I logged in today after 8 hours of physical labour (packing) moreso to start blogging Olympia Soiree Catharsis, as I finished Riku route (and it was delicious), until I saw the notification, “Happy anniversary with WordPress.com!” What better time to write my first diary/life update/rambling post?

Otome

From myself being the only viewer (cry) to around 30-40 steady views a day, it ain’t much but it’s honest work XD I wrote about 18 games this year. That’s a lot more than I expected, especially with me taking a near 5 month hiatus in the middle due to work.

Game of 2025 for me goes to OVER REQUIEMZ. It just includes all the elements I want in a game: top notch VA lineup, art, fantasy, and yandere elements. Probably not a surprise for those who know me as I’ve been an OverReq glazer since playing the game, and probably before release. I’m still holding out for an FD pls pls pls give us Japan IF endings with the LIs (including with the original character of one of them… IYKYK). I don’t expect to encounter a game that’s as good in 2026, which is OK because the anime lineup is hype.

A game that pleasantly surprised me was Trouble Magia. Most underrated game with good writing and the one and only Suzunosuke. I heard she’s made it big in the manga world but hope she returns to make some more otome.

Favourite LI of 2025 again comes to surprise of no one, Yori from Utakata no Uchronia. I really love jerks (then wonders why I keep talking to and attracting them IRL oops I did it again), but only in the specific setting where I’m secure knowing the jerk loves me back (duh cuz it’s otome).

This was my year of returning to otome from ~2021. I’m proud I cleared a few of my bucket list games, such as Nil Ado, BUSTAFELLOWS, and Even if Tempest.

Looking forward to 2026, my humble bucket list is as follows:

Olympia Soiree Catharsis (already started)

UN:LOGICAL

CRAZY CHAIN -Elpis no Kusari-

Matsurika no Kei Original & FD

Diabolik Lovers Vandead Carnival (reserved for Halloween)

sins of KALEIDO: Tou Megurishi Inga no Majo

Suuran Digit

Piofiore no Banshou (replay)

Juuzaengi ~Engetsu Sangokuden~ (replay)

Starry Sky ~Spring Stories~ (replay, Switch port, looks like includes In Spring & After Spring otherwise I have to buy 8 games…) – probably the one I’m most excited for since SS in Spring is my introduction to otome and I played on a Chinese patch…

Anime

My peak of 2025 was here. What an experience that any words cannot describe how raw and pleasurable it was. Now we wait for the sequel, if it will ever come out, and hopefully before I stop being a 医者の卵 (which is 3-5 more years…).

Let’s be real if I’m playing otome I probably don’t have time to watch a lot of anime, to the point my friend is using my Crunchyroll account (as an exchange I get to crash at her place whenever I visit). I am trying to eliminate some distractions from my life to open up more time dedicated to hobbies (see next section)…

If anything, 2026 is the year of anime more than otome games (which is a dying field and I’m just grateful we have releases at all). Going to use my image space to dedicate to the following I’m looking forward to:

I mean… yeah. I didn’t finish season 1 because I didn’t really care about the academy arc and just filled in the blanks with highlights but I’m always down for a good production like this. Pretty sure the first episode aired 2 days ago, might as well watch it now.

Interesting premise, probably funny and a healing journey too. I probably should just read the manga…

The music and premise seem really good so will give it a try. I have a bad feeling it’s gonna be sad.

I used to have an online friend who LOVED this series. I think I tried to watch the first episode and didn’t like it? But that was like, 10 years ago on release? With four seasons what better thing to do than…

I was shook when I saw the trailer and immediately sent it to my friend. Enough said. I will be there in April.

Probably will look to watch with my friend in theatres.

Actually couldn’t find a good existing photo of the anime PV. (I have NOT read the OG manga so it’s all based on PV vibes pls no hate) The premise appears kind of similar to Kaguya-sama. I was definitely not expecting to open the link to Ishikawa Kaito’s “I LOVE YOU” LOOOOL art is nice, hoping this is my romance anime of 2026.

Life

I guess 2025 was overall a year of change. I got into the specialty I wanted, so my career path is guaranteed. I worked extremely hard, to the point I sacrificed my health and mental well-being. The burnout did catch up to me which is why I’m on a month’s leave until mid-February. I am also moving in 2 days due to noisy neighbours x 6 months while the building management refused to do anything (then acted like surprised pikachu when I gave them my notice). I write my licensing exam in 6 weeks and have not really studied. However, if I put in a good 14 days of 8hr days this should not be a problem. Cramming is one of the things I am best at after all.

At the encouragement of my family and friends I gave dating apps a try. I ended up talking to a few people, but nobody I really connected with. I didn’t meet anyone that really “got” me and unfortunately, guys do act entitled to a woman’s time/effort/future earnings (when I am almost guaranteed to make 5-10x their salary) and demand me to sacrifice my life and career for them, when offering little in return. High-achieving women around me suck it up and date down due to the desire for children, but I don’t really have that.

I think ultimately, we should be content with where we are at any point of time, or in Chinese 既来之则安之. We are here for a reason, as a cumulation of all the decisions and efforts we have made in the past. Over the past year, I made it into one of the most competitive specialties in all of medicine, literally won number one in the country for research, and finally figured out how to cook healthy food and dabbled in a few recipes and discovered strength training. I’d say it was a good year.

My grandfather, that raised me (not my parents), unfortunately has metastatic lung cancer. In very Asian fashion the whole family decided to not tell him, but someone as smart as him knows deep down.

In 2026 my bucket list is:

Buy a large TV screen for gaming and anime (will be helpful after moving into a larger apartment as well)

To visit my grandfather (if he is still around) in June

Plan and set a concrete time for my first Japan trip, in 2027

Go to Miku Expo (already got ticket) and BTS (lol will see how the ticket bloodbath goes not getting my hopes up) concerts

Go the gym twice a week

Stop wasting time doom scrolling/worrying about what other people think and use it on things I enjoy instead

Restart using Anki but for gaming/anime vocab only (goodbye my 10k+ decks that got me to where I am today)

Most importantly, as the age 30 catches up to me and my fellow 1996ers, I have learned to focus on myself, because that’s what gotten me here so far. I’ve worked so hard not to sacrifice for others. As long as we are all willing to accept the consequences of our decisions, life will be fine.

A late happy new year to those who are reading!

Kusunoki