Short Story: "Hating Spring, Then Eventually Loving It"

Enrollment, graduation, moving up a grade, job transfers, changing jobs. Meetings and partings. New beginnings. I hate this time of year, overflowing with hope. I even hate the pink flowers that remind me of transience.

I used to be overflowing with hope, too. With a fresh mindset and a new start! I would put on my recruitment suit, slip into new pumps, and head out to company interviews with enthusiasm. It was early April, the weather was warm, and the cherry blossoms were in bloom.

Elementary school students in brand-new backpacks wearing yellow hats, middle school students in uniforms a size too big, that kid who just started high school with dyed hair, the new graduates who greeted everyone saying, "I'll do my very best!"

Everything about it was incredibly annoying.

I went to interview after interview, only to be rejected by company after company, the heels of my pumps wearing down. The skirt of my suit becoming wrinkled.

I was hoping to get a job at a publishing company, and today's interview was my 15th. I had managed to make it to the final interview. I had come this far, but I figured it would be a failure anyway. I had completely lost my confidence.

I had loved books ever since I was little. In this day and age, e-books are popular, but my reason for living was turning the pages of a paper book. I would turn the pages with excitement, wondering what would happen in the next part of the story. I was such a bookworm that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say my mother told me I learned my letters from books.

Furthermore, there was someone close to me who encouraged that side of me. An older girl in the neighborhood worked at a publishing company; she would carry many books and documents in her bag, and at the bus stop, she would stare intently at those documents, adding notes with a pen. She also said she felt incredibly happy when her name appeared even in the corner of a book. She was intelligent and cool, and while my reason for aiming for this was shallow, it was enough of a reason for my middle-school self.

If my name were on a book, would my parents be happy?
I want to turn the pages of that book.

From there, although there was no deep reason, it became my reason for aiming for this career.

“Ms. Mitome, please come in.”
“Thank you for having me.”

The editor-in-chief was also present at the final interview.
“I’m Saotome, the editor-in-chief. Nice to meet you. You don’t have to be so stiff.”
He was a man in his 50s who seemed kind. His questions were by no means difficult and were easy to answer.
I was a little bewildered by the final question.
“Lastly, tell me what season you dislike.”
“Oh, um...”

Should I answer honestly that it’s spring? Everyone likes spring, don’t they? Maybe saying winter would be safe. But,

“It’s spring. I hate spring because it’s too dazzling. Everyone looks like they are shining. I’m also not good with the atmosphere that everyone is starting from here.”

“Hmm...” The editor-in-chief was looking down slightly. No, he was holding back laughter.
“I see. Yes, you have a point. I can understand the ‘spring of beginnings’ part. Is the reason it’s dazzling because you feel that everyone but you is shining?”
The editor-in-chief looked me in the eye and said this.

“I hope the day comes when you like spring. I hope the day comes when you can say that you are shining. Let’s liven up this publishing company together.”

It was a lie. I stood up involuntarily.

I saw branches heavy with cherry blossoms swaying in the wind outside the window. They’re actually kind of cute.

With just one event,
I am starting to like spring.

I look forward to working with you as well.