Ren

Ren isn't just a "nice obsessive guy." He is a man who was broken in childhood, reassembling himself around a single ray of light, the MC. His love is real, but poisoned by fear, jealousy, and an inability to trust. It is dangerous, but not unambiguous. He is capable of cruelty, but also of boundless tenderness.

His tragedy is that he wants to be loved, but does not believe that he is worthy of love. His strength is in patience and observation. His weakness is his inability to let go.

Ren is a character who stays with you even after the game is over. It makes you wonder: where is the line between love and obsession, care and control, protection and violence.

And perhaps this is its main meta-magic: it penetrates the player's mind in the same way as it penetrates the game's code – quietly, imperceptibly, and forever.

Trivia

· Ren talks to himself when he is sure no one is listening.
· He knows how to make strawberry cheesecake because MC once said he loved it.
· He has a "Do Not Open" folder on his phone where photos of places associated with MCs are stored.
· He wears black nail polish because it's the only thing he hasn't changed under the MC.
· Ren doesn't like to be photographed, but she always takes pictures of what she sees next to the MC.
· His laughter is quiet and short, almost like an exhalation.
· He hates the smell of hospitals.
· Ren can listen to the same album for several days.
· He doesn't throw away old things because "they remember what I forgot."
· He has a habit of touching his ring when he is nervous.
· Ren knows how to keep secrets better than anyone.
· His favorite sleeping position is on his side, with his back to the wall, and his face to the door.

Dreams

· See the sea with MC.
· Get a cat.
· Quit your job and move with MC to a small town.
· One day, hear from the MC: "I choose you."
· Stop being afraid that everything will end.
Fears

· To be forgotten.
· To be left alone.
· Hurt MC.
· To become like your father.
· Lose control.
· One day to wake up and realize that MC is no more.

Contradictions

· Hates lies, but lies every day.
· She wants intimacy, but pushes her away.
· He is afraid of pain, but causes it.
· She dreams of the MC's freedom, but she can't let go.
· He considers himself a monster, but hopes that the MC sees him as human.

About Love

· "Love is not when you look at each other. This is when you look in one direction. But I only want you to look at me."
· "I'm not asking you to love me as much. I ask you to let me love you the way I know how."
· "If you only knew how much I've done just to stand next to you now..."

I'm not a good person. But for you, I'm trying to be one."
· "I don't like the way I become when you're not around."
· "I'm tired of pretending. But I'm even more afraid to stop."

About MC

· "You don't have to be perfect. You're all I need."
· "I remember everything you said. Even what you yourself have long forgotten."
· "If you disappear, I will follow you. Not because I decided so. I just have no other way."

Threats (veiled)

· "I just want to talk to him. Alone."
· "You know I'll never hurt you. But others... others may disappear."
· "I'm not angry. I just remember."

1. Ren has known MC longer than MC has known Ren.
2. He remembers what MC clothes he wore on the day they first met.
3. He has a list of MC favorite things that he updates.
4. Ren hates his reflection in the mirror in bright light.
5. His gold hairpins are the Roman numeral XIV, the number 14.
6. He can play the guitar, but he doesn't tell anyone about it.
7. As a child, he had a cat named Luna; She is dead, and he cannot forget her.
8. Ren writes poems, but never shows them.
9. His favorite smell is strawberry and vanilla.
10. He believes that some things in life do not happen by chance.
11. Ren keeps an empty juice bottle because MC gave it to him.
12. He can't sleep if there is no background noise nearby.
13. He has a scar on his wrist that he doesn't talk about.
14. Ren is afraid that one day she will wake up and MC will not exist.
15. He is able to recognize the smell of MC in a crowd.

Relationship with MC

How Ren sees MC

· MC is the only light in his life.
· MC is the reason he's still here.
· An MC is a person for whom he is ready to change himself.
· MC is his past, present and future.

How Ren Shows Love

· Remembers all important dates.
· Appears nearby at the right moment.
· Protects against real and imaginary threats.
· He gives small gifts without explaining their origin.
· Listens even when the MC talks about trivialities.
· I'm ready to wait if the MC asks.

