After dying from overwork, Reed Hale wakes up inside a romance game as a disposable side character whose name sounds almost exactly like his own. There is only one problem: in the original story, that character ruins his life over a girl and ends up in prison. Reed wants none of it. He just wants to shake off the original host’s lingering obsession, find a strong backer, make some money, enjoy drawing, games, good food, and live quietly. That plan falls apart fast. The childhood friend who never looked his way refuses to let him drift away. The younger sister he kept at arm’s length starts pushing past every line. The powerful woman he chose as his safest shelter decides she would rather keep him. Even his longtime online game partner begins wanting more than a voice through a headset. By the time Reed realizes he is trapped, the way back is already gone. What waits for him is not romance, but a cage built from patience, longing, and obsession. [Cover Character: Reid Hale]