**CHAPTER 4: "The Love Life of an Otaku"**
**Daniel's POV**
I settled in front of my PC and started browsing the internet, ready to indulge. My plan was to buy new games or, better yet, those Figma collectible figures I'd always wanted but couldn't afford before—thanks to my stingy mom who refused to support my hobbies. These are detailed figures of anime characters, available on online shops, but they come with a hefty price tag, ranging from two thousand to six thousand pesos or more for a single small figure.
To some, spending that much on a tiny "toy" seems absurd—enough to cover a month's worth of water, electricity, and internet bills. To them, it's a waste of money. But to me, it's different.
For reasons I couldn't quite grasp, Elisa took an interest and leaned in to criticize my choices, acting like my mom with her judgmental remarks. "Wait, don't tell me you're buying those toys again? You already have so many!" she said, peering over my shoulder at the monitor.
"Can you back off? These aren't toys—they're collectible figures," I snapped, pushing her face away. But instead of leaving, she leaned closer, reading the screen, and gasped when she saw the prices of the items I was eyeing.
As expected from someone like her, she immediately objected to my purchases. It's always the same—when people find out you're spending big on something like this, they label you as extravagant or wasteful. That's exactly what Elisa was doing to me now.
"You're throwing money away on those things. If you spent it on food instead, at least you'd be full," she scolded, her eyes filled with disappointment and pity, as if she were the one who slaved away to earn the money I was about to spend.
I wasn't about to let her win. I shot back, defending myself. Who cares about her opinion? She wasn't the one spending, and she definitely wasn't the one enduring the factory's grueling work to earn that money for my collection.
I gave her a piece of my mind, though I kept it sharp and curt. She didn't seem fazed, probably used to my grumpiness by now, expecting my retorts. "You know, Didi, no matter how I look at it, spending on those toys is just a waste. You can't even use them," she said, shaking her head.
This girl was infuriating. If I could, I'd kick her out of my room. I held back from snapping harder, but she was pushing me to my limit. What's the difference between my buying a Rem figure and her splurging on clothes or accessories just to look good? Is it because I don't "use" my figures every day? People buy plenty of things they don't use daily—wedding rings, vases, picture frames—all just for show.
"Hmm, I don't know, but I think spending on those things is way more worth it than on toys," she replied smugly.
Wait, is she saying her luxuries matter more? They're all just material things, no different from what I'm doing. Yet society gives her purchases higher value, while belittling otakus like me for collecting figures.
"If you think your luxuries are important to you, it's the same for me with my anime collection," I argued. Everything is just material—it only holds value based on who's looking at it. I explained that I could see gold as just another alloy or a diamond as a mere crystal in broken glass. If "worth" is about an item's utility, then people spending fortunes on precious stones and metals are the real fools.
"You think so weirdly, Didi. It's simple—gold is gold, and plastic is plastic. How can you say your toys are more valuable than gold?" Elisa said, biting into her apple with a skeptical look.
"Why? Because no matter how expensive those things are, they mean nothing to me if I base it on my needs and their importance to me," I countered.
Instead of being impressed by my reasoning, she just stared at me, unimpressed, shaking her head with a grimace that felt downright insulting. She let out an exasperated sigh, as if my words were nonsense, before walking back to my bed to continue reading my manga.
Her reaction pissed me off, but I decided not to engage further. She was already ruining my otaku joy, and I needed to focus on my day off. I needed some good vibes.
*"Otaku mode on!"* I thought to myself.
I dove back into browsing, resuming my shopping on the online store. Naturally, I searched for Rem right away. "Finally! I'm getting a new piece for my waifu collection!" I exclaimed, practically drooling over the lineup of Rem figures.
"Hold on, which one should I get first? The latest one or the one I've been wanting for ages? They're both amazing. What else would you expect from Rem? She's naturally gorgeous in any form," I muttered, salivating as I scrutinized every detail of her figures' designs.
For an otaku like me, when you have the money and the chance to grab a collectible, you don't let it slip away. I didn't hesitate—I bought both Rem figures. "Bwahaha! You're mine now!" I cheered, paying with my card.
Yes, you guessed it—my money vanished in a few clicks. I'd slaved away for fifteen days, only to burn through my earnings in less than a minute. I was left with nothing but my budget for transportation and daily expenses. In short, I was broke again.
I sat quietly, staring at the computer screen, a nagging feeling creeping into my mind. Was it right to blow all my money like that without budgeting? I didn't regret buying the figures, but I could've paced myself, buying them one at a time to have some cash left for emergencies.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on my current life. It felt like I was falling back into my old spending habits. I hadn't controlled myself this time either. But why did I do it?
