Story: Closet Otaku

 

The bell of the 'Neon Archive' sounded its usual tinny jingle. Yukiyo entered the familiar scent of the freshly printed paper, the stench of old computers, and the aftertaste of the cheap convenience store coffee that hung in the air. This was her sanctuary, where the carefully designed mask of the school's golden girl slipped away with her to her daily dose of otaku culture. Her tailored blazer has been exchanged for an oversized hoodie, her long neatly combed hair was gathered in a messy ponytail, her glasses slid down her nose - Yukiyo could be anyone outside those sacred halls of her school, anyone but the popular and aloof president of the student council.

She walked into the store with a purpose, her boots clicking against the linoleum with a confident if not arrogant gait, but the usual poise was sorely missing. It seemed she had indeed, finally, found her place in the world. Somewhere where she did not have to be perfect.

Yukiyo easily passed by the shonen section, paying no mind to the overly masculine covers that screamed for attention. Her destination was the back of the store, where the 'special interest' section of the 'Neon Archive' resided. Her heart pounded in her chest as she rounded the corner, her eyes locking onto the desired prize. The flyer for the Heaven Maid, with all of her beloved characters' pictures on it, was standing on the display table. She needed the physical copy with the high-resolution render of the new characters.

As she walked up to the table, she nearly bumped into a boy, who stood staring at the Heaven Maid display. She stopped and looked at him, surprised to see a young man with wild unkempt black hair wear a shirt with a pixelated sword on it and clutch a limited run artbook to his chest like a holy relic. He looked as if he had seen the deepest corners of the internet and lived to tell about it, with his sharp eyes scanning every word on the display with the hunger of a true connoisseur.

A spark of recognition lit in Yukiyo's chest. Another otaku, in the flesh. And not some gruff middle-aged man who frequented the store, but a teenager that looked no older than twenty. He was about to reach for the last preorder form for the Collector's Edition when her eyes locked onto the same piece of paper. Instinct kicked in, and she lunged forward, her fingers ghosting over the boy's as she took the form from the display. The boy practically jumped out of his skin, dropping the artbook in the process. He stared at her, wide-eyed, then quickly took a step back, letting out an incredulous laugh.

"S-sorry! I didn't see you there!"

Yukiyo blinked at the boy, a small soft sound of amusement escaping her lips. Nice try, but I already know who you are.

"You're going for the collector edition too?"

The boy's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. He turned to stare at Yukiyo, his face behind the rectangular glasses lenses unreadable.

"You... you know about the crossover with Super Mega Battle Girl?"

Yukiyo felt her heart skip a beat as she took in his stunned face. This was the first time someone was genuinely surprised by her knowledge of the obscure. Usually, most of the staff would give her a condescending look or a knowing smile.

"The Ryko human-form renders are supposed to be in the art gallery. It's a bold move for the developers to merge a high fantasy battle-manga with an ero-sim series, but the overall harmony is undeniable."

The boy was practically speechless as he stared at her with a mix of awe and confusion. A small smile played on his lips.

"Exactly! The lore of Battle Girl series always pointed to the main characters becoming stronger not despite their weaknesses but because of them, so seeing them in such a demeaning outfit like this is absolutely breathtaking in the juxtaposition it creates."

Yukiyo practically felt her heart flutter in her chest. She was so used to her public image, and every time someone was impressed with her knowledge, all of her carefully crafted emotions of superiority crashed down on her like a ton of bricks. That was why speaking with this random stranger in the shop felt so incredibly liberating.

"I'm Yukiyo," she introduced herself, forgetting for once in her life about being the flawless president.

"I'm Kenji," the boy replied, his face softening. "Are you a regular here?"

"Every Tuesday and Friday,"

she replied with a small smile. "I didn't think anyone else in the city actually appreciated the hidden lore of Heaven Maid. Most people only cared for the usual explicit content."

Kenji laughed nervously at her words. "I know, I know, the story itself is a shallow excuse to fanfiction the characters' relationships while the world-building is exceptional. Did you see the teaser for the new alchemy system?"

Yukiyo didn't have a chance to respond to Kenji's last question as the familiar jingle of the store bell rung overhead, announcing a customer's arrival. It was a shrill piercing sound that made the figurines on the shelves twitch in unison.

"Kenji! You idiot! I told you to wait for me at the station!"

A girl ran up to them, her twin-tails bouncing with every step as she put on a fierce and angry expression. Her clothes consisted of a short skirt and a cropped jacket, and her long pink hair was tied up into two tight pigtails with red ribbons. She was beautiful in a sharp and dangerous way. Compared to her, even the most fearsome of her classmates appeared as harmless as kittens. This was Hana, Kenji's self-proclaimed girlfriend, the one whose very existence made schoolgirls everywhere reconsider their life choices.

"You have no goddamn idea how long I was searching for you! You can't just randomly disappear without telling me! It's not like I care if you get kidnapped! It's just a waste of time if I have to look!"

Kenji visibly paled under the girl's furious tirade, shrinking in on himself.

"Sorry, sorry, Hana, I didn't realize!" he squeaked out before looking at Yukiyo, his cheeks red. "And sorry for touching your stuff!"

