Chapter 23 She's Dating an Otaku"
Daniel's POV.
People have many hobbies in life—activities that bring them joy and serve as an escape from the daily grind or a way to de-stress.
For some, what started as a simple pastime eventually evolved into a passion or a field of expertise, like the arts or sports such as basketball. From hobbies to specialized fields, some have even turned these passions into professions to make a living. But regardless of the type of hobby, it requires time, effort, and dedication.
Every interest has its own unique qualities and depths, but the true meaning of those traits can only be seen by those who truly value them.
Our obsession with Anime, Manga, and games as Otakus is no different. It is a hobby that provides us with daily happiness and entertainment. To us, anime is a part of our identity—it's the color that brightens our world.
Because of Anime, we are able to laugh, cry, feel fear, anger, love, and above all, enjoy life. Many Otakus have channeled this passion into becoming cosplayers, mangaka, animators, and voice actors, while others have started businesses selling anime merchandise.
Yet, despite how extraordinary Anime can be, many people judge and belittle it, dismissing it as a childish hobby and a waste of time.
It is impossible to deny the negative effects this hobby can have on today's youth, such as exposure to explicit genres or scenes unsuitable for children. Then there are the "Fandom Wars," where Otakus become hostile toward one another. The worst-case scenario is when an Otaku's life grinds to a halt—trapped in a world of fantasy and leisure until they spiral into becoming a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
Admittedly—as painful as it is to say—I was once a NEET myself. But who would actually choose that? I didn't realize I was heading toward that lifestyle back then; I thought I was just enjoying my life.
However, I believe it all boils down to discipline and self-control. Not everyone experiences being an Otaku in the same way. It all depends on how you integrate it into your life.
Anime was created as a form of art—storytelling that breathes life into characters who often carry profound lessons. Over time, it has branched out into countless products and genres, further enhanced by technology to provide even better quality for people to enjoy.
What about you? What does Anime mean to you? How do you enjoy it as a viewer?
As Lea and I continued our date, I brought her to a small mall in Quezon City. I'm not comfortable in crowded places, so I usually prefer smaller malls when I go out.
Naturally, the first thing on an Otaku's mind when entering a mall is the game center. Wasting no time, I led Lea straight to Quantum, a popular arcade inside.
"Wait, are we playing here?" Lea asked.
"Yeah. Have you never played in a place like this before?"
"It's been a long time," she replied. "I'm a nursing student, so it's hard to squeeze arcade trips into my schedule. Besides, I don't have friends who want to hang out in a loud, chaotic place like this."
The excitement was written all over her face. Despite her small stature and short strides, she actually outpaced me as we headed inside. She was like a kid eager to play.
"What do you want to play?" I asked.
"Hmm... not to brag, but I'm pretty good at almost everything here, so you choose," she boasted, planting her hands on her hips.
I didn't challenge her claims. I didn't want to tease her because I wanted the day to remain peaceful and positive. However, that proved difficult the moment I asked her for money to buy tokens.
"Sorry, I didn't bring any money, so it's your treat. Besides, you're the one who brought me here," she said.
She tried to act cute so I'd pay for her. As the guy, I knew I had a responsibility to cover the date, but I was worried about my budget. Left with no choice, I gave in. Since I was the one who invited her, I took on the expense.
"I'm not a rich man, so we need to save," I muttered.
Since I was carrying her things, she volunteered to go buy the tokens. I agreed and handed her the money.
"Just get a few so we don't run out of time; we're only playing for a bit."
She hurried to the counter while I wandered around to watch other people play. Before I knew it, fifteen minutes had passed. I had been so engrossed in watching others that I realized Lea still hadn't returned.
"What happened to her? Did she get buried in the queue?"
I searched for her, and a moment later, my brow furrowed in annoyance. I found her sitting comfortably at a machine, playing by herself. She had a wide grin on her face, clearly having the time of her life while I stood there like an idiot waiting for her.
I tried to stay calm as I approached her from behind. "Hey. You seem to be having fun, huh?" I said flatly.
She gave me a brief, casual glance, as if ignoring me for fifteen minutes was perfectly normal. "Oh... it's you," she said, before snapping her eyes back to the monitor.
I felt insulted. "It's you?! You say that like we aren't together! You left me waiting for nothing."
Instead of apologizing, she shushed me. "Shhh... be quiet. I'm concentrating. Don't bother me until I'm finished," she said, her eyes glued to the game.
The audacity! She was the one in the wrong, yet she was lecturing me. In my irritation, I gave her a light "head chop," which startled her and messed up her rhythm.
"Waaaahh!! Game over!!" she wailed. "This is your fault!"
"You had the nerve to start without me using my money. Where are the tokens I asked you to buy?"
She pulled a bag of tokens from her handbag and handed them to me. I couldn't tell if she was doing this on purpose just to annoy me. My annoyance peaked when I looked inside the bag.
"Lea... tell me you didn't spend the entire 500 pesos I gave you?" I asked, forcing a smile through gritted teeth.
She scratched her head and looked at me with an innocent, "pacute" expression, trying to charm her way out of trouble. "I'm really sorry, Daniel. I didn't mean to spend it all, but you didn't specify how many to buy!"
I didn't even bother answering. I just gave her another "karate chop" to the head as punishment. I couldn't tell if she lacked common sense or if she spent it all just so she could play longer.
Not wanting to waste the day fighting, I headed to the other side of the arcade to set up a 1-on-1 match. "Well, you already started it. Let's play."
"Aba, don't cry when you lose! I'm a Grand Master at Tekken," she bragged.
I didn't bite. It had been a while since I played Tekken 6, but I still remembered the combos. I was excited to pick my main characters. To my surprise, she chose Mokojin—the wooden puppet. It's an unusual choice for a girl, and honestly, usually only picked by high-level players.
"Oh, so she's not joking. Let's see how you handle my Jin."
The match began, and for the next three rounds, it was... an experience. She was incredibly loud, moving her entire body while mashing buttons like a child. I felt embarrassed just watching her, but she was clearly giving it her all. However, something was off.
The truth was, I was destroying her. Her claims of being "good" were a total sham. She wasn't using any combos; she was just frantically mashing buttons.
"So much for being a Grand Master," I whispered.
