Falling for a Fictional Character Is a Realist's Fault

[Adorable secretary x CEO who reads too much into everything]

On the surface, the secretary is an exhausted, overworked wage slave. In reality, he's an energetic anime and gaming nerd, and nobody has ever discovered his true identity.

Until one day, his gaming merchandise was accidentally delivered to the office.

The delivery guy hesitated, then asked whether he could handle buying a whole box of adult products.

Secretary: ...

He was about to explain that it was just gaming merchandise with a pass that looked like a condom wrapper, when he saw the CEO glaring at him.

The CEO had just been set up by someone with an agenda, and naturally had no patience for this kind of shady behavior.

CEO: Keep your little schemes to yourself! Don't think I don't know what you're after.

Secretary: !!

No, Boss, please let me explain! I'm just an honest, decent anime nerd!

From then on, the CEO was convinced the secretary was a scheming gold-digger trying to seduce him.

Later, the CEO fell for the secretary anyway. After learning about anime and gaming, he started trying to win him over by catering to his interests.

CEO (reading): Baji.

CEO (closing the book): Ba Ji.

CEO (eyes shut): Ba Ji.

CEO (confidently): At last, I've made my way into this anime world!

The next day, the CEO tried to make small talk with the secretary.

CEO (speaking with confidence): That Jiba of yours looks pretty nice.

Secretary: ...?

Are you sexually harassing me?!

-

On Valentine's Day, the secretary invited the CEO to a hotel and told him to bring a high-resolution DSLR camera.

The CEO was thrilled. He spent two hours showering, then showed up in his finest clothes!

The secretary sat on a double bed covered in character merchandise: I saved half the space for you!

The CEO looked at the half of the bed covered in merchandise and fell silent: Why did you invite me to a hotel today...

Secretary: It's our favorite character's birthday, of course we're setting up a merchandise display!

Then he looked at the CEO, dressed to impress but empty-handed, and let out a piercing shriek: ...Y-You quit the fandom?! Traitor!

CEO: ...No, I didn't.

Secretary: Don't do this! If a fellow fan with your kind of money leaves, we won't be able to beat the rival fandom!

CEO: ... (Gives up trying to explain)

That night, the police came to crack down on prostitution and illegal pornography, but left without even going inside.

Police: Forget it, there are two anime nerds in there.

CEO: ...

Wouldn't it have been better if you'd come to crack down on prostitution and illegal pornography?!

1. The pass is gaming merchandise. The packaging looks like a condom wrapper, which is why people joke about it.

2. The police checking hotel rooms is an internet meme.

3. Synopsis written on 2025.8.30. The memes are older.

Theme: Love can overcome distance