Hana turned to Yukiyo, her pretty face twisted in a scowl. "Who're you? Don't tell me you're making friends with other weirdos in the dark."

Yukiyo stiffened at the girl's words. If looks could kill, Hana would've long since offed herself multiple times over. The more Yukiyo thought about it, the more she seemed like the textbook example of a tsundere. The way the girl acted made Yukiyo's inner monologues when her classmates tried to fawn over her even more embarrassing.

"We were just talking about the Heaven Maid crossover," Yukiyo said, her voice returning to its previous calm and aloof timbre, although she was careful to keep it at a reasonable volume.

Hana gaped at Yukiyo before looking back at Kenji. "You like that trash? You look like a slob, but you actually like that stuff?"

Kenji sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, Hana, be nice. Yukiyo actually knows a lot about the alchemy system."

"I don't care about alchemy! I care about you not being a complete space-cadet!" Hana yelled, narrowing her eyes at Kenji. But the more she glared at him, the closer she got to him, until she finally stopped right next to him. Her shoulder almost touched his, a fact not lost on Kenji, who looked like he was drunk. It was a mix of both anger and affection, but the underlying emotion was clearly love.

As the arguing couple stood face to face, a new presence arrived. This time, the newcomer practically glided into view, as if she was not there before. She had long black hair that flowed past her shoulders in soft waves, framing an unremarkable pale face. Pale lavender eyes took in the sight of Kenji with a vague emotion on her face, as if she was disappointed. She wore a simple oversized sweater and carried a book on advanced calculus. This was Rei, Kenji's silent and detached neighbor. Unlike Hana, Rei was a kuudere, a type of girl Yukiyo considered more interesting to experience firsthand.

"Kenji," Rei said, her expression as unreadable as ever. The way her pale lips moved, however, gave away her true feelings.

"Oh, hey Rei. You're here too?" Kenji replied with an unsteady chuckle.

Rei ignored him and looked at the artbook Kenji held.

"The limited edition is a poor investment," Rei said matter-of-factly. "The digital version contains all the assets with enhanced quality and no risk of paper degradation."

"But the smell of the ink, Rei! The sensation of the paper!" Kenji cried dramatically. "It's an experience!"

"I am logical," Rei said simply, inclining her head. "However, if said experience brings you joy, the expenditure is justified."

Yukiyo watched the exchange with a growing sense of wonder as another one of her personal tropes was brought to life. The kuudere and the tsundere were orbiting the hapless Kenji, who was practically the harem protagonist in an online visual novel.

She never got tired of seeing this kind of stuff happen, being the one behind all of it, watching as her words sent people's minds on a spiral. Even now, Yukiyo felt a strange flutter in her chest seeing how effortlessly Kenji could fall for girls, even as they were trying to kill him with their words. It was an incredible turn of events, seeing the boy being genuinely enthusiastic about the subject, and not in an arrogant way like most boys of his age.

"So," Hana started, glaring daggers at Yukiyo. "Are you coming with us, or are you just going to stand there staring at Kenji like he's some kind of cake?"

Yukiyo blinked at her, her expression softening.

"I... have to go back,"

she said, her eyes never leaving Kenji. "I have some stuff to do."

"Good! Go do them!" Hana said, rolling her eyes. She grabbed Kenji's sleeve and began walking away. "Come on, Kenji, you're buying me a crepe because you made me walk all the way here!"

"Wait! I still have to fill out the preorder form!" Kenji whined, turning to Yukiyo with an apologetic look on his face.

"The form will be there tomorrow!" Hana said, turning away from him and beginning to walk back. She gestured for Yukiyo to follow. "Move it!"

As they reached the store doors, Rei stopped and turned around to look at Yukiyo.

"Your glasses are crooked."

With those words, Rei turned and exited the store. Yukiyo was left stunned, staring at the disappearing tail of Rei's black ribbon.

She turned back to the Heaven Maid display. For a moment, the thought of purchasing the limited edition artbook crossed her mind, but it slipped away as fast as it came. Kenji's face as he talked passionately about the alchemy system, the way he looked at the artbook, the way he acted around other girls, all of it was more interesting to her than the usual game content. That thought was absurd, of course, but Yukiyo found herself thinking about it nonetheless.

Perhaps it was the moe factor. She always found the moe in things she liked to be the best kind. And there was certainly an abundance of it in Kenji, with his awkwardness and innocence. It reminded her of herself when she first started playing visual novels. In fact, the scenario with him was almost too cliché for words, like something out of a magazine or a web novel.

"This is ridiculous,"

she thought to herself, shaking her head. "I am a mature young woman and a popular member of the society. I am the president of the student council for god's sake, and this is not the kind of thing that happens to me!"

She frowned at her own thoughts, her fingers tightening around her bag.

"But he did understand the alchemy system."

Over the next few days, the encounter at the store continued to replay in Yukiyo's head. It had become the sole source of entertainment in her otherwise mundane school life, providing a reprieve from the constant pressure to perform as the leader of the student council. She always fulfilled her duties to the best of her ability, making sure that everything was in order and that no one could accuse her of being anything less than perfect. And when the time came for the meetings, she would enter the room and deliver a speech that would inspire fear in the hearts of her subordinates and students alike. The constant stream of admirers and fawning fans never stopped, but most of them only saw the surface, the carefully crafted mask that hid her true self.

