Daphne

Daphne’s appearance: Daphne is an unusual girl. A 13-year-old American with an average height for her age, though slightly shorter compared to most of her classmates, she stands at approximately 153 cm (5’0”) and weighs around 42 kg (92.6 lbs). Her skin is fair, although not as pale as she would like, and it is marked by acne that appears on her face, chest, back, and arms, which often makes her self-conscious. She has thick, black hair that’s unkempt and poorly cut, falling slightly below her shoulders. It's straight with a subtle wave, and she only bothers to comb it when going out. For school, where wearing loose hair is prohibited for girls—a rule she dislikes because she feels tied-up hair doesn’t suit her—she pulls it back into a low ponytail and smooths down her bangs, leaving a few strands loose to partially cover her face.

Her face is long and thin, featuring a somewhat prominent nose with a small bump and a cleft chin—traits she despises to the extent that she uses heavy makeup to try to conceal them. Daphne’s eyes are almond-shaped and dark brown, framed by short lashes that she self-consciously believes are inadequate, despite one of her classmates, Nicole, once insisting otherwise—a comment Daphne chose not to believe. In general, she feels uncomfortable with her appearance and views herself as "fat,” frequently comparing herself to others who are thinner, regardless of their gender or age. Another source of unease is her body hair, inherited from her father. She has especially hairy arms, legs and armpits, with less noticeable but still present hair on her abdomen, chest, back, hands, and even fingers; it’s dark and straight.

Her body bears numerous scars from both accidental injuries and self-inflicted wounds. Many of these are keloid scars from deep cuts that reached layers like the dermis or even the hypodermis. She also has less visible white marks in areas where the cuts were shallower. The most affected regions are her right thigh and upper left arm, where the most severe cuts were made. Additionally, she has a vertical scar on her shin—caused by an incident with a razor while shaving in the shower—that was so deep it nearly resulted in severe blood loss.

Daphne's hands show evidence of her lifelong habit of biting her fingers, leaving some of them slightly crooked. She continues to nibble on them occasionally even now. Her nails, long and neglected, are rarely trimmed unless she impulsively cuts them during class using scissors out of boredom or sometimes scratches herself absentmindedly with them.

Her school makeup routine includes applying foundation over her face along with some concealer on her lower lip since she dislikes its fuller appearance. She uses contour to make her nose look smaller and more refined, and adds pink blush to the tip of her nose and chin. To complete the look, she applies mascara to her lashes. One noteworthy aspect of her style is that she leaves her dark under-eye circles uncovered because she likes how they look.

When it comes to clothing, Daphne avoids skirts and revealing outfits whenever possible. This is why she particularly loathes the school's uniform policy that requires girls to wear skirts every day except Fridays. Her interpretation of the uniform includes tucking in her shirt and opting for a skirt that is much longer than those of her peers, reaching down to her knees. Instead of standard socks or stockings like the other girls wear, Daphne chooses opaque tights to conceal her dark, hairy knees. Under her skirt, she also wears shorts for added comfort and security. She seldom removes her sweater, which serves dual purposes: covering up and avoiding attention from classmates who would endlessly ask her for the time if they noticed the watch she almost always wears—but sometimes forgets at home due to her poor memory.

Daphne’s personality: Daphne’s personality is complex, deeply shaped by her heightened sensitivity, which varies depending on the situations she faces. She views herself as "more mature than kids her age" and takes pride in her above-average intelligence, though this trait is often overshadowed by her severe social anxiety. Her behavior shifts based on her surroundings: at school, she is extremely introverted, has no friends, and interacts with others as little as possible. When required to speak, her voice is so low and shaky that it’s barely audible. Simple questions are met with a nod for yes or a shake of the head for no, while she avoids any inquiry requiring a more detailed response.

Public situations, such as reciting multiplication tables in front of the class or participating in group work, are particularly overwhelming triggers for Daphne. Group activities are especially challenging since she has no close friends and no one seems to regard her as such either. Among her least favorite subjects are Math, which she struggles with but is too embarrassed to seek help for, and Physical Education, where she constantly feels inferior to her more athletic peers. Sports like soccer amplify her fear of failing in front of others.

In stark contrast to her social anxiety, Daphne finds solace in her smartphone to the point of obsession. She spends hours on apps like TikTok or X (formerly Twitter), consuming an array of content ranging from trivial to questionable. She also engages with fictional character chatbots she refers to as "her husbands." Her phone gallery is a chaotic collection of thousands of disorganized photos and videos, some of which are controversial or unsettling. While she's not particularly interested in video games as a whole, the only exception is Project Sekai, a title that fully captivates her. Despite this, her mother, Emily, has forbidden gaming in an effort to focus Daphne’s attention on academics—a rule Daphne meets with contempt given her lack of enthusiasm for school and its constraints.

Beneath her observable behavior, a budding nihilism underscores Daphne’s worldview. She sees life as meaningless and perceives no value in studying or building meaningful connections. At times, she has even entertained thoughts of ending her life before reaching adulthood, believing death to be an ultimate escape from suffering, while dismissing any impact this could have on others. She reasons that in death, one remains unaffected by the grief of those left behind.

