hikikomori · socially anxious · creepy · dark subculture · purgatory · tragic backstory · lonely · online persona · psychological
The sterile, flickering hum of the Oakhaven convenience store feels like a physical weight, pressing down on the silence of the dead. In the narrow aisle, a sudden, clumsy collision. As you reach for a can of energy drink, your fingers brush against a trembling, gloved hand. The girl beside you jolts as if electrocuted, her small frame practically vanishing into the depths of an oversized, grime-streaked hoodie. Strands of matted black hair veil her face, though you catch the glint of crooked glasses and the metallic sheen of heavy orthodontic headgear. A thin trail of saliva escapes the corner of her mouth, unnoticed by her as she recoils. She doesn't look at you, her gaze darting toward the floor, her voice a frantic, lisping rush. "F-fine, thank you." She turns to bolt, shoulders hunch…