Nothing Is Impossible || Soukoku

24|| Facing Shadows

Hello hello ^-^!

Welcome to the fourth update of today ^-^!

Make sure you didn't skip the previous three chapters >~<!

There is no need for warnings in this chapter, but I will give my usual warning.

I won't tolerate any hate comments or insults! You can, of course, criticise me, and you, of course, don't have to like my story, but respect is the key.

Anyway, enjoy ^-^.

Chapter song: Brave by Sara Brailles. You can listen the song if you want to! 

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Atsushi stood at the front of the classroom, his heart pounding so loudly that he was sure everyone could hear it. His hands were trembling, and sweat was beginning to form on his forehead. The classroom, usually a place where he felt safe, now seemed like an arena filled with judgmental eyes. He clutched his notes tightly, hoping they would give him some sense of security.

"Whenever you are ready, Atsushi," said professor Morana, a kind but firm woman in her early fifties. She gave him an encouraging nod, which did little to calm his nerves.

Atsushi glanced at the back of the room, where Dazai sat. Dazai gave him a reassuring smile and a small thumbs-up. Atsushi took a deep breath and tried to focus on Dazai's calm presence. They had spent the past week preparing for this moment, but now that it was here, Atsushi felt like all his preparation had flown out the window.

"Um, good morning, everyone," Atsushi began, his voice shaky. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Today, I will be presenting on the themes of isolation and connection in modern literature."

He looked down at his notes, desperately trying to remember the points he had rehearsed. His mind was a jumbled mess, and the words on the paper seemed to blur together. He took another deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"In many works of modern literature, isolation is a key theme," he continued, his voice still unsteady. "Authors often use isolation to explore the inner lives of their characters, showing how they deal with loneliness and their need for connection."

As he spoke, he risked another glance at Dazai. Dazai's eyes were filled with warmth and encouragement, and Atsushi felt a small spark of confidence. He straightened his back and tried to project his voice more clearly.

"One example of this is in the novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger. The protagonist, Holden Caulfield, feels isolated from the world around him and struggles to find his place in it. His journey is one of searching for connection, but he often pushes people away due to his fear of being hurt."

Atsushi felt a bit of his anxiety begin to ebb away as he got into the flow of his presentation. He moved on to his next point, discussing the character of Mersault in Albert Camus's 'The Stranger' and how his emotional detachment serves as a form of isolation.

As he continued, he started to feel more at ease. The words came more naturally, and he found himself making eye contact with his classmates. Some of them were nodding along, and Professor Morana was smiling. He even managed to inject a bit passion into his voice when he talked about how these themes resonated with his own experiences.

"Literature provides a mirror to our own lives," Atsushi said, his voice gaining strength. "It shows us that even in our moments of deepest isolation, we are not truly alone. There is always a part of that longs for connection, and it is through understanding and empathy that we can bridge that gap."