[#CreativeAward2024] Honekawa Sujiemon "Chapter 6: Sujiemon and the Boy" (2610 characters)
Chapter 6: "Sujiemon and the Boy"
Have you ever heard that looking down brings bad luck, while looking up brings good fortune? Some of you might not believe it. However, once you learn about Honekawa Sujiemon, his nimble, swirling, bouncy, thumping movements, and his activities filled with compassion, you might start to think it could be true. Seeing him constantly confronting evil, you would surely want to straighten your hunched back and lift your head.
Today, I bring you the story of a boy who was looking down, and how he came to walk with his head held high.
I am Netchu-sho, a death game creator. In my newly developed death game, I use a monkey that skillfully scoops up water with a halved washbasin to perform street entertainment. The point of this game is to call out, "Anyone want to try?" once the excitement peaks.
At such times, there is always one or two idiots who want to be a hero. I record them failing to scoop water with the half-basin, laughing at them, and spreading the video. It is so much fun to make those who live life to the fullest and enjoy reality feel ashamed and lead a life looking down!
"I'll give it a try."
Oh, an idiot took the bait. What do you mean "I"? Don't act cool with that round body of yours. No, wait, maybe it's funny precisely because he's acting cool.
"Go right ahead."
As I handed him the half-basin with a smirk,
"No, I'll use the monkey."
He said, and the man scooped up the water while letting the monkey hold the half-basin. The spectators cheered in admiration at the brilliant performance.
"What the heck!"
"I am Honekawa Sujiemon."
The game ends here. What the heck! Every time I create a death game, someone clears it. Calling himself Honekawa Sujiemon! Since when do undercover investigators from Note-cho play death games?! Are you planning to wield justice even in the virtual world?! And wait, am I... really a death game creator? And is the game I'm making really a death game?
A tear falls.
Damn it! Why am I crying...?
Knock, knock. There was a knock, so I shouted.
"Shut up!"
At those words, Mom sighs, leaves the meal in front of the door, and walks away. Ever since I became unable to step out of my room, my parents worry but never pry too deeply. It's because the reason I became a shut-in lies in the name they gave me.
"Please be careful of heatstroke."
Every time it plays on TV, everyone in class mocks me by shouting, "Please be careful of heatstroke!" I used to laugh it off, but suddenly, I couldn't breathe and felt like I had snapped, unable to go outside anymore.
Knock, knock. There's another knock. What's going on? It usually only happens once.
"Shut up!"
Click. The door opened.
"Why did you open it! It's because of my name that I ended up like this!"
I shouted that, turned around, and froze in surprise.
"Ho, Honekawa Sujiemon...?"
Bathed in the light from the hallway, a round silhouette stood there.
"It's been a while."
Sujiemon said with a smile. My encounter with him dates back about half a year.
"Please be careful of heatstroke," "Please be careful."
I thought this kind of teasing would end in middle school, but it continues into high school? Are these guys morons? That's what I think, but I can't say it; I just look down, hunch my back, and walk quickly. Perhaps that posture only encourages them further, as they continue to tease me relentlessly.
"Heatstro—gah!"
Whoosh, spin, plop, thud.
I heard a strange sound and turned around to see the classmates who had been teasing me just moments ago crouching down, clutching their heads. And beside them was that round silhouette.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. They are the ones who should be ashamed of their actions."
He cast a stern look at my classmates and a compassionate one at me before vanishing in a flash. However, I failed to live up to Sujiemon's compassion and ended up shutting myself away in my room.
"I feel I have done you a disservice," "Huh? Why?"
I know it's just lashing out, but I can't help but use a harsh tone.
"I had forgotten that special moves alone cannot eliminate crime."
Saying that, Sujiemon let a tear stream down his face.
"Huh? Wait, Mr. Sujiemon?"
Why was he crying?
"Mr. Sujiemon has been worried about you this whole time, you know."
I finally notice that Mom is standing behind Sujiemon.
"Huh? Why would Sujiemon care about me?"
"He said he's been feeling guilty ever since he used a light finishing move on the classmates who were teasing you and then just left, without checking on your emotional well-being."
"What?"
I was the one who was weak, which is why I got teased. My name is Sho Nenaka; I just had to say 'Nenaka Sho' clearly. People started teasing me because they found my reaction funny when someone jokingly said it sounded like 'heatstroke' (netchusho). If I had responded with either firmness or flexibility back then, things wouldn't have gotten this complicated.
"I... it's my fault... *sob*... *hic*"
"The person being bullied loses confidence and thinks it's their own fault. But you aren't at fault, and there's no need to lose your confidence."
As he said that, Sujiemon gently patted my back.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize anymore."
"W-well, actually..."
While I was holed up in my room, I was relieving stress by making games based on Sujiemon. However, no matter how many I made, they were all cleared by someone calling themselves 'Honekawa Sujiemon'.
"Ah, I know."
"Huh? Then, Honekawa Sujiemon is..."
The Honekawa Sujiemon who cleared my games was...
"It's me. It was a well-made game."
"Mr. Sujiemon, you're the amazing one for clearing them all."
"No, that's not it. Actually, I came here today to scout you."
"Huh?"
He said that when he found out there was an online game with the name Honekawa Sujiemon, he played it to investigate and was impressed by how well-crafted it was.
"To think that the high schooler from back then was the creator."
My game is being praised by Sujiemon? By the hero of Note-cho, Honekawa Sujiemon? As I'm stunned, Sujiemon makes an even more shocking statement.
"Won't you use your abilities for me?"
"Sho!"
Mom sheds tears at Sujiemon's offer. When I shook hands with Sujiemon, my life as a shut-in came to an end.
I now juggle two roles: being a normal high school student and a system developer protecting the safety of Note-cho. Perhaps because I've become bright and positive with the pride of helping Sujiemon, I don't get teased anymore.
"Nenaka! Let's stop by somewhere."
"Yeah!"
On the way home from school, I made friends to hang out with.
"Sho, you seem like you have some kind of secret."
"No way, that's not true."
We all laughed, saying, "I guess so."
The fact that I am supporting Honekawa Sujiemon is a secret. After all, that is the way Honekawa Sujiemon lives his life.