Man, what a day! I’m tellin’ ya, being a Watchman in Nishinomiya-hama is no joke. I woke up, sun blarin’ through my window, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I hit the streets, right? I’m cruisin’ down Nishinomiya-hama’s main drag, the Nishinomiya-hama Street, and I’m feelin’ good. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and it’s like a pink explosion everywhere. I’m talkin’ Instagram-worthy, ya know? But then, BAM! I see this dude, like, totally trippin’ over his own feet. Classic. He face-plants right in front of a food stall. I’m laughin’ so hard, I almost drop my coffee.
But then, I get mad. Like, seriously mad. The guy at the food stall starts yellin’ at him. “Get outta my way, you idiot!” I’m like, chill, bro! It’s just a little fall. But nah, the guy’s all worked up. I step in, “Hey man, it’s just a spill, no need to go all Hulk on him.” The stall guy glares at me. I’m thinkin’, “Dude, you’re sellin’ takoyaki, not runnin’ a dojo.”
So, I keep walkin’, tryin’ to shake off the bad vibes. I head over to the Nishinomiya-hama Park. It’s my go-to spot for some peace. But guess what? There’s a bunch of kids playin’ soccer, and they’re kickin’ the ball everywhere. One kid nails me right in the shin. Ouch! I’m hopin’ I don’t have a bruise the size of a watermelon. I’m like, “Hey, little dude, watch where you kick that thing!” He just laughs and runs off. Kids, man.
Then, I spot this old lady, Mrs. Tanaka, sittin’ on a bench. She’s always got the best stories. I plop down next to her, and she starts tellin’ me about her cat, Mr. Whiskers. Apparently, he’s taken up yoga. I’m tryin’ not to laugh, but I can’t help it. “Yoga? For a cat?” She nods, dead serious. “He’s very flexible!” I’m thinkin’, “I need to see this.”
After that, I decide to hit up the Nishinomiya-hama shopping street. I’m lookin’ for some new kicks. I walk into this store, and the sales guy is all over me. “These are the latest! Best in the city!” I’m like, “Dude, I just want somethin’ comfy.” He’s pushin’ these flashy sneakers on me, and I’m like, “I’m not tryin’ to run a marathon here.”
Finally, I find a pair that’s chill. I’m headin’ out when I see a street performer. This guy’s playin’ the shamisen, and it’s beautiful. I stop, listenin’ to the music. It’s like the world fades away. But then, some guy starts shoutin’ about how he can play better. Ugh, why can’t people just enjoy stuff?
As the sun starts settin’, I’m walkin’ back home, thinkin’ about the day. It was a rollercoaster, for sure. I’m feelin’ all sorts of emotions. Happy, mad, surprised. Nishinomiya-hama is wild, man. It’s got its ups and downs, but that’s what makes it home.
I finally get to my place, kick off my shoes, and plop on the couch. I’m exhausted. But ya know what? I wouldn’t trade this crazy life for anything. Nishinomiya-hama, you’re a hot mess, but you’re MY hot mess.