The Straw Hat of the Sea Breeze

[Character Introduction]
・Kaito Funabashi: A company employee in his late 20s who visited Choshi to escape the pressures of work.
・Pipi: A pure white rabbit that can manipulate words and gently cultivates the hearts of clumsy humans.

[Lost Thoughts Sinking into the Horizon, and the Wind at the Easternmost Point]
Chased by the grueling work in Tokyo and feeling completely worn out, Kaito Funabashi spontaneously took paid leave and headed to Inubosaki in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture.

The Pacific Ocean stretching endlessly and the chalk-white lighthouse. However, no matter how beautiful the scenery was, his mind was occupied only by work mistakes and friction in human relationships.

The timeline on his smartphone was overflowing with talk about the "first TV performance song by Naniwa Danshi," which had gone viral on a music program. The glamorous world versus himself, where everything was at a standstill.

Kaito sighed and escaped into a nearby old-fashioned cafe to avoid the sea breeze.

[The Scent of the Shore and the Golden Miracle Cabbage]
From the cafe window, cabbage fields illuminated by the early summer sun stretched out as far as the eye could see. It was the season for Choshi's specialty, spring cabbage.

Kaito ordered the "Choshi Cabbage and Local Fish Anchovy Pasta" from the menu.

The moment he took a bite of the dish that was brought to him, Kaito's eyes widened. The thoroughly cooked cabbage was surprisingly sweet. The juicy moisture and the savory flavor of the anchovies, which contained the saltiness of the shore, intertwined, and the bottom of his frozen stomach began to warm up gradually.

He felt a little saved by the fact that he still had the sensitivity to feel that delicious things were delicious.

[The Philosopher with White Ears Talks About How to Untie Knots]
"It seems like the thorns in your heart have rounded off a bit after eating."

A light voice resonated directly in his head. Surprised, he looked at his feet and saw a pure white rabbit peeking out from under the table. Its name seemed to be Pipi. Pipi stared at Kaito while shaking its long ears and sent a telepathic message.

"Humans tend to fill their heads with worries about the future that hasn't even happened yet, or regrets about the past that has already passed. But you know, the world is complete enough just by fully savoring the sweetness of the cabbage in front of you at this very moment. Stop blaming yourself and just try feeling the wind."

At those gentle words, the unnecessary tension in Kaito's shoulders slipped away.

[Vowing to the Sky of Inubosaki, a New Way to Walk Toward Tomorrow]
When he left the shop, the twilight sky was beginning to dye into a dramatic madder red. Kaito took a deep breath and filled his chest with the scent of the tide.

It doesn't have to be perfect; he just needs to live today comfortably at his own pace.

Pipi's figure had disappeared before he knew it, but a certain warmth remained deep in his chest.

For the first time in a while, Kaito started walking toward the Choshi Electric Railway station, firmly stepping on the ground with his own will. A small but powerful light of hope resided in his expression.