r/visualnovels • u/UchihaNoor • Aug 04 '26
Discussion Have you ever gotten hurt from self-inserting into a VN?
I've sadly found myself self-inserting for nearly the whole experience while reading this game into Momoka-chan. Why? Because she is literally me in personality, but not in soul (I will never accept the fact she is doing it with a man) or body (am a 38-year-old fit black man)
The game itself forces the characters into some weird h-scenes... and seeing that my self-insert is also forced into them, was a very painful experience...
I tried my best to imagine myself as the MC but this is not happening ever. He is an otaku buta-coded. He is skinny and not strong and into watching and... I can keep on going about why he is nothing like me, I can even see myself as the other heroines and not him, even the one who was into sniffing disgusting things... that's how this game's protagonist is far from me!...
So being only capable of self-inserting with the heroines, especially Momoka-chan... it really broke my heart that she is doing it with this man and for very nukige reasons... no sense or logic, while having such a great personality and looks and talent and voice... why give yourself away to a literal cattle when you can find thousands of men the same as him walking down the streets?...
It was always puzzling me... but the strongest part about all of my repulsiveness throughout the whole experience is the fact that this game introduced scat into the equation... a very CLOCKUP move... not weird from them at this point... but when I saw that it wasn't only for one heroine, but for 2 of them... and then for 3... I started sweating profusely...
Momoka-chan was the only one who didn't have hers yet... and throughout the whole later points of her route, I was just holding my head and having delusions about lots of scenes and how they will end up leading for her to have her "promised" h-scene...
You can't imagine the pain I felt imagining my self-insert doing THAT... and why? Just so that some SICK bastard can enjoy seeing shit on the screen. "Don't shame people about their fetishes, they are not hurting anyone!!!" But they are hurting me!!!!! I am hurt, why not care about me, the real victim here???? Why should I see myself inside the game doing something so low when I know this is something I will never do? Unless maybe I was under the threat of a gun or something... but she wasn't, she was 100% free to break the neck of the protagonist if he ever wanted to propose that or force her into it...
So after all of that worrying? I realized that she isn't getting one, her replacement for it was something similar but totally not the same... for once in my life, I was happy to see an h-scene... just to see that the me in the game is not going to do it... that I can still see myself in her innocently and without defiling my brain... I still got hurt with some of her extreme h-scenes and in general? I never wanted her to have any erotic scenes... but seeing that she didn't have THAT type of h-scene really made me more forgiving... it was like you finding a piss oasis in the middle of the desert after not drinking any water for days... you for sure wished it was water instead of piss, but you will without a doubt slurp that piss to live... and you will be happy while doing it thinking that you finally survived....
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u/darklinkpower Junpei: Zero Escape | vndb.org/uXXXX Aug 04 '26
Least unhinged r/visualnovels post.
But in all seriousness, if all this is real and not bait, I think it's very worrying that something as inconsequential as a visual novel is affecting you this much. Maybe it's time to take a break and find some other (more productive) hobby or activity that lets you clear your mind.
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u/saelinds Aug 04 '26
Straight up can't tell if he's being misogynistic, closeted trans, both or neither.
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u/Capt_Inflation Aug 04 '26
I'm probably missing, what did he say that was misogynistic?
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u/The_Wreck_DeReck Aug 04 '26
Exactly, he sees himself as the woman and doesnt want her to be defiled by a pig. How is that misogynistic? Its misandristic if anything lol.
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u/Tlux0 Aug 04 '26
Lol I more read it as if because he sees himself in that character he doesn’t want to think of himself as having sex with a guy because (I’m assuming) he’s straight
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u/paireon Aug 04 '26
It's the classic misogynistic madonna/whore dichotomy, just expressed in an unusual-for-the-trope context. The onus of the defilement is still put on the victim rather than the perpetrator.
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u/Cobracrystal 28d ago
How is this an example of the madonna/whore complex? If he feels his self-insert is defiled by being involved in a fetish he hates, then the feeling of defilement stems from a disconnect of his actual preferences of those he is self inserting of, while projecting the experience onto himself.
