Dawn of Symbiosis #44 Chapter 13 Section 5: The Meeting of Weaving Voices - Serial Novel

A meeting room in a corner of the city hall.
Wood-grained tables and white walls.
On a sunny afternoon, in the soft light streaming through the windows, a dozen or so people were arranged in a circle.

This was an opinion exchange meeting hosted by the Regional Cooperation Division.

The participants included city officials, representatives from the fields of welfare, education, and medicine, and collaborators from local shopping districts.
Everyone had some connection to that new system, "Aya/Yura."

"...Recently, it has begun to be introduced on a trial basis not only at the welfare center but also at nearby elementary schools and libraries.
We have received positive feedback from users and staff on the ground, saying that 'the way it is used is natural, and the gratitude is visible.'"

The person in charge from the Regional Cooperation Division explained quietly.

A veteran doctor nodded and said,
"Even in the medical field, the accumulation of small 'thank yous' between patients, their families, and nurses can become a source of emotional support.
A system that makes this visible might be applicable to nursing care and home medical care as well."

"But wouldn't some people feel resistant to the idea of quantifying a simple 'thank you'?"

When one of the educators asked this, a shopkeeper from the neighboring shopping district responded.

"I certainly thought so too. At first, anyway.
But when you actually try it, the 'number' doesn't become the goal as much as you'd think.
Rather, it makes you happy to think, 'This person noticed me.' That's what it really comes down to."

A brief silence flowed through the room.

Then, an official quietly spread out the documents at hand.

"...Please take a look at this.
This is an outline of the 'Regional Cooperation Point System' that we are proposing."

The paper read as follows:


[Regional Cooperation Point System - Trial Proposal]

Name: Aya/Yura Cooperation Point System (tentative)

Purpose: To promote 'mutual aid' within the region and conduct a trial introduction as a new mechanism linked to public services and the local economy.

Target: Individuals and organizations registered with Aya/Yura.

Content: 'Cooperation points' are returned in fixed amounts based on the history of Aya/Yura exchanges.

Scope of use: Municipal public facilities, local shopping districts, some linked nursing/welfare facilities, etc.

Remarks: There is no exchangeability for cash, and use is limited to within the region.


The person in charge who read it aloud continued.
"It is not currency. It is just points.
However, we believe that the essence of this system is to shine a light on 'invisible value.'"

At those words, the atmosphere at the round table softened.

An elderly woman spoke slowly.

"I currently deliver bento boxes once a week to an elderly person living alone.
I've been doing that for a long time, but...
Since this 'Aya/Yura' came along, the person who receives them has started going out of their way to return a 'thank you' to me.
That is somehow, very... happy for me."

Everyone nodded. Everyone was remembering the 'light' within themselves.

This meeting was indeed a place for system design.
But at the same time, it was also a time to confirm, through words and expressions, the 'connection between people' that had almost been lost.

And finally, a young official said,

"I think that before the word 'currency,' we need 'trust'.
Aya/Yura might be the seeds of that trust."

And so, the meeting quietly came to a close.

⬇️Continued