She thought of Kenji and how much she wanted to see him again, to experience the thrill of exploring the wonderful world of otaku culture with someone who shared her interests. She quickly learned more about him, discovering that he went to the same school she did. Though he was a shadowy figure, barely seen by anyone except those who actively searched for him, he always managed to appear when needed. One of his few visible traits was his existence alongside her classmates, specifically in the classroom next to hers.

Yukiyo would watch him during lunch, seeing how he interacted with others, always with a mix of nervousness and determination. He would usually sit under a large cedar tree at the edge of the courtyard. There, he could be seen engrossed in his handheld console while Hana hovered over him. Rei often sat nearby, her presence as unwavering as her long shadow. It was a strange sight, an unusual combination of tsundere, kuudere, and harem protagonist living in the same city. It made Yukiyo feel envious, almost resentful of Kenji's ability to find such interesting people in such a short time.

She wanted to join them, to stand among them with equal footing. She wanted to be the one to introduce Kenji to the wonders of the otaku world and show him all of its beauty and excitement. That desire manifested in her decision to speak to Kenji on Thursday.

It started when he was struggling with an oversized game magazine, trying to stuff it in his bag.

"Are you having trouble with that?"

Her voice was a mix of concern and an underlying confidence. Kenji turned around, surprise written all over his face as he took in the sight of her. He seemed to realize who she was, and for a brief moment, he looked stunned.

"O-oh! Taku-san! I... uh... yeah, you could say that."

Yukiyo looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. He didn't recognize her as the school president, but she had never felt better.

"You're Kenji, right? The boy from the other class?"

Kenji looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "Y-yes! How do you know my name?"

"You're Kenji, right?" Yukiyo repeated her question, taking slow steps toward him. The sweet scent of her perfume filled the air around them. "I have a feeling you're a fan of the same kind of games as me."

Kenji's eyes widened as he processed her words for a moment. He looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You're... Kenji, right?"

Yukiyo smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "That's a secret I intend to keep from the school. My weekends are filled with arguments with friends about ero-game alchemy, so I think it would be a waste of a perfect reputation if they found out."

Kenji looked absolutely stunned at her reply. In fact, he looked like someone who had been struck with divine intervention itself.

"This is... this is incredible,"

Kenji said, his voice full of awe and disbelief.

Is that really so surprising? Yukiyo thought to herself.

"Is that really so surprising, Kenji?" Yukiyo asked, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Then maybe you could tell me more about that alchemy system. Buy me coffee this weekend?"

Before Kenji could respond, an all-too-familiar yell rang out in the hallway.

"KENJI! WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO THE SCHOOL IDOL? GET AWAY FROM HER BEFORE SHE CONSUMES YOUR SOUL!"

Hana came running up to them, her long twin-tails flying behind her like a fierce animal. As always, she was followed closely by Rei, who walked at the same steady pace as if she wasn't even trying to keep up.

"What is happening? Why is she touching your bag? Why are you blushing? Kenji, you're too pure for this! You're being lured in by the siren's song!"

Hana stopped in her tracks, her dark brown eyes narrowing as they locked onto Yukiyo's face. She looked from Yukiyo to Kenji and back, her face a mixture of anger and jealousy.

Rei stopped beside Hana, her pale lavender eyes observing the scene before her.

"Heart rate elevated. Pupil dilation present,"Kenji, the biological markers of attraction are evident in both subjects."

"SHUT UP, REI!"

Yukiyo laughed, a deep and rich sound that seemed to come from the very core of her being. She looked around at the faces of the three people in front of her, the two girls and the oblivious boy. Hana looked like she had seen a ghost, while Rei seemed almost disappointed. Kenji, for his part, looked completely confused.

"I think he's already decided, Hana," Yukiyo said, her tone playful. She stepped closer to Kenji and took his hand with a possessive gesture, sliding an arm around his waist.

Kenji let out a small gasp, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I'll see you this weekend, Kenji," Yukiyo whispered in his ear. "Don't be late. Or I might have to punish you."

She moved away from him and looked at Hana, her lips curled in a knowing smile.

"I'll see you this weekend, Kenji," Yukiyo repeated, her tone lighter this time. She turned and walked away, her hips swaying in a slow and deliberate motion. She could hear Hana's screaming echoes and Rei's monotone comments growing fainter as she rounded the corner.

Yukiyo turned around and placed a hand over her rosy cheek. Her heart was racing, but she couldn't stop the smile that had appeared on her lips. She knew what she was doing was dangerous, that it was a huge mistake, but it was precisely the kind of adventure she longed for.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, searching for the latest news regarding the Heaven Maid update. As she scrolled through the page, her eyes landed on the image of another character in her favorite maid outfit. She found herself imagining Kenji's face at that moment, his eyes wide with surprise.

"So moe," she whispered to herself, her lips curving into a predatory smile. "Absolutely moe."