Thus, dake becomes a trap. "Just work" suggests minimalism, but in practice it invites maximum extraction. The phrase offers the illusion of agency ( suki na dake —as much as you like), while erasing the possibility of satiety. You cannot finish loving someone on command, but you also cannot finish working if the metric is liking it . The phrase transforms burnout into a choice.
Some psychologists argue that all love begins as substitution. We fall for people who remind us of parental figures, first crushes, or unmet needs. The difference is awareness and evolution . ano ko no kawari ni suki na dake work