Plum and Cherry Blossoms.

Why,

do you only look at

her?

Why,

won't you look at me?

Even though I am more beautiful,

it's always her who gets the attention.

Just because,

she's a bit flashy,

just because,

she has looks that attract people,

she's the only one,

being fawned over,

it's frustrating.

I am who I am,

and I'm trying,

my very best.

The people around me,

don't see me at all.

Look at me more!

Praise me more!

Put me at the center more!

When I was in high school,

I looked at the history of plum and cherry blossoms,

and,

I took the plum and cherry blossoms personally,

and then,

I projected my own situation at the time onto them.

Things weren't going well in my club,

things weren't going well with my studies,

things weren't going well with my friends,

things weren't going well with my family,

nothing was going right,

and whenever I saw people who were shining,

I would just feel jealous.

Back then,

the things right in front of me,

I thought everything

would be decided by it.

Since then,

time has passed,

I have become an adult,

and entered society.

Many things have happened,

and I realized there isn't just one way to see things,

but that they are multifaceted, complex,

and full of change.

I learned that things I thought were charming

were actually not that special at all,

and that even if something flourishes for a time,

before you know it,

there are things that

wither away completely.

I think,

back then,

I wasn't seeing things clearly.

I was just envious of others,

jealous,

and I thought,

how useless I am,

closing off my heart.

That's why,

I could only see the beauty in cherry blossoms,

and plum blossoms didn't even cross my mind.

Cherry blossoms,

bloom all at once,

reach their peak in an instant,

and scatter in a flash.

Plum blossoms,

bloom here and there,

They slowly reach their peak,

and quietly fade away.

I have come to know that.

Yes,

I, now,

seem to have grown fond of plum blossoms.

Of course,

I don't dislike cherry blossoms either.

Person and person.

Flower and flower.

Comparing them is,

instinct.

A feeling of jealousy.

It can't be helped.

But,

for plum blossoms, their own,

for cherry blossoms, their own,

strengths and weaknesses,

I believe they have.

Human individuality is,

unique to each person.

Each is brilliant,

and beautiful,

and each is ugly,

and dirty.

But,

everyone,

for the sake of someone else,

is useful.

Therefore,

I,

instead of being jealous of others,

want to be grateful to them.

Cherry blossoms bloom gorgeously and fleetingly.

Plum blossoms bloom gracefully and quietly.

I bloom straight and swaying.

I wanted to participate in the jealousy festival held by Nami Saito and Jun Ikematsu,
so I looked back on those days
and wrote this.
Thank you for giving me
such an opportunity.