明心 bright heart

公園で楽しそうに鬼ごっこをする子供たちを
路傍の石段に腰掛けじっと見ている翔子。
一緒に遊べなくて可哀想ね、と声をかけてくれる大人の人達もいます。
いえいえ、翔子はちっとも可哀想ではないのです。
その瞳を覗いてみてください。
親しいお友達が鬼になると、翔子はその子と一緒に鬼になって追いかけ、好きなお友達が逃げる側になると一緒に懸命に逃げる。
当の子供たちよりも、もっとドキドキ、ハラハラ手に汗を握って、
生き生きと鬼ごっこに参加しているのです。

Shoko sits on the stone steps by the road and watches the children having fun playing tag in the park.
Some adults say to her that they feel sorry for her because she can't play with them.
But no, Shoko doesn't feel sorry for them at all.
Look into those eyes.
When a close friend becomes the Oni, Shoko becomes the Oni right along with that child and chases after them, and when her favorite friend is the one running away, she runs away with them too.
She is even more excited, nervous, and on the edge of her seat than the children themselves,
and participates in the game of tag with great enthusiasm.