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Contains spoilers.
The transfer student Toranosuke differs from those around him in clothing, hairstyle, and way of speaking. He draws the gaze of the classroom and invites a fight with a bully. How differences are treated within a group is the axis of the story, and his homeroom teacher, Hiroshi Hidaka, faces these relationships as well.
Hiroshi's daughter Nanami is shut out by her friends after a traffic accident they caused together. Beyond the event itself, the relationships that follow and the actions she takes are called into question, and they are portrayed in parallel with the classroom story carried by her father, Hiroshi.
The publisher describes this work as one that takes as its subject the worlds of elementary and junior high school students and the ways of living of their parents' generation. The circumstances of the classroom, the home, and the parents cross, leading to the strange events surrounding Toranosuke and his mother.
After each quote, we provide a TODO based on a fan's interpretation.
We have not yet published any quotes whose exact wording could be verified in a source. We will add them after checking them against the book or Audible.
The essences and TODOs are fan interpretations, not the author's words.
Setting aside, for the moment, a first impression of someone's appearance or way of speaking, and looking at what the person actually does, makes it easier to avoid judging by the group's reputation alone.
About someone you find difficult, write three actions without using words of judgment
While confirming responsibility for what happened, not taking away the place where someone is heard can become a foothold for that person to choose the next action.
Offer one time to someone in difficulty when you can listen fully without judging
Separating the facts that each standpoint sees, such as those of the child, the teacher, and the parent, can help you grasp the whole relationship without hurrying to a single explanation.
Choose one conflict and write one line each on how it looks to the person involved, the other person, and someone watching over them
Middle of the story. Hiroshi, having met Toranosuke and his mother Tae, looks back on his own trouble-avoiding way of guiding students and changes how he approaches them as a teacher.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion shrinks, for daily life, the form in the story that looks not at whether failure was avoided but at the learning and action that follow.
Choose one failure from today, and write one thing you learned and one action you will change next.
Steps
An event in Grade 6, Class 3. The official description of the Taiwan edition says that Toranosuke apologizes frankly when he is wrong, but the details of the other person and the scene have not been confirmed.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion brings Toranosuke's action of apologizing without covering up down to the smallest form you can take before making excuses.
Admit your mistake specifically, apologize briefly to the other person, and then tell them what you will do to put it right.
Steps
This suggestion turns a reader's record, which sees being found out not only as punishment but as a chance to make amends, into an action.
Choose one failure that came to light early, and write what could be stopped now and the action to keep it from happening again.
Steps
After he transfers. Toranosuke faces his fight with the bully, and the official description of the Taiwan edition mentions him issuing a challenge before the confrontation.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion does not recommend Toranosuke's confrontation as it is, but replaces it with a way to take one step out of standing by without taking on danger.
In a situation where you feel like looking the other way, decide on one thing you want to protect and one person you can safely turn to.
Steps
The official description of the Taiwan edition mentions Toranosuke praising someone better than himself, but the details of the other person and the scene have not been confirmed.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion turns Toranosuke's act of acknowledging another's strength into a short practice that can be used after everyday competition as well.
Choose one specific good action by someone you competed with, and tell them directly, without adding comparisons or sarcasm.
Steps
Late in the story, around page 251. From the reader records obtained alone, it cannot be determined who said these words to whom.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion narrows the question of choosing for yourself not only the lead role but also the script and the direction down to the next scene.
Choose one scene you want to change, and write the self you want to play in it and the next word or action.
Steps
A scene in which Tae compares the world she came from with modern life, giving concrete examples such as travel, education, and choices about the future.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion turns the scene in which Tae checks modern life against concrete examples into a check of your options, rather than abstract gratitude.
From travel, learning, work, and relationships, write three things you can choose now.
Steps
This can be read as a scene connected to advice given by Shiro Kuroiwa to his mother Keiko, but the details of the speaker and the sequence have not been confirmed.
This interpretation was checked against official descriptions and readers' recordsThis suggestion turns a reader's interpretation, which shifts from comparing and looking for shortfalls toward seeing a person's specific actions, into a practice.
Without comparing to anyone, write three specific things the person did today, and decide what to leave to them next.
Steps
You can also listen during spare moments, such as on your commute to work or school.
