[Short Story] "The Neriranra Religion"
Noma, who lives in the well next to my house, lives with a negative frog.
This year marks exactly 100 years since they started living together.
Negative Frog
"Actually, a well is a hole that opens up in the top of the head of a human who is feeling bitter and sad."
Noma
"Oh, is that so? I didn't know that. Why did you tell me just now?"
Negative Frog
"Because a frog is a frog."
"So, I think I'll try thinking about old things."
Noma: "Then I'll try thinking about new things."
Negative Frog: "Thank you. That really helps."
One second later
Negative Frog
"What do you think? What do you think about this?"
Noma: "I've got it!"
Maybe the inside of the frog in the well starts moving when it gets far away.
So I think we just need to be patient for a little while longer until then."
The distant mountains are becoming quiet.
The clouds in the sky are becoming deeper and deeper, and their movement is slowing down.
A shooting star in the starry sky visible through a gap in the clouds hits that god directly and shatters into pieces.
A baby's cry can be heard from the house next door.
I can hear the mother's voice singing a Neriranra lullaby while shouting.
I hadn't noticed that it was coming from the garden.
Ah, how terrifying.
It is terrifying, but perhaps I don't even feel that, as I have lost almost all my emotions.
Being terrified is nothing more than a fixed idea trapped within the objective common sense inside my head.
It's not terrifying after all.
There is nothing to be afraid of.
In truth, there is nothing to be afraid of at all.
Negative Frog
"It's already night, isn't it."
Noma
"That's right."
Negative Frog
"I had already started moving long ago."
Noma
"I didn't know that. That's interesting. You really are amazing."
Negative Frog
"It's about time you started moving too, so let's go. To the All-Japan Amateur 'I'm Something' Championship."
Noma
"That's true. We're surely believers of the Neriranra religion, so we'll be fine."
Negative Frog
"Thank you. Alright, then let's begin."
Noma
"I'm so happy."
Negative Frog
"Alright, then let's finish it."
Noma
"I'm truly so happy."
The night grows even deeper.
I felt relieved.
It's already become this late.
The moment I got into bed, I noticed myself reflected on the ceiling.
"Ah, sometimes things like this are nice too."
Sleep becomes shallow.
It becomes shallower and shallower.
But I don't wake up.
Something new is about to happen.
It feels good to sleep with the window open on a summer night.
The sound of frogs outside is pleasant.
I can see the sky.
I can see the high sky.
The clouds are growing deeper.
The round sky
The distant sky
It feels very good.
Commentary
• This demonstrates the limits of using logic to erase emotions.
• This shows that comfort is an extension of the comforter's own psychological anxiety.
• This illustrates the fragility and agency of belief. (Not limited to religion)
• This shows that organizing the past and future results in fabrication.
• This demonstrates that the very human endeavor to seek peace of mind actually serves as proof of anxiety.
• The name 'Noma' signifies repetition, as combining the characters creates the symbol for 'same'.
It was a story about worshipping the sediment in a well.
Thinker: Madeleine's Study