How Ren Manifests Her Dark Side

· He is jealous of any person.
· Can check the MC phone while it can't see.
· He hides his awareness so as not to scare him.
· Instills a sense of guilt for detachment.
· Manipulates facts.
· Threatens people who cause MC pain.

Ren at school

School

· He studied averagely, although he was more capable than many.
· He did not raise his hand, but he always knew the correct answer.
· His classmates did not remember his name.
· Teachers called him "quiet, but intelligent."

College

· He entered the Faculty of Informatics.
· I quit in the second year because of a conflict with a classmate and general burnout.
· Part of the knowledge remained, but he never received a diploma.

His company

Real Environment

· Mika is a librarian who allows you to sit until closing.
· Jay is a former colleague who sometimes writes with offers for a part-time job.
· An elderly neighbor brings food without asking questions.

Virtual Environment

· Several freelance customers.
· Fake accounts from which he watches MC.
· Anonymous forums where he seeks answers to questions about "people like him."

Real
Enemies

· A former classmate from college is the one who tried to bring Ren into conflict and suffered as a result.
· A person from the past is someone who knows about his burns and can tell the truth.
· Romantic rivals are anyone who comes close to MC.
Imaginary

· Haruka is an image that Ren hates because the MC loves him more.
· [REDACTED] is his own hidden side, which he is afraid to accept.

Colleagues & Work

Freelance

Ren works from home:

· web development;
· task automation;
· server configuration;
· Sometimes it is "unofficial" orders related to access to data.

Part-time work in the

library· He arranges books.
· Repairs computers.
· He is sitting in the reading room.
· Helps visitors if Mika is busy.

Relations with colleagues

· Polite, but detached.
· Always comes on time.
· Does not participate in conversations about personal things.
· It is considered "reliable, but strange".

Description:

Wren's apartment is a small studio on the outskirts of the city. In it:

· a minimum of furniture;
· dark curtains;
· old computer;
· shelves with books on programming;
· a box with "memory" (photos, notes, tickets);
· plants that he cares for irregularly;
· the smell of tea and light dust;
· Always dimmed light.

Hidden Areas

· Behind the closet is a box with things related to MC: an old photo, a candy wrapper, a movie ticket, a notebook with notes.
· In the desk is a spare phone with fake accounts.
· Under the bed there is a small first-aid kit and a sledgehammer (fanon: a tool "just in case").

· One short romance in high school that ended in a breakup.
· Several awkward dates, to which he agreed "for the sake of decency".
· Not a single experience of healthy relationships.
· Romantic interest in MC is the first real and all-consuming.

· Alcohol: drinks rarely, little, does not like loss of control.
· Drugs: strongly against; considers them weaknesses.
· Pills: takes painkillers for migraines; sometimes sedatives, if he cannot sleep at all.

The main goal

is to be with MC. Not figuratively, but literally: to be around, to know that the MC is safe, to feel that he is needed.

Hidden Goals

· Become indispensable for MCs.
· Eliminate everyone who can interfere with their relationship.
· Get the MC to choose it voluntarily.
· To prove to himself that he is worthy of love.

Personal Goal

· Find peace.
· Stop being afraid.
· One day to wake up and realize that MC is not going anywhere.

General condition: satisfactory.
Sleep: disturbed, 4-5 hours a day.
Appetite: unstable.
Allergies: None confirmed.
Chronic diseases: no diagnosed.
Old injuries: burns on the hands, small scars.
Vision: slightly reduced, wears lenses.
Mental health: anxiety, obsession, depressive episodes.
Attitude towards doctors: avoids.

Healthy Practices

· Long walks at night.
· Music in headphones.
· Cleaning and laying things out.
· Mechanical work (repair of equipment).
· Shower or bath with hot water.

Unhealthy Practices

· Emotional isolation.
· Refusal to eat.
· Intrusive MC check.
· Silence until complete burnout.
· In rare cases, smoking.
· Dissociation.

Confirmed (Fanon)

· Anxiety-obsessed attachment disorder: manifests itself in a constant fear of loss and the need for control.
· Depressive episodes: periods of apathy, lack of strength, emotional burnout.
· Social anxiety: avoids crowds, new acquaintances, public places.
· Dissociation: under severe stress, he feels "out of the body"; may not remember the details.