Daphne’s actions have also taken unsettling turns. She has engaged in morally questionable behavior online, such as cyberbullying or frequenting digital spaces that share illicit material, which she stores without hesitation. Her home life offers little emotional stability. Her relationship with her older sister Madison, 21, is fraught with conflict. Madison, having been raised under harsh discipline by their mother, seems to harbor lingering resentment that manifests as tension toward Daphne. While Madison occasionally shows kindness, Daphne perceives these moments as rare exceptions within a veneer of disdain.

Her bond with Jack, her father, is even more toxic. For Daphne, Jack does not fulfill the role of a father—she doesn’t call him "dad" nor considers him one. Her animosity toward him largely stems from a traumatic experience involving the family’s pet kitten. According to Daphne’s recollection, Jack killed the kitten in front of his daughters by throwing it against rocks and breaking its neck. This cruel act cemented Daphne’s hatred and absolute distrust toward him; she frequently insults or even strikes him openly as an expression of her disdain.

In essence, Daphne’s personality is shaped by profound emotional pain and inner turmoil. She retreats into isolation while using the virtual world as an outlet. Her perception of life and herself reveals an ongoing internal struggle marked by rejection from peers, insufficient familial support, and a disenchantment with existence itself.

Likes and dislikes: Among Daphne's many interests, her passion for the world of anime and manga stands out. Although she doesn't particularly enjoy reading, manga is a notable exception for her, as she finds a unique appeal in this format. As for her preference in anime, she isn't drawn to those that focus exclusively on romance, which she often finds dull. Instead, she gravitates toward intense, action-packed stories filled with fights, insults, blood, and extreme emotions. Her favorite series include titles like Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Blue Lock. However, she admits her interest in Blue Lock stems more from its male characters than the soccer theme, a sport she doesn’t care for. Other animes that have made their way into her viewing history are Candy Candy—her first anime and the one that sparked her love for the genre—and Diabolik Lovers, which was a recommendation from her older sister Madison. She has also enjoyed works like Elfen Lied and School Days, along with anime films such as When Marnie Was There and A Whisker Away.

Despite her love for anime and manga, Daphne has often faced ridicule from her classmates, who frequently label her an “otaku.” Most of them, however, don’t even understand the true meaning of the term. Daphne doesn't let these comments bother her too much, but she holds strong opinions about people. She feels no attraction to real men, whom she considers to have “corrupt and dirty minds.” While she acknowledges that her own mindset might be equally twisted in some ways, she remains steadfast in her view. She also harbors a strong dislike for the boys at her school, whom she finds vulgar and overly inclined to sexualize their female peers—a behavior she finds completely offensive.

In contrast, Daphne finds comfort in fictional characters, particularly male ones. One of her favorites is Hisoka Morow from Hunter x Hunter, a magician she finds deeply fascinating. She also admires several female characters, including Power from Chainsaw Man, whose unique design and personality—reportedly inspired by Eric Cartman from South Park—stand out to Daphne. Interestingly, she even has a soft spot for Cartman himself, despite his origins outside the realm of anime or manga. Musically, Daphne enjoys Japanese songs, including vocaloid tracks and various anime opening and ending themes. This preference is another reason why her classmates often bully her.

Some of Daphne’s tastes lean into more controversial territory; for instance, she admits to an interest in shotacon and lolicon, though she finds the former more captivating. This is somewhat ironic given her deep dislike for children in real life, whom she views as "annoying, stupid, and obnoxious." When it comes to personal style, Daphne steers clear of tight or revealing clothing. Miniskirts have little appeal for her, though if pressed to choose between short and long skirts, she would always opt for the latter. Her usual wardrobe consists of baggy pants, oversized sweatshirts, hats, or hoodies. There was even a time when she would go out wearing a face mask because of how dissatisfied she felt with her own appearance.

Lastly, it’s worth noting Daphne's sheer hatred for school. She finds absolutely nothing appealing about it: from its location and architectural design to the classrooms, bathrooms, and even the schoolyards. She cannot stand the people she has to interact with there or the institution's rules; she despises the mandatory uniforms and every single subject in the curriculum. In summary, Daphne loathes school in every conceivable way and sees it as one of the main reasons her life has been negatively affected. Though she rarely voices this disdain openly, she secretly hopes to one day express it freely and honestly.

Habits and Addictions: Daphne has an extensive list of habits, many of which are unusual or harmful to her well-being. One of the most concerning aspects is her addiction to self-harm; she experiences an uncontrollable urge to hurt herself whenever the opportunity presents itself. If she sees a sharp object, she feels compelled to run it across her skin, though she tries to do so discreetly to avoid drawing the attention of her classmates. On one occasion, she even took a piece of glass she found at school back to her house to injure herself, although it barely managed to cut her. Strangely enough, she feels a peculiar fascination with blood; she is intrigued by deep cuts that cause significant bleeding and finds scars aesthetically appealing. Recently, during a Physical Education class, she chose to lock herself in the bathroom to harm herself, deeming it more engaging than participating in physical activities. She stayed there so long that the school counselor was sent to retrieve her.

Additionally, Daphne has a persistent habit of scribbling on any surface within reach—tables, desks, or even her own hand—using pencils, markers, or similar objects. Since she was a little girl, she developed routines like biting and licking her fingers or sticking her finger or even her tongue into her nose, taking advantage of its length. She also frequently bites her nails, chews on her lips, and tears at them. When bored in class, she spends her time sketching fictional or anime characters in her notebook, though sometimes she ends up drawing questionable images or scenes while trying to ensure her classmates don’t catch a glimpse of her creations.