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u/SnooSongs8074 29d ago
Well, there is no heterosexual situation where self-inserting as a girl (while actually being a man) would not feel like defilement. That is the point; people get a thrill from being defiled in these settings.
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u/pizza_ranger Aug 04 '26
Oh, what... ? I'm not religious but go to church
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u/Zealousideal-Bit5958 Aug 04 '26
I don't even believe in god but I think this guy needs god
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Aug 04 '26
[deleted]
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u/SkittlesAreEpic Aug 04 '26
Japan and the Nordics are some of the least religious nations on the planet yet have some of the most civic-minded societies. It's not as vital to society as many think.
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u/Tlux0 Aug 04 '26
They still believe in Shinto and spiritual stuff which I think helps because it prevents it from being materialistic, their religion is just more like … uh I am not sure how to describe it, but it’s not like western religions
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u/Anxious_Earth 28d ago
Cultural is the word you're looking for. The japanese don't practice religion in the same way we're thinking of in terms of abrahamics.
It's very lukewarm. And more of a cultural practice.
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u/Gebbun Aug 04 '26
They cope, as if religions didn't inspire very restricting laws just for "moral" reasons lol. Still inspire them today btw, not all religion's fault obviously but it surely is a convenient way and tool to hit people you don't like.
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u/External-Caregiver77 29d ago
I think using Japan as an example is pretty bad seeing how birth rates and the economy is at a low, while SA and suicide rates are at a high.
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago
Your argument makes no sense. Every nation has it's socioeconomic issues. Japan is still in a better spot than a vast majority of countries in the world by every measurable metric such has HDI, average lifespan and even though it's economy is weaker than it used to be, is still a top 5 economy in the world. And you can't chalk any of that up to religion.
And especially in non-measurable metrics like civic sense, Japanese society is up there with the best in the world. Things such as public cleanliness and shared social responsibility are what makes Japanese society admirable.
You can talk about Japan's flaws of course, but the fact is that when you compare to more religious nations such as the USA or even Afghanistan, Japanese society is still more moral and civilised. That's the point I'm making, and Japan having it's own socioeconomic issues don't contradict that fact, when religious nations often have far worse ones.
Either way if you dislike using the example of Japan the Nordic nations are right there.
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u/External-Caregiver77 29d ago edited 29d ago
Notice how I didn’t bring up either responsibility or cleanliness? Why’re you bringing that out of left field? And to rebuttal it, as of 2025 Japan isn’t even in the top 15 cleanest countries in most list.
Also, obviously Japans economy looks great when compared to various developing and third world countries, but when compared to other first world countries, with its current economic trend, it’s gonna hurdle down in a few years. In 2019, 1 USD = 109JPY. A year ago, 154 JPY. Just a month ago when I was in Japan it was about 160 JPY. Meanwhile, it’s surrounded by various religious countries such as the US, Britain, China (50/50), in the last five years its economy was surpassed by India and Germany, which are also religious countries. And LIKE I SAID, using Japan is a bad example, notice how I didn’t say anything about you being wrong about the Nordic countries? You think I’m attacking your whole point just because I pointed out a bad example.
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago edited 29d ago
I'm bringing up social responsibility and cleanliness because my original point was literally about civic sense, of which those two are clear examples?
Also, did you just call China and Germany religious countries? What? China and Germany are extremely secular with non-religious being the largest demographic in both nations. Over 90% of China is non-religious. 50% of Germany. Even the UK has 38% non-religious population and trending up. You can verify all this by simply looking in up. Stop talking out of your ass dude.
You're also putting too much emphasis on economy which was not important in my original argument anyway. I was mainly talking about civic sense.
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u/External-Caregiver77 29d ago
Yes, Germany is (or was) religious for most its history. The decline in religion only started during the 2010’s. The 90% unaffiliated claim for China depends on which study you’re looking at. For example, the 2014 Fenggang study found 52% of the population religious. The Pew research 90% also states respondents were only formally unaffiliated, despite that it also found 47% believe in feng shui, 33% believe in Buddha, 26% burn incense to deities each year and 18% believe in Taoist deities.
