Savior

Day 16

"Teppei, do you think people deserve the pain that they experience?"

Teppei looked up. "Why are you asking?"

Maeko sighed. "Do you think I deserve mine?"

"You don't deserve it. We don't deserve to suffer." Teppei drank from his glass of water before placing it down. "But... we need to experience some sufferings in life to grow."

"Do you hate Hanamiya for what he did to you?"

Teppei frowned. "I don't hate him. I'm just angry at the way he plays basketball. I hate how he succumbs to dishonest play to destroy his opponents."

"I can't hate Shuzo," mumbled Maeko.

"You don't have to. I'm sure he's probably wishing for your well-being right now, no matter where he is."

"But it's easier to move on if I could hate him."

Silence reigned over. Teppei picked up a slice of bread and spread some jam over it. He picked another slice and placed it on top of the other bread. Then, he took a bite from it.

"Sandwiches like this are really delicious."

Maeko nodded. "I love them."

"Maeko-chan, I believe that hating someone to move on from them is not as free as you think it is."

"What do you mean?"

Teppei took another bite from his sandwich. "You're not free from the pain of the past if you're still trapped in your own anger. A person might have wronged you and there's no excuse for their behavior. But, if you let yourself be trapped in your own anger, you'll just make yourself suffer more. To be free from the past is to forgive."

"Not everyone can forgive a person easily."

Teppei stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. "That is certainly true but I have a different definition of forgiveness."

Maeko frowned. "Isn't forgiving someone just you accepting that they behaved that way and not being angry at them because you understood their side?"

"For me, forgiveness is a gift to yourself. When you realize that you didn't deserve what happened. When you realize that the other person is a human being. When you realize that your life is not dependent on that painful experience. And most importantly, when you realize that you are also a human being."

Teppei smiled. "Often when we don't forgive others, we are also not forgiving ourselves. So, Maeko-chan, forgive yourself. You didn't know these things would happen. You couldn't have prevented them. If you knew Shuzo would leave one day, would you have stopped yourself from being friends with him?"

"Mae, thanks for the help!"

Maeko grinned. "Anything for you, Shuzo. You still have practice later, right? I'll wait for you. Let's go home together."

Shuzo turned red. "Eh? Are you sure? Practice takes longer than usual these days."

Maeko nodded. "We're friends now! Waiting is not a big deal."

"I-I-I w-wouldn't stop being friends. I loved hanging out with him."

"See? Besides, even if you two had only a short time together, the beautiful memories were worth it. Shuzo is right. You shouldn't let yourself suffer any longer."

Maeko looked outside the window. How does it feel to be free?