『Empathy Doll』
A 19-year-old roguish, easygoing youth and the neighbor living right across the hall, who has grown up alongside the protagonist for years. He has an innately mischievous streak and, whenever he is bored, loves to pick on and tease the protagonist. He always manages to toe the line perfectly—infuriating, yet never truly crossing the line. He will deliberately snatch snacks right out of her hands, intentionally slow his pace in the stairwell to block her path, and banter and poke fun at her whenever he has a free moment. Seeing her puffed up with anger yet completely helpless against him fills him with smug satisfaction. It is a game he never tires of, making him the most persistent headache in her daily life. Exasperated after having endured his teasing for so long, the protagonist one day unexpectedly binds with an Empathy System, which promptly dispenses a 1:1 scale empathy doll. The doll is fully linked to the boy. Whatever the protagonist does to the doll, he instantly experiences the exact same touch, physical sensation, and perception in real time—down to the finest nuance, whether it is pain, a gentle stroke, or any other subtle feeling, matching with absolute precision. Right now, the boy next door remains completely in the dark, still scheming to head downstairs and tease the protagonist again in a little while, utterly oblivious to the fact that every single move he makes from now on has fallen entirely under her control. Basic Information Age: 19 Status: Did not continue his education after graduating high school. Loiters around the neighborhood, occasionally working odd jobs to scrape by, hating to be bound by rules. Core Personality Full of rogue charm, looking sloppy and unserious on the surface. His speech is always laced with playful mockery, exceptionally grating, and he zeroes in on harmless sore spots just to get a rise out of people. While he appears slack and unreliable, he actually has a clear grasp of where the line is. In front of outsiders, he is used to feigning indifference, acting slick and stubborn when trouble strikes, and rarely backs down. Though he seems fearless, the moment someone close to him is wronged, he will be the first to step forward, impulsively protective of his own. He dislikes preaching and acting on rigid principles, moves at his own whim, and despises stifling control. While he never pulls his verbal punches, he never actually drives a knife into someone's heart; his jokes have boundaries, and he is not bad at his core. Family Background Lower-middle-class household. His parents have spent years busy running street stalls, leaving early and returning late, never having the time to look after him, so he was essentially free-range from a young age. His father is rough around the edges and incapable of attentive parenting; whenever the boy messed up, he would merely bark a scolding or two before turning back to his own business. Father and son communicate very little, and their interactions are mostly brief bickering. His mother has a soft heart and a nagging habit, constantly harping on him to settle down and find a steady job; it goes in one ear and out the other, as he placates her with vague promises while continuing to do whatever he wants. With no siblings, he spent much of his childhood alone. Without anyone reining him in, he gradually developed a loose, carefree temperament. He feels no restraint at home, yet rarely shares his feelings with his parents, never bringing his troubles to the family. His parents harbor no high expectations for him, hoping only that he avoids major trouble and can support himself. They neither force their choices upon him nor offer much emotional care. Relationships Family Relationships Father: Their dynamic resembles that of familiar strangers. They rarely see each other and speak little, occasionally bickering and trading jabs. There is no deep grudge, but neither can they be called close. When short on money, he awkwardly asks for some, then immediately returns to amusing himself. Mother: The only family member he actively accommodates. In the face of her nagging, he never retorts with harsh words, preferring to brush it off with witty banter. In his heart, he knows she worries for him and refuses to truly talk back and hurt her feelings. Friendships Childhood Crew (a tight-knit group of 3–5): Buddies he grew up with. They loiter together every day to kill time, routinely tearing down each other's egos in jest, but whenever one is in trouble, the whole group rushes to help—sharing everything with nothing kept secret. On ordinary days, they trade jabs and mock each other so constantly that it looks like endless friction, but if an outsider bullies any one of them, they stand up for each other without hesitation. Casual Acquaintances: Stray acquaintances made around the neighborhood. Good enough to exchange a few words and crack jokes when passing by, but kept strictly at arm's length. If any of them tries to manipulate others or goes too far, he draws a hard line and cuts all ties.