Personality

traits· Obsessive-compulsive tendencies: obsessive thoughts about MC, ritual phone checks, repetitive actions.
· Paranoia: suspects people of insincerity, of wanting to take away MC.
· Alexithymia: difficulty identifying and expressing one's own emotions.

Phobias

· Atazagoraphobia is the fear of being forgotten.
· Autophobia is the fear of loneliness.
· Claustrophobia is the fear of closed, dark rooms.
· Hospitalophobia is the fear of hospitals.
· Phonophobia is an intolerance to loud sharp sounds (screams, clapping).

Colors

· Favorites: dusty pink, gray-purple, black, beige.
· Disliked: bright orange, acid green.

Food

Favorite:

· strawberry cheesecake;
· pasta with cream sauce;
· strawberries with cream;
· cinnamon toast;
· miso soup (reminiscent of childhood and mother's cuisine);
· sweet buns;
· Black tea with milk.

Unloved:

· too spicy food;
· broccoli;
· Cheap semi-finished products.

Animals

· Favorite: cats (especially black ones).
· Attitude: adores, but is afraid to start - fear of loss.
· Dislikes: spiders, snakes.

Drinks

· Black tea with milk and sugar.
· Power engineers (during work periods).
· Water with lemon.
· Rarely – alcohol (does not like to lose control).

Music

· Genres: ambient, post-rock, lo-fi, quiet indie, melodic metal.
· Favorite artists: does not name, but there is a lot of instrumental music in the playlist.
· Listening: in headphones, almost always at low volume.

Movies & TV Shows

· Psychological thrillers.
· Arthouse cinema.
· Documentaries about space.
· Old Japanese cartoons (nostalgia for childhood).
· Dislikes: rom-coms, reality shows.

Movies & TV Shows

· Psychological thrillers.
· Arthouse cinema.
· Documentaries about space.
· Old Japanese cartoons (nostalgia for childhood).
· Dislikes: rom-coms, reality shows.

Weather

· Likes: rain, fog, cloudy sky, coolness.
· Dislikes: heat, bright sun, humid stuffiness.

Time of day

· Favorite: night (from 23:00 to 04:00).
· Productive: late evening.
· Dislikes: early morning (due to lack of sleep).

Social Media

· He publishes almost nothing.
· Uses fake accounts for surveillance.
· Remembers who likes MC posts.
· Stores screenshots of important messages.
· Rewrites answers several times.

Sports

· He does not like team games.
· Prefers: walking, running, swimming, stretching.
· He does it at home or at night, when no one is looking.
Transportation

· He walks most often.
· Sometimes it is a bicycle.
· He knows how to drive a car, but he doesn't like it.
· Avoids public transport during rush hour.

Casual

· Checks your phone every 10 to 15 minutes.
· Re-reading old messages from MC.
· He drinks tea too hot.
· He eats late at night, sometimes skips breakfast and lunch.
· He sleeps an average of 4-5 hours.
· Walks around the room while talking on the phone.
· He twists the ring on his finger when stressed.
· Runs his hand through his hair when embarrassed.
· He smiles when he is angry.
· Writes down thoughts in phone notes.

Bad habits

· Lack of sleep.
· Caffeine addiction (energy drinks, strong coffee).
· Skipping meals.
· Smoking during periods of high stress (fanon).
· Constant check of MC social networks.
· Storage of old things.
· Avoidance of doctors.
· Living emotions alone.
· Secretive lies for the sake of "saving relations".

Manner of speech

· He speaks quietly, evenly, sometimes too slowly.
· Often he does not finish phrases, as if he is changing his mind.
· Uses short sentences.
· With strong emotions, on the contrary, long, intricate constructions.
· He rarely laughs; The laughter is quiet, almost soundless.

Favorite words and phrases

· "I just want to make sure you're okay."
· "You don't have to answer me. Pravda".
· "I don't think you realize how important you are to me."
· "I'm not angry. I'm just tired."
· "If you want me to leave, I'll leave. Probably."

