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* CutLexLuthorACheck: Neeko is fantastic with computers. Her whole family and close friend all not only know about it, but regular call her in to help with video editing and graphic design on various personal projects. Never once does Neeko or anyone around her recognize the value of her hobby and seek turn it into a revenue stream by way of freelance commissions over the Internet (which would handily side-step a plethora of her issues getting a job; namely her extreme anxiety with face-to-face interactions and poor scheduling skills) rather than continue agonizing over how to brute-force past her hang-ups and get her in some more traditional job.
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** In terms of skills; Neeko is apparently a savant at graphic design, and Uriko is a hobbyist doujin mangaka.

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* BrutalHonesty: Imoko never misses an opportunity to bluntly call her sister a NEET in front of any new person, often to the mortification of everyone in earshot. She also calls Neeko’s video game fangirlism “gross” to her face. Absolutely none of it is meant with malice.



* PushoverParents: Neeko’s dad fawns over her slightest achievements around the house and is constantly sneaking her spending money. DownplayedTrope but still applicable to her mom as well, whose attempts to push Neeko into becoming productive largely don’t extend beyond barbed comments hat she relents the instant Neeko let’s her distress become visible. It’s telling that it takes over 20 chapters and an intervention by one of Neeko’s old college friends for her to get her daughter out of the house despite the latter’s [[ExtremeDoormat pathological obsequiousness.]]

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* PushoverParents: Neeko’s dad fawns over her slightest achievements around the house and is constantly sneaking her spending money. DownplayedTrope but still applicable to her mom as well, whose attempts to push Neeko into becoming productive largely don’t extend beyond barbed comments hat that she relents the instant Neeko let’s her distress become visible. It’s telling that it takes over 20 chapters and an intervention by one of Neeko’s old college friends for her to get her daughter out of the house despite the latter’s [[ExtremeDoormat pathological obsequiousness.]]
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* GamerChick: Video games are basically the only source of uninhibited joy Neeko has. In contrast with the typical portrayal of this trope, Neeko mostly sticks to mainstream=/=casual titles in choice of play and discussion (though she approaches them with a hardcore player’s enthusiasm), has gotten more and more into mobile games in recent years, and kinda sucks at competitive play.

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* GamerChick: Video games are basically the only source of uninhibited joy Neeko has. In contrast with the typical portrayal of this trope, Neeko mostly sticks to mainstream=/=casual mainstream / casual titles in choice of play and discussion (though she approaches them with a hardcore player’s enthusiasm), has gotten more and more into mobile games in recent years, and kinda sucks at competitive play.

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* ExtremeDoormat: Neeko will roll over at the slightest verbal pressure and obey any command or task given to her, even if she doesn’t want or have to.



* {{Housewife}}: One of Neeko's friends has gotten married and become a stay-at-home wife.

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* {{Housewife}}: One GamerChick: Video games are basically the only source of Neeko's friends uninhibited joy Neeko has. In contrast with the typical portrayal of this trope, Neeko mostly sticks to mainstream=/=casual titles in choice of play and discussion (though she approaches them with a hardcore player’s enthusiasm), has gotten married more and become a stay-at-home wife.more into mobile games in recent years, and kinda sucks at competitive play.



* {{Housewife}}: Chiho becomes one after marrying a classmate. She claims that it's technically equivalent to being a NEET.

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* {{Housewife}}: Chiho One of Neeko's friends, Chiho, becomes one after marrying a classmate. She claims that it's technically equivalent to being a NEET.


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* PushoverParents: Neeko’s dad fawns over her slightest achievements around the house and is constantly sneaking her spending money. DownplayedTrope but still applicable to her mom as well, whose attempts to push Neeko into becoming productive largely don’t extend beyond barbed comments hat she relents the instant Neeko let’s her distress become visible. It’s telling that it takes over 20 chapters and an intervention by one of Neeko’s old college friends for her to get her daughter out of the house despite the latter’s [[ExtremeDoormat pathological obsequiousness.]]
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* PrematurelyGreyHaired: All flashbacks show Neeko having dark colored hair. Her breakdown from getting torn into during her initial attempts to land a job turned her entire mane silver.
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* AnimalMotifs: For whatever reason, when Uriko is drawn in chibi she is often given pig features.
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* CatSmile: Imoko has this expression constantly.


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* GenkiGirl: Imoko is brash, energetic, [[BrutalHonesty never holds back her thoughts]], and always tries to get people around her to have some fun with her.
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* BreakTheHaughty: Neeko’s original character concept was of a moderately more extroverted and far more unrepentantly [[EntitledBastard mooching]] spoiled gamergirl. Uri’s flashbacks show that when she was still in college that’s exactly what Neeko was like. The string of harsh rejections from job interviews led to her current subdued, guilt-ridden, neurotic mannerisms on top of her shut-in tendencies.


