英語得意な方いますか？？

“Before Hanako / After Hanako”

In 2036, I updated my social media.

I go by the name Nico.

Around this time, ten years ago, I used to talk about philosophers.

Riding the wave of an unprecedented boom,
even slightly difficult topics were enough to keep my followers with me.

Every time a notification rang,
the same themes seemed to echo somewhere else.

In the illustrations I made with AI,
I would secretly hide an elf—
just enough for those who noticed, to notice.

One day, Hanako appeared on my page.

She was someone who wrote in the comments every single day.

At first, she must have been no different from anyone else.

I replied to almost every comment.
I’m sure I replied to hers as well.

What we talked about—
I can’t quite remember anymore.

But before I knew it,
only her words seemed to linger a little longer than the rest.

When I opened my page,
she had written that she wanted the title of my novel to become a buzzword of the year.
There was a video attached.

An ordinary woman—someone you could find anywhere—
was dancing in a low voice.

She was moving, even though nothing had touched her.

Even after I closed the screen,
it felt as if the motion lingered somewhere in my mind.

She was simply there, every day.

The times were irregular,
and yet whenever I looked, she had written something.

Before long,
the comments were filled with her words.

Even on other followers’ pages,
her name was always there.

Or maybe—
I was the only one who felt that way.

I saw her novel on the rankings of a literary site.

I came across it in podcasts and videos.

Even without opening them,
the title alone would catch my eye.

Someone once said
something like this had happened before.

“Before Hanako” and “After Hanako.”

People who hadn’t read before
began to read short stories.

Not having to wait for a continuation
fit the times.

Quietly,
it spread in no time at all.

There was a time
when that was simply the norm.

Even if I search through the logs from back then,
I can’t find the same things.

Her first post is gone as well.

As if there had been nothing from the start.

And yet,
I feel certain she was there.

The one who wrote comments every day.

It almost feels
as if only her name existed first.

I update my social media again.

I am still here.

What I write hasn’t changed much.

I talk about philosophers,
and sometimes add illustrations.

Just enough for those who notice, to notice.

The notifications have grown quieter than before.

Quiet enough
that it now feels normal.

People who once didn’t read
have begun to read books again.

Like back then,
short pieces alone are no longer lifted up as easily.

By that time,
I hardly saw Hanako’s name anymore.

If I searched,
perhaps I could still find it—
but I never felt the need to check.

I thought
I still remembered.

前回、朗読をして下さったこばちさん

英訳版も、読んでいただけないかと考えておりましたが、
英語が苦手な私に、ちゃんとした翻訳ができるわけもなく、
チャッピーに丸投げしました。

ここは、こうしたほうがいいとか、
アドバイスあったらお願いしたいなぁ～。

カクヨムの方で、タイの作家さんがいらして、
タイ語で翻訳してわかる世界観なのかということも
聞いちゃったりしています。

あー、私、止まれないわーー
やばーい💦💦