Episode 17 | Koguma Bakery's Toast for a Morning After Crying

Good work today, too.

But—

Today was a morning where
saying "good morning"
was a little difficult.

The morning after you cried.

I can't really
explain the reason.

Yesterday's words.
Things that didn't go well.
Loneliness.
A heart that tried too hard.

It's just that
my eyes are a little swollen.

A morning where I can't
get up
as energetically as usual.

Such a morning.

At the corner
I wandered to—

there was a
toasty, fragrant smell.

A wooden door.
A small bell.
A bear-shaped sign.

"Koguma Bakery"

"For mornings when you've cried,
please come in"

"…Huh?"

Before she knew it,
the woman
had opened the door.

Clang.

Inside the shop,
the smell of butter.
The sound of fresh baking.
Gentle morning light.

"Welcome."

Coming out to greet her
was the manager, a little bear
wearing a white hat.

Plump little hands.
Round eyes.
A fluffy voice.

Is today
a bit of a
salty morning?

The woman was
surprised.

But—

For some reason,
she found herself
smiling just a little.

What was offered to her was
a single slice of toast.

But,
it wasn't ordinary.

On one side,
honey.

On the other,
just a little bit of
salt.

Not every day
is a sweet one, you see.

Manager Koguma
placed the toast down
with a gentle tap.

On a morning when you've cried,
it's not just sweetness—

A little
saltiness, too,
is a proper breakfast.

The woman took
a bite.

Crunch.

It soaked in.

Sweet.
Salty.
Warm.

Before she knew it—

She felt that yesterday's tears
weren't
a bad thing after all.

She didn't cry
because she was weak.

Because you felt it properly.
Because you tried your best properly.

Because you tried your best properly.
Because you tried your best properly.

By the time she finished eating.

Manager Koguma wrote one thing
on a small paper napkin.
one thing.

“Even a morning of tears,
is still
today”

The woman looked at
those words.

A tear fell.

But this time,
it was a slightly different tear than yesterday.

“Maybe I’ll try
a little more”

That kind of tear.

By the time she headed home,
the sky was also a little
brighter.

Her steps,
too, were
a little lighter.

Even on a morning of tears,
today
can begin.

If today,
is a morning
where you cried a little.

It’s okay.

Salty feelings,
and sweet kindness too.

It’s fine
to have both.

Even a morning of tears,
is properly
your today.

So.
Just by starting today,
you are already amazing.

It’s okay.

Mornings can be
re-baked gently
as many times as you need.

May tomorrow be a little kinder to you.

Were you able to

give yourself a gentle breakfast

even on a morning when you cried?