And Kanaka gets used as a weapon again, Poor thing.

We are back to our normal topic of the day settings. But never fear! Next episode promises more plot advancement!

This episode talks about bullying, which sadly, from what I have heard, is a very real problem in Japan. Bullying isn’t restricted to any one country though. I’m sure it is something you can see everywhere, overtly or otherwise.

[Summary]

Kikukawa Kouichi is a student (same school as in episode 3) who suffers from a chronic case of bullying. Morishita is his classmate, who while feels a little sorry for him, prefers not to intervene on the matter. After pleading to Morishita for help and consequently betrayed, Kouichi commits suicide (giving the same school another suicide case to deal with) and the target of bullying switches to Morishita (karma).

Kouichi getting bullied

Morishita’s turn

[Overall Impressions]

Man that letter was creepy. Most likely, it was the thing that pushed Morishita over the edge. Without it, the nice boat thing might not have happened. And that was one convienient screwdriver too.

“YOU JUST GOT PWNED WITH A SCREWDRIVER!”

Unfortunately, most people probably don’t realise how bad bullying can be until they have felt it themselves. Physical abuse, while painful, are only skin deep and leave obvious marks from which people can question. Verbal and emotional abuse, on the otherhand, leaves no marks but nevertheless works its way insidiously into your heart and causes no less pain. More often than not, the scars left by such abuse will stay long with the victim even as the physical scars fade.

I can say this because I too have been a victim. However, I was never as whiny as Kouichi nor was I ever pushed as far as Morishita (thank goodness for that). While I emphatise with Kouichi, keeping quiet isn’t always the best option. However, I will not presume to be an expert on the topic and will stop short of discussing what he should have done.

Nevertheless, to all you readers out there, before you join in on the “fun”, please consider your actions. Just so you know, I believe in Karma. If you are a student, don’t for a moment believe bullying stops at school. Grow up. The workplace is a battlefield. Don’t come crying to me when Karma bites you in the rear end at 25 or something.

Also, I find the following quote very appropriate for this post.

First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.

by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

Next up, more on Fumika’s past as well delve into the story about her father, Mikawa Kirameki.