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* WeWantOurJerkBack: Uri laments Neeko’s present passive and hesitant approach to interactions, remembering her as fairly outgoing and SpoiledSweet, and even missing how she used to unabashedly demand for her friends to spot her change.
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** Nemuko Niito is a case of this twice over. Her nickname "Neeko," as well as her family name, Niito, sound like {{NEET}}.

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** Nemuko Niito is a case of this twice over. Her nickname "Neeko," as well as her family name, Niito, sound like {{NEET}}.NEET.
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how many links to NEET do we really need?


* ButtMonkey: As if Neeko's status as a {{NEET}} wasn't embarrassing enough, she also has terrible luck and ends up in numerous humiliating situations.

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* ButtMonkey: As if Neeko's status as a {{NEET}} NEET wasn't embarrassing enough, she also has terrible luck and ends up in numerous humiliating situations.



* CringeComedy: The series stars a {{NEET}} with crippling anxiety, so it can be hard to laugh at her.
* DisappointingOlderSibling: Neeko, as a {{NEET}} doesn't compare very well to her younger sister, who's holding down a part-time job while in high school. Imoko loves her in spite of this, though.

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* CringeComedy: The series stars a {{NEET}} NEET with crippling anxiety, so it can be hard to laugh at her.
* DisappointingOlderSibling: Neeko, as a {{NEET}} NEET doesn't compare very well to her younger sister, who's holding down a part-time job while in high school. Imoko loves her in spite of this, though.



* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Neeko is a {{NEET}}, while Imoko is working a part-time job in high school, having gotten hired at a place that rejected Neeko.

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* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Neeko is a {{NEET}}, NEET while Imoko is working a part-time job in high school, having gotten hired at a place that rejected Neeko.



* {{Housewife}}: Chiho becomes one after marrying a classmate. She claims that it's technically equivalent to being a {{NEET}}.

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* {{Housewife}}: Chiho becomes one after marrying a classmate. She claims that it's technically equivalent to being a {{NEET}}.NEET.



** Imoko cheerfully calls Neeko a {{NEET}} without understanding the term's meaning.

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** Imoko cheerfully calls Neeko a {{NEET}} NEET without understanding the term's meaning.



* LoserProtagonist: Neeko, being a {{NEET}} with crippling social anxiety, obviously fits this trope.

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* LoserProtagonist: Neeko, being a {{NEET}} NEET with crippling social anxiety, obviously fits this trope.
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* CantHoldHerLiquor: After Imoko takes one sip of sweet sake, [[InVinoVeritas she gets drunk enough for her personality to significantly change]].


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* InVinoVeritas: After getting a sip of sweet sake, Imoko turns rather assertive and even aggressive toward her friend Marimo. She even apologizes to Neeko for forcing her to do stuff, and says that she puts on the "cheerful girl act" around Neeko because she knows that while Neeko seems lazy, it takes all Neeko has just to cope with her situation.
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* DisappointingOlderSibling: Neeko, as a {{NEET}} doesn't compare very well to her younger sister, who's holding down a part-time job while in high school. Imoko loves her in spite of this, though.


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* ParentsAsPeople: The Niitos are trying to help their daughter in their own way, even if their efforts generally don't have much success.
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* TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: A minor case. The manga started serialization in 2017, but in Chapter 21, which was published in January 2020, the family buys a ''UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch'' on launch day(March 2017).

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* TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: A minor case. The manga started serialization in 2017, but in Chapter 21, which was published in January 2020, the family buys a ''UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch'' on launch day(March day (March 2017).

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* ButtMonkey: As if Neeko's status as a {{NEET}} wasn't embarrassing enough, she also has terrible luck and ends up in numerous humiliating situations.



* FestivalEpisode: Chapter 25 takes place at a festival that Neeko attends with Imoko, at which she runs into some of her old friends.



* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Subverted in [[BeachEpisode Chapter 24]]. In a brief flashback, Imoko invites Neeko to the beach, then hastily adds, "Ah! And I'm not inviting you cause Mom said to take you with me, okay?" This would come off as an example of the trope, but considering that Mrs. Niito had recently [[spoiler:tricked Neeko into working a part-time shift]], it's meant to be honest reassurance that there are no ulterior motives or tricks involved.

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* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Subverted in [[BeachEpisode Chapter 24]]. In a brief flashback, Imoko invites Neeko to the beach, then hastily adds, "Ah! And I'm not inviting you cause Mom said to take you with me, okay?" This would come off as an example of the trope, but considering that Mrs. Niito had recently [[spoiler:tricked Neeko into working a part-time shift]], it's meant to be honest reassurance that there are no ulterior motives or tricks involved. She repeats the same line in Chapter 25 regarding her inviting Neeko to the festival.

