2026/4/20 Earrings

It was M-chan's birthday, so I went to Tsutsumi with her mom on Sunday.
I did this because M-chan had shown me before that she wanted to collect simple earrings from Tsutsumi.
If I'm going to give someone a gift, I want to give them something they actually want. While it's true that any gift is appreciated because it's the thought that counts, it's still awkward to receive something you don't need or that isn't your style. And, as terrible as it sounds, you might even think, 'If they spent this much, I wish they had bought me something else.'
That's why I even had her send me photos of the earrings she usually wears, and since she told me she wanted something simple for everyday use, I had already scouted out a potential pair on their website.
When I actually saw those yellow gold earrings, her mom said, 'Aren't these cute!', and I also thought they would look great on M-chan.
They were small but sparkled brilliantly, and the gold hardware gave them an elegant touch.
When the clean-cut, efficient shop assistant wrapped the earrings and tied the box with a red ribbon, it looked like the very embodiment of happiness.
I tucked the small box into a deep navy blue shopping bag. I wonder if she'll be happy. Maybe I'll give it to her tomorrow.
It had been a while since I went out to pick out a proper birthday present for a friend, and it was so much fun. Or rather, it made me feel good.
I really think happiness hormones are released when you're thinking about what will make someone else happy. 'Will she like this? Would this look better on her? What will she say? This will go well with the clothes she wears!' Thinking so much about her and imagining her happy face while choosing the gift made my heart feel so warm. It was a wonderful time.
I was the one buying, but I received just as much happiness as the person receiving the gift.
M-chan, thank you for everything.
I hope you stay smiling always. Have a great year!