Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a prison warden in Nihommatsu is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I wake up, right? Sun’s shining, birds chirping, and I’m thinkin’, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I hit up the local konbini on Kōen-dōri for my morning coffee. You know, the one with the best onigiri? Yeah, that one. I grab my usual—salmon, of course—and the cashier, this sweet old lady, gives me a smile. I’m like, “Aww, thanks, lady!” But then, bam! I spill my coffee all over my shirt. Great start, huh? I’m standing there, looking like a walking disaster, and she’s just chuckling. I mean, c’mon, it’s not that funny!
So, I rush to the prison, right? I’m late, of course. Traffic on Kōen-dōri was a nightmare. I swear, if I see one more bike courier zoom past me, I might lose it. Anyway, I get to the prison, and it’s already chaos. Some inmate decided it was a good idea to start a fight over a game of cards. Like, really? You’re in prison, dude! Priorities!
I break it up, and I’m fuming. I’m like, “What are you guys, five?” But then, I see this kid, Yuki, who’s usually a troublemaker, and he’s just sitting there, looking all sad. Turns out, he got a letter from home. Man, that hit me. I remember my first letter from home when I was in the service. It’s like a lifeline, ya know? So, I sit down with him, and we talk. I’m trying to be all tough, but inside, I’m like, “Dude, don’t cry. You’re a tough guy!”
After that, I head out for a breather. I stroll down to the riverbank by the Abukuma River. It’s peaceful there, and I can see the mountains in the distance. I take a deep breath, and for a sec, I forget about the prison. But then, I hear this loud honking. Some guy in a truck is yelling at a kid on a bike. Classic Nihommatsu, right? Always something going on.
I head back, and guess what? The fight’s broken out again! I’m like, “Seriously, guys?!” I’m ready to pull my hair out. I mean, I love my job, but some days, it’s like herding cats. I finally get everyone calmed down, and I’m thinking, “Okay, let’s just make it through the day.”
Then, outta nowhere, the fire alarm goes off. I’m like, “What now?!” Turns out, someone burned their lunch in the cafeteria. I can’t even. I’m running around, trying to keep everyone calm, and I’m just praying it’s not a real fire. I mean, I can’t deal with that today!
Finally, the day winds down. I’m exhausted, but I feel kinda good. I helped Yuki, and I kept the peace. I head back to the konbini for some snacks. I’m standing there, and the old lady’s still there. She sees me and just laughs. I can’t help but laugh too. I mean, what else can you do?
As I walk home, I think about Nihommatsu. It’s a small city, but it’s got heart. The streets, the people, the mountains—it’s all part of the chaos I love. Yeah, it’s a wild ride, but it’s my wild ride. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.