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* InnocentlyInsensitive: Imoko cheerfully calls Neeko a {{NEET}} without understanding the term's meaning.

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* InnocentlyInsensitive: InnocentlyInsensitive:
**
Imoko cheerfully calls Neeko a {{NEET}} without understanding the term's meaning.meaning.
** Mrs. Niito gently suggests that Neeko's friend Uriko, who's also unemployed, worry about herself before Neeko. Uriko then replies that she had to quit her job because one of her superiors was sexually harassing her, and that she's working on finding work again. Mrs. Niito then apologizes for being insensitive.



* NiceGirl: Imoko. InnocentlyInsensitive tendencies about her sister's NEET-hood aside, she's remarkably caring toward Neeko. She even manages to throw a hostile student for a loop by being nothing but polite throughout their encounter.

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* NiceGirl: NiceGirl:
**
Imoko. InnocentlyInsensitive tendencies about her sister's NEET-hood aside, she's remarkably caring toward Neeko. She even manages to throw a hostile student for a loop by being nothing but polite throughout their encounter.encounter.
** Uriko cares a lot for Neeko and hopes that Neeko will be able to find a job, in large part to repair her ruined self-esteem. She even thinks about Neeko while she herself is out of work.
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* HiddenDepths: Despite seeming lazy and immature, Neeko is able to do whatever she puts her mind to. It's also revealed that despite suffering from social anxiety, she was the on who reached out to Uriko back when they were in college.


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* ImmediateSelfContradiction: Neeko declares that everything in console games is free... after you buy the game. Lampshaded when Imoko says, "That's a contradiction, sis."
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[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/204400l.jpg]]

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* BeachEpisode: Imoko takes Neeko to the beach during Chapter 24. Naturally, since Neeko's uncomfortable around others, awkwardness ensues.



* GentleTouchVsFirmHand: Neeko's father is the Gentle Touch, since he's more hesitant about pushing his daughter outside of her comfort zone. Neeko's mother is the Firm Hand, since she's determined to get Neeko out of her rut, and gradually discards any hesitation she might have had toward forcing Neeko to work.

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* GentleTouchVsFirmHand: Neeko's father is the Gentle Touch, since he's more hesitant about pushing his daughter outside of her comfort zone. Neeko's mother is the Firm Hand, since she's determined to get Neeko out of her rut, and gradually discards any hesitation she might have had toward when it comes to forcing Neeko to work.


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* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Subverted in [[BeachEpisode Chapter 24]]. In a brief flashback, Imoko invites Neeko to the beach, then hastily adds, "Ah! And I'm not inviting you cause Mom said to take you with me, okay?" This would come off as an example of the trope, but considering that Mrs. Niito had recently [[spoiler:tricked Neeko into working a part-time shift]], it's meant to be honest reassurance that there are no ulterior motives or tricks involved.

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* MomLooksLikeASister: Uriko mistakes Neeko's mother for her older sister.



* MomLooksLikeASister: Uriko mistakes Neeko's mother for her older sister.
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* MomLooksLikeASister: Uriko mistakes Neeko's mother for her older sister.

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* OutOfContextEavesdropping: Neeko overhears her parents talking about having someone named Sousuke stay in her care, since she has a duty to help out around the family. She initially assumes they're trying to marry her to a young man with that name, but it turns out that Sousuke is a ''cat''.

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* NiceGirl: Imoko. InnocentlyInsensitive tendencies about her sister's NEET-hood aside, she's remarkably caring toward Neeko. She even manages to throw a hostile student for a loop by being nothing but polite throughout their encounter.
* OutOfContextEavesdropping: Neeko overhears her parents talking about having someone named Sousuke stay in her care, since she has a duty to help out around the family.house. She initially assumes they're trying to marry her to a young man with that name, but it turns out that Sousuke is a ''cat''.
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* OutOfContextEavesdropping: Neeko overhears her parents talking about having someone named Sousuke stay in her care, since she has a duty to help out around the family. She initially assumes they're trying to marry her to a young man with that name, but it turns out that Sousuke is a ''cat''.
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* BlandNameProduct: Some older systems are given names like this, such as the "Vii" (Wii) or "DN" (DS). Averted with the Switch, which is referred to by its proper name and is recognizably drawn.

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* AmbiguousDisorder: Some readers speculate that Neeko isn't just held back by social anxiety and/or laziness, but may actually suffer from a mental disorder of some sort.
* ArtisticLicense: Apparently, it's possible to get hired for a temporary part-time position without an interview, even though someone else submitted an application on your behalf without asking you. [[spoiler:Just ask Neeko, who gets tricked into working at an electronics store on the Switch's launch day]].



