Three-Topic Short-Short Story_Genius

Just as rakugo performers do their three-topic stories, I, Koji, shall also attempt to do one.

I am terrible at project-based writing.

Even if it is a project from someone I am close to, I find it hard to just go along with it.

Of all things in the world, I hate restrictions like "rules," "regulations," "deadlines," and "cutoff dates" the most.

No matter how old I get, I am a stubborn, bratty kid. That is because I am me, kojuro.

Huh? Rakugo? A three-topic story? Yasu-san?

Little kojuro inside my heart muttered quietly.

Koji, you're also known as "Amanojaku Shiro" (the contrarian), right? If someone said to you, "Even if you can't write it, that's fine. But it's a waste if you don't try!" wouldn't you actually want to write it?

What are you talking about?

Fine, I'll write it. I'll write it. I just have to write it, right, Little? That's what you want, right?

Lifting my heavy, heavy, heavy-as-a-black-hole spirit, I pick up my pen in a state of half-resignation.

Well then, let's begin the three-topic short-short story "XX".

Futoshi was good at baseball and had good grades. But his ideas were eccentric. That was the day the McDonald's in front of the station reopened. We gathered to eat morning McDonald's and plan our strategy for the summer prefectural tournament. In an atmosphere filled with a sense of tragedy, Futoshi stood up alone and requested a position change. In reality, our starting catcher had left the team due to injury, and we were forced to use an inexperienced freshman. He said he would do it himself. Futoshi was left-handed, which is a massive disadvantage for a catcher. Moreover, he was our absolute ace. Everyone vehemently opposed it. Futoshi pushed for our second-string pitcher, whose only merit was his control. He argued that he could perfectly utilize him with his own pitch calling. He eventually convinced everyone that this was the ultimate secret strategy. As it turned out, our nameless school defied the odds and won the prefectural tournament. We even shined as runners-up in the national tournament. Futoshi suddenly became a top draft prospect, but he went on to university. After graduating, he moved to India and is now a cricket star with an annual salary of over one billion yen. Come to think of it, I heard it once a long time ago. That he was deeply moved by a certain Indian film. Futoshi was eccentric. And he was the smartest person in the world.

As I was about to talk to my wife about all this regarding Yasu-san's three-topic story project, I turned around and the empty sofa was smiling quietly. My wife has been staying at a hotel in the city center for a project since the other day. In the silent air of the room, my heart somehow cannot keep up.

My wife's words from that time echo in my head.

Are you still doing these three-topic stories? Well, in that spirit, I'll give you a triple-return on the massage(Note 1), okay? Pe-pen, ben!

…….

Judging by our exchange earlier today, my wife seems to be doing well.

When my wife is doing well, our home is bright and peaceful.





That is why.

This is fine as it is.

(Note 1) 'Massa' refers to a massage. My wife, Sacchan, calls it that for short. Giving Sacchan a 'massa' is my most important daily routine.

I've written quite a few three-topic stories now, too. lol