Invited by the Silver Grass #RainbowCreativeClub
One month until the wedding.
I chose this season for our anniversary because I wanted to see her smile, as she loves the feeling of autumn turning into winter.
There were so many things to decide and do that I needed a little break.
She, who never stops, was focused intently on the preparations.
It's suffocating.
I pretended to go to the restroom and snuck out of the house.
It was a walk in the early evening of a stable season. I moved through the buildings and houses as if running away from something, staring at only one point.
When I suddenly stopped, noticing that the buildings were gradually thinning out, a dim path appeared in a landscape that felt like a time slip.
It would be troublesome if I got home late, but my body was naturally drawn in by a morbid curiosity.
Silver grass was lined up along the side of the road.
The moment I shivered, a wind blew that seemed to change the very air.
The bowing silver grass, pushed by the autumn breeze, beckoned me to come closer.
Thinking it was all rather strange, my body moved on its own toward where the silver grass was beckoning.
Hey there, hello. How are you doing?
...Huh?
I don't know when it appeared, but a raccoon dog was standing in the middle of the road, speaking to me in a laid-back manner.
Could you keep time with that conductor's baton over there?
Unable to process this situation, I looked for the so-called conductor's baton I was told about.
At my feet, a thin twig of just the right length was lying on the ground.
Is this it?
Are you ready? Here we go!
Huh?
Yo, ha!
Pon-poko-pon!
Pon-poko-pon!
Pon-poko-pon-pon-pon!
Flustered by the sudden rhythmic start, I picked up the twig—no, the conductor's baton—and waved it around desperately.
Pon-poko-pon-no, pon-poko-pon!
Tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet-tweet
The birds began to sing.
Swish-swish-swish, rustle-rustle-swish
Swish-swish-swish, rustle-rustle-swish
The silver grass swayed, making a sound.
There is no time to think.
I am a conductor now.
I must bring this performance together.
I become absorbed in playing the role of a conductor.
Pon-poko-pon, tweet-tweet-tweet
Rustle-rustle, swish-swish, swish-swish-swish
Oh, the sounds that were out of sync at first are gradually coming together.
As I wave my baton, I pick up each sound and feel it.
Inhale
Exhale
Rustle-rustle, tweet-tweet, pon-pon-pon
As I repeated this, I started to feel like a proper conductor.
By the time the tightness in my chest from when I left home had faded and I could breathe more easily, the Pon-poko Orchestra's performance had ended.
"Well, I think we managed to make some good sounds."
The tanuki said in a calm tone.
"When you move while feeling the whole like this, harmony is born."
"You will surely remember this when you need it, young man."
Yes...
I greeted the tanuki and headed toward home.
When I realized it, the gloomy feeling I had when I left the house had vanished somewhere.
The surroundings had grown completely dark, and the full moon floating in the sky was watching me.
Today's moon seems to be shining even brighter than usual.
Click
Where have you been!
There's still so much to do!
Sigh... just as I was starting to feel discouraged, thinking that if things were like this now, I wouldn't have any confidence in married life.
Tweet-tweet
As if it were a signal, a bird chirped.
Swish swish swish, rustle rustle swish
Swish swish swish, rustle rustle swish
From somewhere, the sound of silver grass swaying in the wind could be heard.
Only the tanuki's pon-poko couldn't be heard.
I know! Pon!
Hey!
Are you even listening?! Poko-pon!
Tweet-tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet, tweet-tweet-tweet
Swish swish swish, rustle rustle rustle
Swish swish swish, rustle rustle rustle
Pfft, pfft-pfft-pfft
What are you laughing at! Poko-poko-pon!
Puh-ha! Hahahaha!
I couldn't stop laughing.
Ugh! Pfft-pfft-pfft
She started laughing along with me.
"Since you weren't here, I suddenly felt lonely and was crying all by myself, you know!"
Seeing her tearful smile, I felt the tension leave my shoulders as I thought, 'Ah... I'm going to make this person happy.'
"Yes, yes, come on, let's finish up the rest of the work."
When I looked out the window, the full moon was watching us.
Ah, the moon really is shining even brighter today.
I participated in this project ♪