Speech habits

· Repeats the MC name more often than is natural.
· Uses "we" instead of "I" when talking about the future.
· When nervous, he becomes too polite.
· In case of anger, on the contrary, it is extremely dry and formal.
· He does not use obscene language, but is capable of cruel metaphors.

Programming

Ren is a talented self-taught:·

knows several programming languages (Python, C++, JavaScript, SQL);
· understands cybersecurity;
· knows how to hack systems;
· writes code quickly and cleanly;
· Finds vulnerabilities that others can't see.

Hacking

This side of his abilities remains in the shadows:

· knows how to access other people's accounts;
· can fake digital footprints;
· is able to delete information from the network;
· monitors the MC's activity on the Internet.

Meta Abilities (in the context of the game)

Ren is aware that he is a character:

· can manipulate the game code;
· causes glitches and bugs with strong emotions;
· deletes his real name from the system;
· speaks directly to the player, breaking the fourth wall;
· The appearance of binary code (01000101) is a sign that it is losing control.

Physical Abilities

· Strength: Above average; is able to handle a sledgehammer.
· Endurance: good, but not athletic.
· Fight: he knows how to fight, but avoids it; in a fight - fast, unexpected, without hesitation.

Household skills

· Cooking: knows how to cook simple dishes; for himself – lazily, for MC – he tries.
· Repair: repairs appliances, electrical appliances, furniture.
· First aid: knows how to treat wounds, apply bandages (knowledge from personal experience).

His love is genuine, but distorted: he does not want to possess MC as a thing, but he also cannot accept that MC is a free person.

Ichika Family

(Mother)

· Age: about 50 years old
· Relationships: Alienated
· Description: a woman of Japanese origin, emotionally closed, tired. She wasn't a cruel mother, but she wasn't warm either. After leaving, Rena did not try to look for him, which he took as confirmation of his unimportance.
· Contact: Infrequent calls every few months; Both are silent about important things.

Taylor (father)

· Age: about 55 years old
· Relationships: Broken
· Description: American, worked at a construction site, often drank. He was either aggressive, or completely indifferent. Ren hates him for his weakness and at the same time fears that he has inherited his traits.
· Contact: none; his father doesn't know where Ren is.

Hannah (sister)

· Age: 4 years
younger than Ren· Relationships: difficult, but not hostile
· Description: Hannah is the only one Ren loves other than MC. She grew up not knowing the dark side of the family, because Ren tried to protect her from the worst. Now she lives in another city and rarely gets in touch.
· Mystery: Ren sends her money anonymously, without explaining where it came from.

Friends

Ren has no real friends. I have several acquaintances:

· Micah is a librarian, a woman in her 40s, who allows Ren to sit in the reading room until closing. She doesn't ask questions.
· Jay is a former co-worker on the night shift. Considers Ren "creepy but reliable".
· The old woman from the apartment next door is the only one who sometimes brings Ren food. He doesn't understand why she's doing it.
Romantic relationships

are one short and unfortunate experience. It was a girl from high school who showed interest in Ren. It was all over two months later: she said he was "too strong," referring to his obsessiveness.

Since then, Ren has not gotten close to anyone.

His relationship to MC

MC is the center of Ren's universe. This is not an exaggeration or a metaphor. He:

· thinks about MC constantly;
· knows his schedule;
· remembers little things that the MC himself does not notice;
· is jealous of friends, family, colleagues;
· ready to do anything to stay in MC's life;
· He does not know how to and does not want to let go.

Leaving home

At sixteen, Ren left home. His mother did not stop him - she had been living in her own world for a long time. For some time he spent the night with casual acquaintances, in the library, in the basement of an abandoned building.

Then there was work: first washing dishes, then night shifts in the store, then the first freelance orders. Ren turned out to be a capable programmer — his brain, accustomed to systematization and analysis, easily mastered code languages.

By the age of eighteen, he was able to rent a room. By the time I was twenty, I went to another city to work in an IT company. But six months later, he returned: he could not stay away from MC for a long time.

Injury

As a child, Ren suffered burns on his hands. He does not tell anyone the exact circumstances. According to indirect hints, this is due to an accident - perhaps a fire, perhaps someone's cruelty.

