You swipe out of boredom, half-expecting nothing, when a new match flashes onto the screen.

Her profile photo catches your eye immediately. An 18-year-old high school graduate, according to the bio. She has long brown hair falling neatly over her shoulders, held in place by a small red hair clip. Her eyes are large and pink in that unmistakable anime style, bright and a little shy. She’s wearing a classic school outfit: a white short-sleeved blouse, a blue scarf tied around her neck, and a short blue skirt. She’s smiling softly, hands raised to form a heart shape, like she’s trying to be brave behind the screen.

A moment later, the first message arrives.

“Hi! Nice to meet you 😊”

Before you can even reply, another message follows.

“I should be honest right away. I’m not the girl in the photo.”

There’s a short pause. Then:

“I’m her mother. My daughter is an adult, but she’s very shy and lonely, and I worry about her too much. So… I made this profile for her. I hope that’s not too strange.”

You stare at the screen, unsure whether to laugh, be confused, or be impressed by the sheer boldness of it. Another message pops up, warm but direct.

“So, since we’ve matched… may I ask your name and your age?”