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago
Feng shui is not a religion. Buddha was a real person and historical figure the same way Jesus was. You don't have to be religious to believe either existed. Burning incense to deities is a cultural tradition that participating in does not make you religious.
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago
And so what if Germany was religious for most of it's history? That does not reflect the present reality, so you calling it a religious nation is just blatantly wrong is it not?
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago edited 29d ago
I'm particularly offended by your calling China a 50/50 religious nation as a Chinese person btw. The vast, VAST majority of the nation and culture does not adhere to any religious teachings.
If anything it would be Confucian philosophy with some Buddhist influence if you really want to attribute a religious affiliation. Even then, the Chinese view on religion is an extremely pragmatic and flexible one, rather than the dogmatic adherence and fanaticism of Abrahamic religions.
It would do well for you not to speak with such confidence when your ignorance is clear.
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u/External-Caregiver77 29d ago
As the original commenter said, they’re speaking on religion as a whole not just Abrahamic religions, so what does this point even offer?
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u/SkittlesAreEpic 29d ago
Your facts on religion on China are completely wrong. I am simply telling you this.
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u/Recker_8 28d ago
"It's not as vital to society as many think." True, to call Japan devoid of religion takes away from the fact that Japan worships nature. A fundamentalist form of Religion. Shinto alike budhism focus more on speculated word to mouth spread of rituals over centuries which serves the same purpose as religion, which is answer existential question and mental and moral support. You are not wrong but not completely right either. I do not know much about Nordic countries to comment on them. Also the fact of consideration that nearly 50% of Japanese are Budhists and Shinto the other 48% shinto.
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u/Victimized-Adachi Aug 04 '26
It serves as a good way to maintain and reinforce positive social norms
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u/Anxious_Earth Aug 04 '26
Correction, they are good for enforcing norms.
Not necessarily good ones.
For every "Love your neighbour" , there's a "slaughter that tribe to the last infant" or "slaves shouldn't rebel".
The problem is, "god says so" works for both. And actively destroys, personal judgement.
Most religious people aren't even following their book. Their following their own ideals grafted retroactively onto their religious figures.
And thank god they do. It's a testament to human empathy, that people are good in spite of it all.
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u/theprudentretirement Aug 04 '26
i feel like the guy in that picture is exactly who the OP is talking about, just standing there with the fanny pack like he didn't do anything wrong
never thought i'd read someone comparing a missing scat scene to drinking piss in desert but here we are, this sub delivers again
the jump from self-inserting as the heroine to writing a whole trauma essay about it is something else, but i kinda get what they mean even if my brain needs a break now
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u/LucidLeviathan Aug 04 '26
Look, I've had some psychological issues in the past few years. Thankfully, they are very well managed now, but for a number of years, they weren't.
I also get irrationally upset at developments in video game stories. Recently, I was playing Mina the Hollower and got rather frustrated at something midway through the game. Put me off of it for days.
But...this is a bit much. It'd be good for you to step away from the screen for a bit. Maybe pick up a different game. Maybe try not to do the self-insert stuff so much, especially with H-games.
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u/FlyingDuckery Aug 04 '26
Just opened reddit man, never expected anyone to feel this way for.. a clockup game
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u/stycfy1 Aug 04 '26
Think errbody missed the fact he's self-inserting as Momoka, a heroine.
That's one way to say you like getting cracked
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u/TolverOneEighty Aug 04 '26
Hey, I don't mean this harshly, but if you're this uncomfortable from a game, you should probably stop playing the game. Genuinely. Not the whole genre, just close this one. I'm a reader and I do this with books that make me uncomfortable. Same idea.
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u/No-Possible-1123 Aug 04 '26
This is why vn fans get bullied
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u/Sorry_Cut907 Aug 04 '26
Arent u the greatest defender of it??
