Mudai

In a wooden apartment on the first floor
He was absorbed in drawing
What he wanted to draw was about himself
About the world around him

He loved drawing since he was little
Because everyone praised him
But now, the only one who praises him
Is his girlfriend who lives with him

But he was happy with that
Even though they passed each other every day
She always used the same routine
The cherry blossom patterned stationery was dear to her
Before he knew it, night had passed
Before he knew it, the day had ended
Before he knew it, winter had passed
That day, his painting sold for the first time

The situation had already begun to change
The next month, all his paintings were sold
The only thing changing was the scenery
Everyone praised his paintings
His girlfriend happily said to him
What he believed was right
From the people who bought his paintings
He sometimes received letters of gratitude
He didn't remember being thanked
But he didn't feel bad either
The treasures slowly accumulating in his small room
Made him happy
He hoped this situation would continue forever
He started to love painting even more
He wanted to paint more wonderful paintings
What he wanted to draw was about himself
About the deeper, true things
His masterpiece was completed
His girlfriend smiled and said it was wonderful
A painting of the shallow nature of people
That everyone avoided looking at
People hid cocoons in his paintings
As if repelled by salt, people left
The scenery was always changing
People mocked him as incompetent
The two who fought more eventually parted ways
Was what he believed wrong?
In a wooden apartment on the first floor
He still continues to paint
What he wanted to draw was about himself
Ultimately, about the empty me
He loved drawing since he was little
The reason, he no longer knows
There's no one left to praise him
There are no longer names for the increasing paintings

How many days have passed unnoticed?
That day, after a long time, one painting sold
The scenery was always changing
A letter arrived from the owner
On cherry blossom patterned stationery, just one word
What he believed was right