Shin isn't a typical otaku. In fact, the ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) genres he enjoys are the opposite of mainstream anime fandom.
His favorite games are World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, his favorite anime is the entire Gundam series, and his favorite ACG universe is Warhammer 40K. However, his interest isn't fanatic; he just enjoys them as a pleasant diversion from daily life.
As for the anime typically watched by "otaku," he hasn't seen much. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is one exception, as are the "Big Three" (Naruto, Bleach, One Piece). If you must count them, he also watched Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan when he was younger. That's about it.
He personally dislikes everyday harem anime, not out of any sense of superiority, but simply because he finds them uninteresting. He has only a slight interest in isekai (other world) anime. He watched a few popular ones when he was bored but eventually felt they didn't resonate with him, so he went back to farming the Lich King on his alt account.
Yet, despite his lack of deep involvement, he had absorbed a surprising amount of knowledge about the anime world through osmosis, mostly via memes and emoji usage.
For example, he was familiar with the "Good Boat" meme, the "Chainsaw" meme, the "Makoto-kun" meme, and the "It's all the world's fault" meme. He couldn't recall how many of these originated from the same anime, but he knew about School Days.
He knew the male protagonist was Makoto Itou, the female protagonist was Kotonoha Katsura, and the other girl was Sekai. He knew the protagonist had an annoying blond friend, and that the male protagonist was eventually stabbed to death. That was the extent of his knowledge.
Similarly, he knew about the unremarkable Megumi Kato, the "loser" Eriri, the "black stocking senior," the self-destructive Hachiman Hikigaya, and Yukino Yukinoshita (a staple in fanfiction).
That was about his level of understanding: vague familiarity with characters based mostly on memes, to the point where he often couldn't even recall their names.
Caught in Shin's intense gaze, Kotonoha's ears turned red. She nervously clutched her school bag and whispered, "Um, is there a problem?"
"...No, nothing at all." Shin shook his head, his expression instantly returning to normal.
Why would there be a problem? Even if these girls really were the anime characters, what did it have to do with him?
He had zero interest in the trivial dramas of sheltered, privileged youths who had yet to face the harsh realities of the real world. He wasn't interested in romantic coming-of-age stories. He didn't have the luxury to care about such things. Compared to lovey-dovey relationships, he had far more important matters to attend to.
He had just nearly assassinated a Yonko with a Gundam Nail in another world. To spend his time on this main world pursuing romance felt absurdly disjointed.
Then again, he admitted his current activities weren't exactly "major undertakings." He was just trying to earn money for food and trade.
And, of course, to "change the world."
He had no idea how he would change it; his thoughts hadn't formed a coherent plan yet. For now, he would just take things one step at a time.
"Shin-kun, I really can't accept this money."
Kotonoha Katsura suddenly stepped back, holding the hundred 10,000 yen bills (1 million yen) with both hands and solemnly offered them to Shin.
"Shin-kun helped me so much today. I absolutely cannot take this money!"
"Is that so..." Shin stroked his chin and shrugged.
If she didn't want it, he wouldn't force her. A million yen is still money; he could eat for a few more days...
Shin paused, something clicked in his mind. He pushed the money back towards her.
"How about this then—this million yen will be your employment fee, Miss Katsura. For the next two months, I'll count on you to show me around the school and the neighborhood, and buy me meals as a thank you. I'm new to this country and unfamiliar with many things."
"Ah, this, well... Okay."
Kotonoha was momentarily stunned, but her naturally submissive personality offered no room for refusal against Shin's firm demeanor.
She wasn't completely naive. Shin's actions could easily be interpreted as signaling something else. Who hires a high school student as a guide for a few days for a million yen? He clearly...
Kotonoha secretly looked up at Shin's handsome face and gentle smile. Her face flushed slightly as she lowered her head and mumbled something softly.
This might not be love, Kotonoha thought. She was just admiring this person—someone who could face the world's darkness so assertively, directly, and brightly.
Perhaps... I can learn this attitude toward life from him?
Shin, meanwhile, was oblivious to Kotonoha's subtle emotional shifts. He was busy arguing with the System in his mind.
"Well played, Mr. Shin. You actually thought of using this method to avoid corporate taxes," the System said with a hint of amusement. Kotonoha might have misunderstood his intentions, but the System, residing in Shin's mind, knew exactly what he was thinking.
In short, Shin was looking for a way to "legally" evade taxes. If 90% of the money he received would be deducted due to the company's policy, he would simply give the money to someone else, making it legally theirs, and then use the money through that third party.
He wanted to give the money to Kotonoha, have her familiarize him with the area, and most importantly, have her buy him meals for two months!
Getting food was paramount. As for romance, he wasn't interested in such trivial matters when he couldn't even eat his fill. Shin refused to believe that this greedy, exploitative company could deduct 90% of the food he ate!
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Mr. Shin." The System chuckled maliciously. "Your idea is sound, but... the company despises any form of tax evasion. Your actions have provided us with valuable data.
Furthermore, a surprise awaits you in the future."
"What—what surprise? Hey! Come out!"
Shin, startled, shouted for the System in his mind, but received no response. Shin's eye twitched. The System's parting words filled him with a strong sense of foreboding.
Could something truly awful be about to happen?
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