It hit home for me, someone who had given up thinking 'it's impossible from the start'—What the anime 'The Black Cat and the Witch's Classroom' taught me
"It's impossible for me."
For a long time, I have often closed off my own possibilities in that way.
That is precisely why the protagonist of 'The Black Cat and the Witch's Classroom' struck such a chord with me.
The protagonist of this work cannot use a single spell.
Moreover, they have no money or connections, and are surrounded by nothing but super-elites.
Under normal circumstances, it is an environment where one would give up, thinking, "I don't belong here."
However, the protagonist still tries to move forward.
They look for what they can do right now, and despite being inexperienced, they desperately continue to put in the effort.
Watching them, I remembered my own student days.
I used to have a strong aversion to entrance exams.
"I'm not smart enough to compete in general entrance exams."
"If I'm going to fail, I'd rather choose a safe path from the start."
Thinking that way, I went to university through a designated school recommendation.
Of course, I don't regret that choice itself.
But looking back now, I think there was a part of me that "closed off my own possibilities before even trying."
That is why I was so moved by the protagonist's attitude in this work.
The protagonist understands that they are inexperienced.
Even so, they don't adopt the mindset of "that's why I won't try."
If they can't do it, they work hard until they can.
I felt that this attitude is something I need in my own life right now.
The one the protagonist meets is a talking black cat.
However, this cat is no ordinary cat.
It was Claude Sirius, a great sorcerer who had been turned into a cat by a curse.
What was impressive was that the protagonist treated the cat with respect.
Usually, people change their attitude toward others based on their "status" or "appearance."
Treating people in high positions with courtesy while being dismissive toward those who seem weak.
Such situations are not uncommon in reality.
However, the protagonist was different.
Even when the other party was in the form of a cat, she treated them with proper respect.
Moreover, at this point, she did not know the cat's true identity.
I felt a sense of 'sincerity without pretense' in that.
She looks at the existence itself, not the person's title.
That is why I believe people gradually gather around the protagonist.
In the story, there is a scene where the protagonist studies ancient scripts.
The goal is to read a legendary grimoire called the 'Book of Providence'.
The protagonist was originally not good at reading books.
However, as she researched, she gradually began to take an interest, and the desire to 'know more' grew stronger.
This process felt very realistic.
People cannot just like something from the very beginning.
You research because you don't understand.
It becomes interesting as you research.
And then, you want to know more deeply.
I believe that is how people become absorbed in something.
What was even more impressive was that this knowledge later proved useful in an unexpected way.
By learning ancient scripts, the protagonist discovers a hidden passage.
In other words, 'efforts whose meaning is not immediately apparent' end up helping you later on.
I felt a major message of this work in that.
People become anxious when they cannot see the results.
'Is there any point in continuing something like this?'
'Isn't it a waste to put in the effort?'
There are many times when one ends up thinking that way.
But in reality, experiences that seemed like a waste can sometimes connect to your life later on.
The same goes for studies, relationships, and hobbies.
Even if results don't appear immediately, what you have built up certainly remains within you.
What left a particularly strong impression on me in the story was the cat's
'The clearer the image, the stronger the magic becomes.'
words.
Of course, magic does not exist in reality.
However, I thought these words also apply to dreams and goals.
The moment people decide from the start that something is 'impossible,' they close off their own potential.
Conversely, by continuing to hold onto an image of 'how I want to be,' perhaps people can move forward little by little.
Dreams are not always realistic from the start.
In fact, some are the kind that people laugh at, saying 'that's impossible.'
Even so, by continuing to move forward without giving up, you get closer to reality little by little.
The protagonist's
'I'm inexperienced and can't defeat them now. But I will do everything I can right now.'
words also struck a chord with me.
People are inevitably impatient for results.
They want to succeed immediately. They want to be recognized immediately.
But reality is not that simple.
That is why I think what is important is to accumulate 'what I can do as I am now.'
It's okay to be inexperienced. It's okay not to be perfect.
Even so, I will continue to do what I can.
That accumulation will one day become the strength that supports me.
'The Black Cat and the Witch's Classroom' was not just a magical battle series.
In this work,
the 'courage to take on challenges',
'that effort is never in vain',
'that admiration changes people',
'the strength of purity'
are depicted with great care.
And above all, this work
teaches us the importance of not closing off our own possibilities by saying 'it's impossible from the start'.
People can move forward even while remaining immature.
What is important may not be to decide that you 'cannot' do something, but to continue doing what you can in the present.
#CreationAward2026 #EssayCategory
