Half of Setsubun is Made of Kindness (Short-Short Story)

Your very existence is evil incarnate. Begone.

Even if you say that... we have lives too. We live quietly in the deep mountains and darkness so as not to get in your way.

Even so, your existence brings disaster upon us. It is only out of our kindness that we do not exterminate you.

Um... I believe the disasters you speak of are simply fate... but I have a proposal.

We are kind, so we will at least listen to what you have to say.

Yes. You have seasonal markers like New Year's, the equinoxes, and Obon. Why not create Setsubun in between them and use beans to drive us away? We will disappear for a time if you do that.

Just disappear forever.

That won't do. If you didn't have misfortune, you wouldn't understand the value of happiness. In other words, we are a necessary evil. From now on, just chant 'Demons out' and throw some beans. Let's live and let live.

Is that the origin of bean-throwing? At the suggestion of a demon? Isn't that strange?

That's why I'm telling you it was rewritten to suit humans. Originally, demons were the kinder creatures. Now, demons out!