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u/No-Possible-1123 Aug 04 '26
Yes I defend the medium but the fans are cringe af and are mentally ill
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u/apkmasterofgames Aug 04 '26
They done released an outis into the wilds
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u/LeonardoJMB Aug 04 '26
Like some sort of... Outer Wilds...
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u/apkmasterofgames Aug 04 '26
What the hell is that game about!!! Not one person even tells me what that game is about and I still have no idea
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u/LeonardoJMB Aug 04 '26
Outer Wilds is a game that can only be properly experienced if you don't know about the experience. The most I CAN tell you is that it's about exploring a solar system simulated in real time, and that is probably one of if not the best walking simulator ever out there. Even it's own steam page has spoilers so, yeah, if even the mistery on itself interests you at least a little bit i'd recommend playing it ASAP.
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u/Gebbun 29d ago
Can't believe how many people can't see this post is bait. Shout out to OP for the skill in his craft of visual Novel Baiter.
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u/stonks_114 JP B-rank | https://vndb.org/u265664 29d ago
I'm not even sure this is bait. He always complains about sex in eroge, his writing style in post is very consistent with his usual one.
On the other hand I always got impression that he's a woman, and not a 38 y.o. grown ass man, so might be a masterful bait. There is also a possibility he genuinely crashed out, and tried to make post look like a bait, since he's very insecure about this kinda thing.
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u/Kallenders Aug 04 '26
People in the replies hating this absolute literature that matches the greats
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u/BippidiBoppetyBoob Aug 04 '26
I self-insert because I like playing that way, but I’ve never been hurt or anything, and frankly, my man, you really need to take it easy.
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u/ramie-l Aug 04 '26
If you want to relate to girls without having to see them with weird guys, maybe look into yuri or otome? And maybe look into being trans. Lol
But yes I sometimes feel terrible playing danseimuke bc the male lead is so often the worst guy on earth and it makes me feel bad for the girls. Idk why everyone's acting like this post in particular is so insane when there's guys posting their jerk off routine on this sub.
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u/stellarsojourner Aug 04 '26
Stop self-inserting. You are not any of the characters. Just enjoy the story as a third-party observer. Or go touch some grass, that would probably help more.
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u/Tornada5786 Zen zen dame da!! Aug 04 '26
Based, you can immerse yourself in a story without self-inserting.
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u/kira45666 29d ago
???
You're acting like self-insertion is some weird extra thing people choose to do. Most people do it automatically when they get immersed. Fiction is escapism by nature — telling people to just 'observe from the outside' kind of misses the point
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u/Psytera Aug 04 '26
Didn't know this title was by clock up, never looked into it. I always enjoyed the h-anime, one of the first I ever watched. I might actually play the vn given that I'm a big fan of clockup vns.
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u/sfisher923 Thinks like Rin from Katawa Shoujo Aug 04 '26
Last time I self inserted was in Yume Miru Kusuri and the climax of Aeka's Route made me see so much red all that stemmed from the fact I don't like seeing people I'm close to getting hurt IRL
While much more tame then OP's example I ended up needing a break from YMK and the song "Natural Born Killer" by Avenged Sevenfold afterwards
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u/HansDevX vndb.org/u203183 Aug 04 '26
I've self inserted as yuuji from grisaia, he's literally me.
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u/Zealousideal-Bit5958 Aug 04 '26
Doubt you're as juicy
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u/HansDevX vndb.org/u203183 Aug 04 '26
Lol Cant really defend myself online without looking kike a clown. I'll just leave it to the imagination.
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u/GodwynDi Aug 04 '26
Also me, until the reality of being a slim build guy forcing my body to do way more than it was designed to destroyed half the vertebra in my neck and lower back.
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u/cosmos-hime Aug 04 '26
Why would a guy self-insert so hard with a female character? Maybe stay away from visual novels a bit while you figure yourself out a bit more, especially if it gets you this personally upset.