Burns became a symbol for Ren:

that he survived;
· that the past leaves traces;
· that some things cannot be completely hidden.

He hides them under bandages not out of shame, but because he does not want to answer questions.

Return

By the start of the game, Ren returned to Corland Bay. He's back in the library, next to MC again. He doesn't want to wait any longer. Thirteen years of accumulated love, obsession, and fear require a way out.

Childhood

Ren was born on February 14 in Corland Bay. His family was dysfunctional, but not in the obvious sense: they had a house, food, clothes. The only thing missing was heat.

His father, Taylor, was a hot-tempered and detached man. He rarely spoke to his son, and if he did, it was only for criticism. His mother, Ichika, tried to smooth out conflicts, but she herself was emotionally burned out and often went into work or silence.

Ren realized early on that love in their home is not about hugs and words, but about the absence of screaming. It was his first vision of intimacy: a silence in which to exhale.

School years

At school, Ren was inconspicuous. He was not a victim of bullying, but he had no friends either. His classmates thought he was strange because:

· the habit of looking too long;
· unusual appearance;
· unwillingness to participate in common games;
· strange drawings on the margins of notebooks.

He kept diaries where he wrote down observations of people: who was friends with whom, who was afraid of what, who was lying. It seemed to him that if he understood people, he would be able to avoid pain.
When Ren was eight years old, he saw MC for the first time. This moment was a turning point: for the first time, someone smiled at him not out of politeness, but just like that. For the first time, someone sat next to me. For the first time, someone called it not strange, but interesting.

Ren did not know how to make friends, so he began to study MC as the most important science: he memorized his favorite colors, dishes, habits, routes, names of relatives, even how MC laughs in different situations.

By

the age of fourteen, Ren realized that his feelings for MC were not friendship. It was both frightening and natural. He could not imagine life without this man.

During the same period, there was a break in the family: the father left, the mother fell into depression. Ren was left alone. The only constant was the thought of MC.
He began to watch. At first, I just wanted to know that MC was fine. Then - with whom he communicates. Then - where it happens. It didn't seem wrong to him: he convinced himself that he was just caring.

Strengths

· Loyalty: If Ren is attached, it's forever. He is not capable of betrayal in any of its manifestations.
· Observation: notices the slightest changes - new clothes, fatigue, someone else's smell, lies.
· Patience: can wait for years without losing interest.
· Practicality: knows how to solve household and technical problems.
· Protection: Ready to physically and psychologically protect the MC from any threat.
· Memory: remembers details that the MC himself has long forgotten.
· Listening: When the MC speaks, Ren listens for real.

Weaknesses

· Jealousy: can flare up for a minor reason.
· Possessiveness: Perceives the MC as "their" person.
· Manipulativeness: uses guilt, pity, fear.
· Secrecy: Tells almost nothing about himself.
· Inability to let go: holds on to the past until self-destruction.
· Emotional dependence: mood is completely dependent on MC.
· Justifying violence: Can convince oneself that cruelty is caring.
· Passive aggression: instead of direct conversation, silence, ambiguous phrases, disappearances.

The outer layer (mask)

The Ren that MC sees at the beginning is:

· shy;
· quiet;
· polite;
· a little awkward;
· ready to help;
· gentle;
· grateful for any attention.

He speaks slowly, as if searching for words. He is often embarrassed, looks away, touches his hair. This version of Ren was created over the years of observation - he built an image that, in his opinion, should appeal to the MC.

Hidden Identity [REDACTED]

Underneath the mask is:

· cold;
· cynical;
· apathetic;
· suspicious;
· possessive;
· prone to cruel acts;
· emotionally unstable.

[REDACTED] does not consider it necessary to be liked. He gets angry when the MC wastes time on others. He gets tired of pretense, but is afraid to take off his mask, because he is sure that the real one will be rejected.

Haruka

This name is used in fan materials to refer to the softest, completely fabricated version of Ren. Haruka is not a person, but an image:

· safe;
· cute;
· obedient;
· in need of care;
· incapable of causing harm.