I glanced around my room, taking in my anime posters and collection. Half of them were of Rem. A smile crept onto my face. It was worth it for my waifu.
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.
I know the difference between right and wrong, but whenever I think about adding a new Rem collectible to my stash, my perspective on life shifts. Being an otaku runs through my veins, pulsing in my heart and guiding my mind.
"My waifu is just too perfect," I said, kissing my Rem stuffed toy.
In that moment, the terrifying memory of Rem's cold smile as she attacked me flashed in my mind, a grim reminder to fear the girl who tried to kill me. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, trying to erase that bitter experience. It didn't happen. No, I don't remember my beloved ever coming to life only to try to end me.
"No, no, that can't be true. I need to forget that ever happened," I muttered.
Rem is Rem, and as always, she's the only one I'll ever love. Nothing can change my mind. The only image I hold of her is that of a perfect maiden, one you'd only find in a fantasy.
Just then, Elisa spoke up, watching me talk to my Rem stuffed toy. "You look like an idiot doing that. Aren't you scared of yourself, loving a 2D character from a show?" she said.
It's crazy to think I'd love an anime character this much, as if I'd gain something from it. But what's wrong with that? What is love, anyway?
"Shut up, normie. You don't understand how I feel," I shot back.
There's no clear definition of love—it's just the desire for someone or something. It's a choice you make, something your mind accepts and your heart cherishes. What's the difference between my love for a 2D character and others' love for their partners? Just because I can't talk to or see her in person doesn't mean I can't love her. It's no different from lovers separated by distance, never destined to meet again.
There are countless stories proving that distance or time doesn't diminish true love. I can see my relationship with Rem as a long-distance one—so far apart that we'll never meet.
"I get that some people love each other despite being far apart, but you can't twist reality. Your case is different—they're real people, and you're just delusional," Elisa said, cutting me off.
"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 words stung, catching me off guard. I didn't expect her to hit me with something so harsh, rubbing in the fact that Rem isn't real. But I fired back, defending my beliefs. "You can't call it stupid. Plenty of people love things they've never seen—like gods from different religions or great figures from history who are long gone. They stand by their feelings, loving wholeheartedly. That's how noble my love is, something a normie like you will never understand," I boasted.
But instead of taking me seriously, she just shook her head and smirked. "Tch, you're hopeless," she muttered under her breath.
Exactly. I'm not a weirdo or an idiot like she says. I just love purely. As I said, it's all about acceptance and value. "Rem is life. No matter what anyone thinks or says, we'll never be apart. We'll prove there's such a thing as forever," I declared, hugging my Rem stuffed toy tightly.
They say if you love someone, you're willing to give everything for them. That's why I feel no regret spending on my hobbies, especially for Rem.
Just then, my stomach growled, reminding me I was starving. I hadn't left my room to eat, too caught up in my online shopping spree. "Oh, right. I was supposed to treat Mom and the others to a meal out, but…" I mumbled, realizing my money was gone. "Oh well, maybe next time. I didn't promise anything, and there'll be other chances."
Elisa stood up from my bed and headed for the door, carelessly tossing the manga she was reading behind her, as if she didn't care it could get damaged. "Your sister's probably awake by now. I'll leave you be, Didi," she said.
"Tch, thanks for messing up my stuff. Don't come back," I grumbled.
She left the room without a care for my complaints, leaving my manga scattered on the bed and her half-eaten apple behind. She had no manners, despite her supposedly refined upbringing. "She's so immature. Pity the guy who ends up marrying that witch," I muttered. "This is why I can't stand 3D girls."
For otakus like me, having a childhood friend is a big deal. We dream of someone beautiful, kind, thoughtful, refined, and dependable—exactly like in anime. But this? This wasn't what I expected.
Elisa is the complete opposite of the kind of person I'd want in my life. Who'd be happy with a childhood acquaintance who's crude, arrogant, judgmental, a spoiled brat, and worst of all, a normie who does nothing but mock my otaku lifestyle?
"She's so annoying. When will they move away?" I groaned.
It's nothing like the shows I watch. No matter how I look at it, this isn't how my life with a childhood friend should be. But what can I do except accept what fate has dealt me?
"Reality is so disappointing," I whispered, letting out a heavy sigh.
I sat up straight, turned back to my PC, and continued what I was doing. I clicked on a photo, and there she was—Rem, smiling warmly. A grin spread across my face, and a sigh of relief escaped me as a sense of peace washed over me. The frustration from dealing with that witch faded away.
I realized I didn't need her opinion. From the start, I knew she'd have nothing good to say—she's a normie, living in a different world from mine. All I know is that I'm happy with my love life.
The quiet, out-of-this-world love life of an otaku.
"I love you, Rem," I said, kissing my stuffed toy again.
**END**