2024.06.27 12:41 AM
Tonight, I had a drinking party with my high school friends.
It's over now, and I've just arrived home.
What should I write about in this blog post?
It's 12:41 AM, and I'm gripped by an irresistible urge to write, a feeling so strong it makes my earlier complaints to Iwanami about having no ideas seem like a lie.
A lot happened today.
Around 4 PM, a friend from vocational school, who introduced me to STEPS and, so to speak, "sparked my interest in clothes," suddenly visited the store.
He visits the store unannounced a few times a year.
Each visit reminds me of the fresh and pure feelings I had as a student.
How I'd head to the store excited, thinking "I'll find something there," even if I didn't particularly want anything.
How I coveted the US-made NB2002, which was considered top-tier at the time, even though I was a naive student who knew nothing.
And how I received the valuable words, "It's still too early for you, Kunieda-kun." (laughs)
I didn't have my own standards for what was good or bad,
and my only criterion for choosing things was trusting the enthusiasm of the store staff.
Now, as a salesperson myself, I find immense satisfaction in happily conveying what suits him and what I believe is worthwhile to the very person who "sparked" my interest and introduced me to STEPS.
I wonder if my enthusiasm got through to him?
That night, I had a pre-arranged drinking party with my high school friends.
One of them (Friend A) bought something at SEEK&FIND late last year.
I offered him several suggestions as "meaningful items that wouldn't disappoint," but I'm sure he thought, "Why is this so expensive?" (Probably, no, definitely).
While I had solid confidence, I was still curious about his impressions after the purchase.
Because something I considered worth more than its price could often turn out to be not so for others.
A few weeks later, I messaged him on LINE asking if he'd managed to get the starch off successfully, and if the length after shrinking seemed right.
Me: "How is it?"
A: "It's too good to wear, so I'm still enjoying just looking at it."
I see, everyone has their own way of engaging with and enjoying things.
・・・・・・
And then, six months later.
A message arrived with a photo: "I managed to do the denim well!"
He even included a photo of the laundromat.
From there, we exchanged a few trivial messages, and then the plan for tonight's drinking party was made.
・・・・・・
And finally, the day of the drinking party.
Around 9 PM, I joined my friends who had already started their pre-party.
The first words out of Friend A's mouth, whom I hadn't seen in six months, were unexpected.
A: "I have something to tell Kunieda!!"
Me: "....Did you get a girlfriend with your new clothes? lol"
A: "Haha. Hey. It's not something that small."
A: "Ever since I bought clothes at your store, fashion has become incredibly interesting. Thank you."
I was caught off guard.
This was the highest compliment I could receive.
He said that at a drinking party he attended wearing the clothes he bought, his colleagues complimented his outfit.
Isn't that wonderful?
Of course, clothing is just one catalyst,
and the enjoyable time he had was likely due to his personality and his colleagues' personalities.
Even so, I'm genuinely happy that I could contribute, even in a small way, to such a situation.
It's 1:29 AM, and this is me now.
"Alright, let's keep enjoying tomorrow too. Come visit again."
Kunieda
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