even once. That's why people call you a weirdo," she added, her eyes tracking my reaction.
Her words stung, catching me off guard. It was the bluntness of it—reminding me that Rem isn't real. But I wasn't going down without a fight. "You can't call it stupid. Plenty of people love things they've never seen—like gods or historical figures. They stand by their feelings. That's how noble my love is, something a normie like you will never understand," I boasted, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
Instead of arguing, she just shook her head and smirked. "Tch, you're hopeless," she muttered, her voice low.
"Rem is life," I declared, turning back to my monitor and holding the plush close. "No matter what anyone says, we'll never be apart. We'll prove there's such a thing as forever."
They say if you love someone, you're willing to give everything. That's why I felt no regret spending my pay on my collection.
Just then, a loud, hollow growl erupted from my stomach. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, too caught up in the high of shopping. "Oh, right. I was supposed to treat Mom and the others to a meal out today, but…" I looked at my bank balance again. "Oh well, maybe next time. I didn't actually promise anything, so it's fine."
Elisa stood up and headed for the door. As she passed the bed, she carelessly tossed the manga she'd been reading behind her. It landed with a soft thump on the floor. "Your sister's probably awake by now. I'll leave you be, Didi," she said, her hand on the doorknob.
"Tch, thanks for messing up my stuff. Don't come back," I grumbled, already reaching down to rescue my book.
She left without a word, leaving my manga scattered and her half-eaten apple sitting on my desk. "No manners at all," I muttered. "Pity the guy who ends up with that witch. This is exactly why I can't stand 3D girls."
In anime, having a childhood friend is a dream—someone beautiful, kind, and dependable. But Elisa? She was the complete opposite. Crude, arrogant, judgmental, and worst of all, a normie who lived to mock me.
"She's so annoying. When will they move away?" I groaned, finally getting my room back to some semblance of order.
"Reality is so disappointing," I whispered, letting out a heavy sigh.
I sat back down and clicked on a high-res photo of Rem. She was smiling warmly, her eyes kind. A sense of peace finally washed over me, and the frustration from Elisa's visit started to melt away. I didn't need her opinion. She lives in a different world than I do.
All I know is that I'm happy with my life. The quiet, out-of-this-world love life of an otaku.
"I love you, Rem," I said, giving the plush one last squeeze.