I Could Not Become a Passerby

Hey, thanks as always.
While I was resting my finger from tapping,
I turned another year older.

It was the most wonderful birthday
I've ever had in my life,
but on the day I was born, I always remember

R. Akutagawa.

I was thinking about things like that,
vaguely... yes, truly vaguely,
you know.

And then, my Instagram,
which is a very cunning thing, smoothly
sneaks things in.

It's the end of the year, so there are all sorts of expenses,
and no matter what you do, money
runs away at full speed.

Even if I try to invite it to come here,
even if I try to be careful not to let it go there,
it wants to go over there, it wants to go over there,
it wants to go make a scene over there.

It's really a nuisance.
I tried to suppress that rebellious phase
with my iron will,
but I can't possibly win against the power of science.

If I see it, I'll end up buying it, so
I try not to set foot in stores in the first place.
Part of it is the same feeling as when you use a restroom at a convenience store
and feel like you have to buy something to leave.

Even so, it still manages to slip things in,
so the internet and I are now one and the same,
and I can't get away from it.

Still, I want to feel the growth that comes with aging,
so in 2026,
I won't buy anything! Saving is the top priority!

That's what I'll keep in mind... and as I write this,
ah, the leather shoes I ordered will arrive early next year 👞
The me from before I aged is attacking the me who has aged.

Well, it's like this every year,
so I guess I'm not really growing in that regard.
If that's the case, I'll just let the money that leaves go,
and there's no way to increase what comes in, is there?

I've finished my last flight of the year,
and now I'm just waiting to wrap up work,
but next year is a real milestone, so I think I'll give it my all.
I'll spend the remaining 11 days preparing for that.

Oh, that's right.
The reason I wrote this note is
because I accidentally bought a sweatshirt
with my life's mentor printed on it.

Human beings sometimes dedicate their entire lives
to desires they don't even know if they can fulfill.
Those who laugh at such folly are, in the end,
nothing more than passersby in life.

Closing with a wise saying from R. Akutagawa 🥔