A Home to Return To

There is a home I can return to. For me, that is my greatest support. It has been over twenty years since we met. What you have given me has become a very important foundation in my life.

When I was just young and hadn't even built anything to lose, you simply pushed me forward. Knowing nothing about how society worked, you didn't say much, but you trusted me, telling me, 'You're fine just as you are. Do what you want to do.'

For the first time in my life, I learned what it meant to be trusted by someone. That is why, no matter how many times I was betrayed by others, I think I was able to be okay.

I was betrayed by many different people.

I learned that adults tell lies without a second thought.

Things that were promised so firmly would be overturned the very next day with a 'Never mind, it's off.'

I was the only one who had acted on that trust, and I was the one who had to bow my head again.

I learned that a promise is not a word used to protect others, but a word used to protect oneself.

They would smile and affirm me to my face, while saying the exact opposite behind my back.

I didn't know what to believe anymore, faced with adults who insisted that this was just 'how business works.'

After entering the workforce, the people I dealt with were adults who claimed to have experienced all the bitterness and sweetness of life. But there was no salvation there.

They said it was because they had been treated the same way.

I began to convince myself that I was a fool for trusting people. I started to believe that this was the correct way to live in society. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to hold on.

Even so, adults with far more experience than me showed no mercy for the sake of their own work and profit. I was nothing but a series of failures.

Feeling helpless and not knowing what to do, I asked from the bottom of my heart.

'Do you have any idea how many times I've been betrayed?'

Even so, you said,

'You're fine just as you are.'

You, who treated everyone the same without discrimination, said that.

You stopped me from trying to conform to society. Those words reached my heart more than any others.

No matter how many times you are betrayed, you never betray others. I have watched that by your side all this time.

Truly, you are the person I must aspire to be. I felt that if I could not earn your recognition, I would be telling the biggest lie of my life.

I came to realize that if there is even one person you can trust, society and adults are just secondary extras.

A debt of gratitude must be repaid. I believe that as my way of life, it means carrying on your way of life.

It was only after I left your side that I began to be called your son. That was a word I was never told while I was by your side, while I was working with you.

My friends had long since been called your sons.

When I thought about my own life, I agonized over it. The feeling of not wanting to leave your side was the strongest one.

You showed me many different worlds, showed me that there are many different kinds of people, and showed me that many different things happen every day.

Every day, I thought to myself, I never imagined such things would happen in my life.

I truly loved you.

I was always thinking about how I could do something for you while being by your side.

But that was not repaying anything. I was just involved in what was happening to you.

I wanted to repay my debt by having you recognize my way of life. I thought that would be the greatest way to repay you. So, I told you.

From now on, I don't want to have a relationship where I receive money; I want to be your friend.

I will never forget the happy look on your face.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of meeting you, I invited the friends who were called your sons to my hometown and hosted your concert.

For the 40th anniversary of your arrival in Japan, we hosted another event because we wanted to celebrate you ourselves.

Whenever I meet you, I return to my original intentions.

I can say nothing but foolish things, do nothing but foolish things, and show you everything I can, begging you to look at me.

And when you meet me, you only talk about what is to come. You always show me how you enjoy looking toward the future.

No matter who you meet,

"This guy is part of the Koni-chan family. He's my son."

You say that.

I may be a foolish son, but I am proud to have become one of your sons.

I will also never forget the time you gave me the most mischievous smile I've ever seen when I handed you my Konishi Kinoko business card.

"Write about Konishiki Yasokichi freely, from your perspective."

"Yes. I will write about you as a child of Konishiki."

I will spend my whole life fulfilling that verbal promise I made.

The home I can return to is your home.

What kind of story is this home

It looks like it will be a good book. Thank you. We are accepting submissions until the 30th. Right now, a literary tower mansion of about 60 floors has been built. There is still time for those who want to live here together. Let's enjoy this opportunity. Hehe.

As for the story about KONISHIKI, I have laid bare my inner self from my twenties to the present, so I am too embarrassed to make it public and have locked it behind a paywall. This article will also be moved to a magazine once it has been edited. Gottsuan desu.