The Hikikomori Extraction (A Holiday Message from the Otaku Author)
After five years of Hikikomori-themed holiday posts, you’d think I would be done with this joke! Haha! If only it was a joke. This year, someone tried to pull me from my safe space. Luckily, the universe had other ideas…
The Hikikomori Extraction (A Holiday Message from the Otaku Author)
What if we just stayed in?
The world continued to move back towards what we used to think of as the norm. Schools and businesses were open as normal. Luckily many of the changes were still available too. New industries have emerged from the chaos. Delivery has become a standard for just about any industry, but that hasn’t always been a good thing. Takeout has slowly been getting worse. More often than not, there’s something missing or wrong. To that point, I’m reducing the amount of takeout I order. This is obviously a good thing. I’m looking to be healthier and fitter. I’ve been running (in my basement) and everything was generally improving.
That was when I least expected the extraction to begin. The day job, after years of working from home without an issue. I worked with COVID-19, a broken kneecap, a herniated disc, and a flooded basement. The system was working, and it was working better than ever. Work-life balance was the best it had ever been. I felt empowered and more responsible. If I needed to work late to get my work done, I did it without questioning or moaning, because I knew that if I needed to do something during the day, I could. Why would anyone want to change something so wonderful?
That’s when the email appeared. The day job wanted us to return to the office for two days a week because of “culture”. Of course, there were seminars about how to behave at work that included not just dropping by someone’s cubicle and interrupting their work. Basically, they wanted us to behave the same as at home but in a lifeless tiny cubicle after wasting time commuting. Now, I’m not crazy enough to believe the “culture” crap. This is a direct result of hedge funds losing money by office buildings remaining unoccupied. All the studies told us that employees were happier and healthier working from home.
The Hikikomori Extraction
Amazingly, the universe seemed to take my side in a bizarro, roundabout kind of way. It started throwing Real-Life Family Events at me as if they were confetti and I had just gotten married. I tried to go into the office and managed it three times and none of those were for a full day. I had to be there for the family, and that will continue into the New Year. I’m not sure what that will mean for the day job long term, but the short term is about family.
So, I’m not about to stare the universe in the face and squander the opportunity that it’s given me. I’m going to start writing as soon as it gives me a moment and then every moment after that. I’m going to grab life by the balls and squeeze until I get my way. This hikikomori is staying put. If I’ve learned anything from all of the anime and manga that I’ve seen it’s that no idea is too ridiculous. Time-travelling underwear? Not too crazy. Ghosts and aliens battling over someone’s manhood? Sure, why not? Getting Isekaied from one fantasy world to another? You got it! I don’t think there are any weird ideas anymore, so I’m just going to write and write and write until one of my insane ideas takes off.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Even if you think it’s a crazy idea. Someone, somewhere will love it, and it’ll be the start of something wonderful. You just have to be prepared to keep at it. Otherwise, it’s back to the dull, lifeless cubicle to listen to people pretending to love moving numbers from one spreadsheet to another. Anything but that! Anyhow, thanks for stopping by for this holiday message from the Otaku Author. Let’s take all the crazy and make it work for us! Happy holidays!
Other posts in the series
| Year | Title |
| 2019 | The Hikikomori Trial |
| 2020 | The Hikikomori Life |
| 2021 | The Hikikomori Endurance |
| 2022 | The Hikikomori Emergence |
| 2023 | The Hikikomori Reflection |
| 2024 | The Hikikomori Extraction |
Merry Christmas 🎅
Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too!
Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Years! Oh, and Happy Boxing Day, if you’re into that. Yes, keep up the good fight to stay home! Home is where the heart is, and where the comfy couch with the pillows that are just right! Office days, Bah! Humbug! I bet Scrooge was pro office days.
Yeah, Scrooge would love office space and hated working from home. That’s as good a reason to fight to keep it. Merry Christmas, Boxing Day, and a happy New Year to you too. Hoping that this one is a good year!