Invitation #WeeklyShortShortNote [Mount Fuji in the Next Seat]

An invitation to a members-only club called the "Diamond Club" arrived. It seemed like a scam, but I was lured in by the free invitation, all-you-can-eat, and all-you-can-drink offer.

The venue at a high-end hotel in Tokyo was bustling with people of all ages. I received a numbered ticket and sat in the corresponding seat. It was a good seat in the place of honor, but I panicked when I looked next to me. It was Mount Fuji, no matter how you looked at it. The other guests were buzzing too. After some thought, I decided to ask.

“Um, you’re Mount Fuji, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Mount Fuji replied, hunching its back slightly while dropping a few pebbles.
“If that’s the case, is there no mountain there right now?”
“No, my younger brother is sitting in for me.”
“Your younger brother?”
“He’s about 100 meters shorter than me, but amateurs won’t notice.”
“But why are you here today?”
“I am the guest of honor, you see.”

Suddenly, a spotlight hit our table. It was blinding. But Mount Fuji was the guest of honor. It couldn't be helped.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Today’s main attraction. Diamond Fuji!”
The Mount Fuji in the seat next to me was projected onto the large screen. At the summit, my bald head was peeking out, catching the light and shining.

So I was a guest of honor too.

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I participated in Tarahakani-san’s weekly short-short challenge using this week’s secondary prompt, “Mount Fuji in the Next Seat.” I intend to write for both the primary and secondary prompts this week.

Everyone, it has been a while. I have finally managed to participate in two public submissions—one medium-length and one short story—and I plan to slowly return starting this week. I intend to post them here after the results are out, so I would be happy if you could tear them apart until every last hair on my head falls out. However, I personally really want you to avoid slandering others, and I don’t want the atmosphere on Note to turn sour, but harsh criticism of my own work is more than welcome!! Being beaten down and thinking, “I’ll show you,” is how an old man grows by rewriting. Those of us born in the Showa 30s are surprisingly tough. We are a generation that hasn’t forgotten the spirit of our Showa seniors. Whether it’s good or bad, well, let’s leave that aside.