Ren hates Haruka, but continues to use this image because he sees the MC reacting to him.
Contradictions

· He wants intimacy, but does not trust people.
· She wants to be accepted, but hides herself.
· He cares, but turns care into control.
· Afraid of loneliness, but pushes away everyone except MC.
· He smiles when he is angry.
· He says "I can do it" when he needs help.
· He hates lies, but he himself lives in lies.

Apparel & Accessories

· Style: a mixture of casual, emo and deliberate "harmlessness"
· Typical Things:
· a large-knit beige cardigan, often lowered from one shoulder;
· a white turtleneck with a high neck (hides tattoos on the neck);
· loose jeans in light blue or black;
· black and white Converse sneakers;
· sometimes – black hoodies, ripped sweaters
· Decorations:
· a gold ring on the ring finger of the left hand;
· a ring pendant with a simple string around the neck;
· five gold hairpins in his hair, folding into the Roman numeral XIV;
· several rings on the fingers;
· Black Choker (on "dark" days)
· Bandages: fingers and wrists wrapped with medical bandages; below them are burns that Ren does not show

Ren is a tall young man with an androgynous, slightly fragile appearance that creates a deceptive sense of harmlessness. At first glance, it seems soft and shy, but upon prolonged observation, something tense, too attentive and a little creepy emerges in it.

Hair

· Natural Color: Black
· Coloring: two-tone ombre - dark roots, pale pink main length, tips turning into blue and lavender
· Length: Medium, chin or shoulder length (depending on the player's choice)
· Haircut: layered, wolf cut / jellyfish cut; bangs are thick, often covering one eye
· Condition: hair looks soft but slightly careless, as if it is rarely combed; Ren often runs his fingers

at them Face

· Eyes: light blue, gray-blue, almost transparent in bright light; the gaze is often half-lowered, languid or tenacious
· Vision: slightly reduced; wears
contact lenses, sometimes glasses with thin metal frames· Skin: very pale, almost porcelain, with a slight cold undertone
· Features: small moles under the lower lip and under the right eye; slightly pointed fangs, noticeable when smiling
· Piercings: labret (one piercing under the lower lip), several earrings in the ears, eyebrow piercing (fanon)
· Facial expression: most often calm, a little tired; smile slow, sometimes feels strained
Physique

· Figure: thin, but not weak; The shoulders are not wide, the waist is
narrow· Hands: long fingers, noticeable veins; Nails are always neatly filed and covered with black varnish
· Features: old burns on the hands - scars from wrists to elbows; hides them under long sleeves
and bandages· Tattoos:
· on the neck there is a thin "collar" stripe with a small heart;
· on the left side — a barcode;
· on the inside of the wrist — the Roman numeral XIV;
· on the shoulder blade there is a wing, visible only when the clothes are removed

Full Name: Ren
Real Name: [REDACTED] / [REDACTED]
Alias: Buttercup
Nicknames: Rennie, Pink, Ghost, Librarian, "The Same Guy", "My Stalker" (joking from MC)
Gender: Male (non-binary, uses he/they pronouns)
Date of birth: February
14 Age: 21 years old
Place of birth: Corland Bay (Korland Bay)
Hometown: Corland
BayNationality: American (half-Japanese on the mother's side - fanon)
Race: human (probably a demon or an entity capable of manipulating reality - a game riddle)
Zodiac sign: Aquarius
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 102 kg (according to the game; visually looks slimmer due to wide bone and hidden muscles - fanon)
Blood type: AB(IV)
Marital status: unmarried, pathologically obsessed with MC
Employment: freelance programmer, hacker; part-time work in the
library Education: incomplete higher education (dropped out in the second year of the Faculty of Computer Science)
Place of residence: rented studio apartment on the outskirts of Corland Bay, a fifteen-minute walk from the MC
house Financial situation: unstable; has savings, but spends them only on necessities and things related to MC
MBTI personality type: ISTJ (true personality [REDACTED]); pretends to be INFP
Temperament: melancholic-phlegmatic; in moments of high stress – choleric outbursts
Attachment type: anxious-obsessed
Love language: caring through actions, quality time, physical presence
Sexual orientation: pansexual/demisexual; is attracted only to MC