* {{Housewife}}: Chiho becomes one after marrying a classmate. She claims that it's technically equivalent to being a {{NEET}}.



* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Niito gets off surprisingly easily for [[spoiler:tricking her daughter into working part time]], something that could have backfired severely and worsened Neeko's problems. She feels a bit bad about it, but is confident that everything worked out in the end.

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* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Niito gets off surprisingly easily for [[spoiler:tricking her daughter into working part time]], time at an electronics store (which would likely involve dealing with customers)]], something that could have backfired severely and worsened Neeko's problems. She feels a bit bad about it, but is confident that everything worked out in the end.

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* {{Housewife}}: One of Neeko's friends has gotten married and become a stay-at-home wife.



* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Niito gets off surprisingly easily for [[spoiler:tricking her daughter into working part time]]. She feels a bit bad about it, but is confident that everything worked out in the end.

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* KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Niito gets off surprisingly easily for [[spoiler:tricking her daughter into working part time]].time]], something that could have backfired severely and worsened Neeko's problems. She feels a bit bad about it, but is confident that everything worked out in the end.



* {{NEET}}: Neeko is a girl who still lives with her parents and can't find a job.

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* {{NEET}}: {{NEET}}:
**
Neeko is a girl who still lives with her parents and can't find a job.job.
** Subverted with one of Neeko's friends, who doesn't have a job and isn't in school or training... because she's a housewife.



* WhamLine: Neeko meets with the manager of an electronics store, and after she hears the following words, she realizes [[spoiler:her mother tricked her into working part-time]].

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* TraumaButton: Apparently, even wearing a suit is enough to remind Neeko of one failed job interview.
* WhamLine: Neeko meets with the manager of an electronics store, hoping to pick up a Switch, and after she hears the following words, she realizes [[spoiler:her mother tricked her into working part-time]].
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* AllegedlyFreeGame: Discussed in one {{Yonkoma}} strip. Neeko says she prefers home console games because unlike mobile games, which have microtransactions, "Once you've paid ¥6000 to buy a game, everything in it becomes free!!"
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* TwentyMinutesIntoThePast: A minor case. The manga started serialization in 2017, but in Chapter 21, which was published in January 2020, the family buys a ''UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch'' on launch day(March 2017).


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* InnocentlyInsensitive: Imoko cheerfully calls Neeko a {{NEET}} without understanding the term's meaning.


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* LoserProtagonist: Neeko, being a {{NEET}} with crippling social anxiety, obviously fits this trope.
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''It's Tough Being Neeko'' is a comedy manga by Aldehyde.

Nemuko "Neeko" Niito is a 23-year-old young woman with no job and crushing social anxiety who still lives with her parents. Can she overcome her weaknesses and find gainful employment, or is she doomed to be a {{NEET}} forever?

!The manga contains examples of:
*CringeComedy: The series stars a {{NEET}} with crippling anxiety, so it can be hard to laugh at her.
*FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling: Neeko is a {{NEET}}, while Imoko is working a part-time job in high school, having gotten hired at a place that rejected Neeko.
*GentleTouchVsFirmHand: Neeko's father is the Gentle Touch, since he's more hesitant about pushing his daughter outside of her comfort zone. Neeko's mother is the Firm Hand, since she's determined to get Neeko out of her rut, and gradually discards any hesitation she might have had toward forcing Neeko to work.
*GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: In Chapter 14, as Neeko has a breakdown and laments her inability to find a job or get married, her mother slaps her across the face and tells her to get a hold of herself.
*KarmaHoudini: Mrs. Niito gets off surprisingly easily for [[spoiler:tricking her daughter into working part time]]. She feels a bit bad about it, but is confident that everything worked out in the end.
*{{NEET}}: Neeko is a girl who still lives with her parents and can't find a job.
*PunnyName:
** Nemuko Niito is a case of this twice over. Her nickname "Neeko," as well as her family name, Niito, sound like {{NEET}}.
**Neeko's sister Imoko's name sounds like "Imouto," the word for "little sister."
*ToughLove: Mrs. Niito loves her daughter, but is determined to get her out of the house. She goes as far as to slap Neeko when the latter starts lamenting that her life will never get better and [[spoiler:tricks her into working part-time at an electronics store]].
*WhamLine: Neeko meets with the manager of an electronics store, and after she hears the following words, she realizes [[spoiler:her mother tricked her into working part-time]].
-->'''Hasoda''': Here. [[spoiler:Your apron and name tag]].

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