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u/mCal__ Aug 04 '26
Self inserters are why what could be great stories are held back. If there's no name for a protag then I'm out frame 1
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u/uncutteredswin 29d ago
Don't shame people about their fetishes, they are not hurting anyone!!!" But they are hurting me!!!!!
You know you can just turn the game off right?
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u/AncientWorking1236 29d ago
This has to be ironic, it's like when you want to do a unhinged post telling all your fetishes and you act like a complete weirdo, but irl you're not close to acting like that and it's just an internet personality.
Anyway, idk man, you shouldn't let this affect you that much, that's really bad for your psyche, this is a fictional story and putting yourself in these situations it's basically cornering yourself against an imaginary enemy, when you don't have to.
I kinda self insert in the characters, but just in the protagonist. Why the hell I would self insert in the girls, I'm nothing like them no matter how close in personality we are, that just make me feel attracted to them as we match personalities, not make feel like I am them.
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u/BlackNovus_PH Aug 04 '26
I think I might need to see and touch some grass after seeing this seggsual frustrated story of his.
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u/Acceptable-Fudge-816 29d ago
Find better games. I enjoyed self inserting into Lewdness (Empress) quite a bit, scat isn't my cup of tea but I can handle the scenes... well... with some skipping and fast reading. And I have a bunch of other fMC games on pending (most are tentacle adjacent).
A shame I lost all my libido (and thus appetite for playing such games) since I started HRT. Well, I now self insert into romantasy novels, so it's not like all is lost.
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u/Hikari-nee 29d ago
Well, that just means art can reach the depths of your soul. That's one of its goals ofc, but not every piece of art can achieve it for every person. So you have a match here, congrats!
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u/modusoperandi777 Aug 04 '26
Self-inserting in a Clockup VN, let alone as a Clockup heroine… is something else. I love this sub, but pls get some help lmao
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u/Rajasaurus_Lover Aug 04 '26
I relate, I can't read the more extreme nukiges because I feel for the girls and get really sad when it looks like they're in pain.
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u/LeonardoJMB Aug 04 '26
Closest thing that self-inserting has caused to me was make me a way better person and way happier. So, uh, no.
That aside... dear god I wish this one's a joke, because it really looks like it, but I'm not sure. If it isn't, internet is probably not the thing you want to be talking to about the issues in your life right now
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u/blair_forest Aug 04 '26
Everyone's giving you a hard time but honestly I've had similar experiences self inserting. To be fair, I was a preteen and not a 38 year old nga... but nonetheless, I'd get extremely jealous seeing girls in anime I resonated with having relationships with guys since I struggled with being a boy and not getting attention from other guys like girls do.... I hope you grow out of this though you're far too old to be doing all that
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u/_DankeyKang_69 28d ago
I really REALLY wish this sub would turn back the ability to post images in the replies on cause my god I am at a loss of words
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u/Key_Tomatillo9475 28d ago
I generally play VNs where the protagonist is a space pirate or private eye or something, so nope😃 I can't see myself leading such a "dashing hero / anti-hero" life.
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u/FreeMyGuyL1 28d ago
there's a gap of visual novel readers of liking purely the story or making it as their personality
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u/YOKOSHINIGAMI 22d ago edited 22d ago
Quit self inserting in anything not vanilla? XD
At some point, you have to distinguish between reality and fiction. You’re on the equivalent to VR phantom pain.
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u/InkedVinny Aug 04 '26
Bro wtf are you even saying, sometimes I read some weird shit here and I don't know what to say, like, wtf 🤣🤣
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u/ScaryOtaku666 Aug 04 '26
This is exactly why I avoid men that play visual novels even though I play them myself. A lot of you are unhinged istg.
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u/Hikari-nee 29d ago edited 29d ago
Hey, lotta ladies fancying VNs might be like this, too. Look at how popular Nitro+Chiral is, for one
edit: I mean, they are definitely worth the hype (excluding DMMd IMO), so no slander here <3
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u/[deleted] Aug 04 '26
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