Double Planet Episode 4

Double Planet
Episode 4: The animal I thought was a dog turned out to be a cat
Tamaru Luka (Furuta Jun & Kanda Yota / Radio Shonan Personality)

Who could have predicted a new semester like this? Before I even knew if my second year of high school had even started, spring break was followed directly by a temporary school closure until May 6th. My emotions are hanging in the balance, and time just keeps moving forward. I was so excited about summer vacation, but this temporary school closure is not a happy one at all. COVID-19 has stolen a part of my youth. Even though I didn't really enjoy my youth that much, I'm being hit with this paranoia. Ugh, it's really annoying.

Of course, there are no club activities, and the only lively thing is the drama club's group LINE. Everyone is bored, isn't they? They're talking about silly things. I just watch what they're saying.

"Hey, I'm bored, do you want to practice online?"

The person who made the comment was my classmate Natsuki.
Apparently, there have been some online theater productions using Zoom recently.
If face-to-face meetings are no longer allowed, you should think carefully about what to do.
Even so, Natsuki's antenna is amazing once her acting switch is turned on.
He now knows more about the latest theater news than anyone else in the club. Like who from which theater company won an award or how the alumni of that high school's drama club have gone on to become famous actors. He's become so knowledgeable that his seniors even ask him, "Are you a theater writer?"

These are the two online training sessions that Natsuki advocates.

・Why don't we all try practicing our voices at the same time through the camera?
・Why not decide on a theme and do an etude (improvisational play) online?

I just watched without reacting, and the situation was quickly calmed down by the new third-year students, who were not happy with Natsuki's proposal.
I think Natsuki must have been frustrated. As a friend, perhaps she should have offered support by saying, "I want to try!" even if it was just a lie.

In fact, there was a small change in me.
I'm not just being grumpy.
Because I'm alive too.
Since then, I've started listening to the radio program "Love & Music" every week, and these feelings have started to grow inside me.

"Maybe I should write a story too."

That's what I thought.
I didn't declare it to anyone, it was just something I decided on my own.
As a test, I downloaded a memo app on my smartphone and typed in some story ideas.

I have a ton of time, so this is the perfect way to kill time.

I got so absorbed in it that sometimes I didn't realize it was 2am.
Rather than focusing on one thing, I just write down whatever comes to mind.
It felt like I was just throwing a ball aimlessly at a target, but it was fun.

What is this fun?
It's like nothing I've ever tasted before.

Of the stories I came up with, my favorite is:
A comedy about a family raising an animal they thought was a dog, but it turns out to be a cat.

When I thought of it, I laughed.

"What's that?!"

I felt like saying to myself, "What?
The story is set in a world where the family has never seen a cat and has lived their lives believing that all animals of this size are dogs.

I wanted to talk to someone about this idea.

There's only Natsuki.

First, I send Natsuki a casual LINE message without him realizing.

"I'm sleepy"

To be honest, I'm not sleepy at all. In fact, my eyes are wide open. I decided to bring it up jokingly during a casual exchange.

"I was so bored that I came up with this story (laughs)."

I sent a message saying that the dog was a cat.
The message remains marked as read, but no matter how long I wait, there is no reply.
I wonder what happened... Natsuki is famous for responding quickly.
I decided to take a bath and when I came back refreshed,
A long message I had never seen before was sent to me.

Natsuki's own thoughts about how "I don't think it's good at all" were endlessly expressed in a roundabout way. I got tired of reading further halfway through, but I read to the end anyway.
I felt exhausted and heavy.

I thought Natsuki would say something like "That's funny!" in her usual tone.
I was hoping to be praised for the richness of my imagination.

"It just doesn't feel real."

It even came with such plausible words.
Reality. Is reality even necessary?
Because I can't help but think that impossible stories are more interesting.
In the empty room, I tried to mutter an argument.

After being criticized like this, I was completely disheartened.
I've been spending more and more time without even touching my memo app, and I've once again found myself with a hole in my time. Even when I watch anime on Netflix or TV dramas, I still feel unfulfilled. Time just doesn't seem to be piling up for me.
I don't know if he's alive or dead.

Still feeling depressed and frustrated, I looked at the date. It was Saturday.

I turned on the radio.

Emails from regular listeners are featured.
I thought it was great and I would like to participate.
Um, who was it again... Yes, it was Subtle Blue.
Like Satoru Blue, a high school student listener.

I decided to send my feelings to the radio.

Kanda: "Here's the email. It's from someone with the radio name 'Lucas'.
"Nice to meet you. I'm a girl, probably a second-year student, attending a high school in the prefecture.
School is closed now and I'm super bored.
Whether I'm playing games, watching anime, or doing anything else, it's always boring.
Corona is stupid.
The other day, I tried to come up with a story idea on my own.
It was fun and I came up with many ideas.
When I showed one of the ideas I was most confident about to a friend, he completely rejected it.
That was my report on the current situation.'

Furuta: "Oh."

Kanda: "Speaking of stories, it's Furuta-kun, right?"

Furuta : When you're young, don't you have an unfounded confidence in the things you create?

Kanda: "Me too."

Furuta : But when someone with a fair amount of experience comes along and refutes it with plausible words, it makes me feel down.

Kanda: "Furuta, are you depressed?"

Furuta : “I felt down at times, but then I quickly gained even more unfounded confidence and convinced myself that the person who rejected me was wrong! I was right! (laughs)”

Kanda: "I kind of get it (laughs)."

Furuta : "I don't think there's a right answer when it comes to making things. I think that anything that the person finds enjoyment in the process of making is genuine. When you continue making things and become an adult, there are many moments when that isn't the case. It's precious when you can simply enjoy making things, and feel like this is what you think! If you have the desire to express that, I want to say, don't be shy!"

"to be continued"

*Back issues can be viewed here .