I Hate the '+' Sign That I Misunderstood So Spectacularly

A story about how it's good to expand on the past when you can't write.

Looking back, when I was a super rookie,
if I looked closely at my feet, opportunities were rolling around.

To turn those small opportunities into a big chance for success,
I raised my hand for an overseas inspection job that no one else wanted.

Of course, it was English only.

I was pretty good at English, so it wasn't a burden; on the contrary,
the Japanese report I had to write after returning home
made me anxious, but I decided to just go for it!

And there was one more small ambition I was harboring.

That was...

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout

I went on the overseas business trip as part of a group, but
it wasn't a group activity, so there were no restrictions on my movements.

Alright, I'll do what I need to do and make this mission
a success! I must.

Suppressing my eager feelings, I finished the work in a second.
(Or at least it felt like it finished in a second)

Then, I snuck into the shop I had scouted beforehand,
dressed in a sort of disguise.

The store layout was unlike anything I was used to in Japan, and
the covers were a size I wasn't used to, and
there was an indescribable, mysterious scent.

I felt an overwhelming sense of being an outsider
due to the atmosphere, which was different from Japanese specialty shops.
By now, all I could think about was getting the item I wanted
as quickly as possible and catching my flight home.

That's right. Even though I knew my return flight was cutting it close,
it was a somewhat reckless plan to take on this challenge (lol).

In any case, I had to choose quickly, but
since it was a rare opportunity, I didn't want to pick a dud.
I wouldn't spare any expense this time, unless it was something truly extreme.
As I was hurriedly looking over the items,

50+I found a cover that caught my eye withthat written on it.

😍😍😍😍！！！！！

This is the one with over 50 'mufufu' things in it!
It has to be.

The symbol '+' means 'and up' or 'or more'.
Even an elementary school student knows that.
But perhaps my brain at that time
was actually below that of an elementary school student.

I bought it without even checking the contents. And two copies at that, lol.

But it seems that at the time,
I didn't actually know what '50+' meant.

I was all excited and nervous on the plane😍

After I made it through customs and got home,
I almost got caught by my family asking what it was.

I told them, 'It's got over 50 different types of photos in it~'
and hid in my room with that transparent excuse.

Alright, no one is behind me.
I open the booklet...😱😱😱😱😱😱!

This wasn't how it was supposed to go...

I was expecting and hoping for
over 50 patterns of those 'mufufu' things.

Those things of grand madams aged 50 and overwere
all over the booklet.

Everything was 50+

+ (plus), so that's what it meant.
It meant 50 years old and over!!!!!!

If I had the internet environment I have now,
this never would have happened.

Ah, cursed '+' symbol.
Give me back my youth.

PS: Even now, when I see a '+' symbol, I feel a grudge of many years.

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout Afterword

I can't write today. I just can't (lol).
Seriously. Why? Yeah, really.

The afternoon of the last day of the long weekend.
For the first time in a while, I've had proper rest and nutrition,
and although my mind and body should be refreshed, it's still not enough.

Starting tomorrow, I have to go back to the daily grind.
I should have time to write, but for some reason, I can't.
I have plenty of topics, but my fingers won't move.

You all have those days too, right? 😅

When you write every day for a long time, even if I don't say it out loud,
it happens to me quite often. Maybe the same as you all, or
perhaps even more.

But at times like that, #WhatAreYouTalkingAbout (lol).
This really feels the most right after all (*´▽｀*).

The content, the word count, the paragraphs, the expressions.
Release yourself from every constraint in your head,
set your thoughts free, and follow the feelings that well up.

Something different from instinct, a strange sensation.
Yes. A strange sensation where I feel like I could sell my soul to it,
whether it's an unknown angel or an unknowable devil.

I think I'll leave it to that today (lol).
And this is the result of trying to leave it to that (lol).

I don't always think about things like this, so
don't misunderstand me 😊 (standard phrase lol)

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout #MustBeGoingCrazy #OverseasBusinessTrip #EroGreatStrategy #YouthfulIndiscretion #Newbie #JoyOfWork #Adventure #OverseasCulture #33DayWritingChallenge #15DayWritingChallenge #66DayWritingChallenge