"Chronicle of a Delayed Scholar" —

Raised by the sea breeze and lulled by the waves, a boy once gazed beyond the horizon and, one summer, decided to step outside the familiar. Thus began six years of communal life, where camaraderie and conflict seasoned his youth, and an unexpected discipline quietly shaped his spirit.

Study, at first a refuge, gradually became a quiet joy. The road ahead was neither straight nor smooth, but he seemed to treat each detour as a kind of leisurely stroll—albeit one with exams, absences, and the occasional existential pause.

At times he wore a mask, at times he challenged the gatekeepers of bureaucracy, and at others, he simply let the seasons pass. Eventually, the world of employment loomed, as it does, with all its vague promises and polite anxieties.

He enjoys his drink, nurtured by a culture that values the warmth of shared cups, and seeks gentle connections with those who’ve also wandered a little off-course. Whether his journey is one of missteps or quiet elegance—well, dear reader, that is for you to decide.

Island-raised Through Twists and Turns

I grew up near the sea. Until junior high, I lived a relaxed life without even attending cram school. But I always had a vague feeling that I wanted to “go out into the world.” In the summer of my first year of junior high, I took a transfer exam and entered a prestigious school in the prefecture. That marked the beginning of six years of dormitory life.
It was tough at times, but looking back now, I feel that those years spent with friends—sharing meals and experiences—helped strengthen my mental resilience.

At first, I lacked any sense of cooperation, and to be honest, people around me kept their distance.
I went through the typical middle school fights and other troubles, and eventually, I was told to join the karate club to “fix my personality.”

I started reluctantly, but before I knew it, I was doing well enough to represent the prefecture in the national selection tournament.

As for academics, I actually hated club activities so much that I started studying just to take a break from them—and surprisingly, my grades improved, and I began to enjoy learning.

From Summer of My Senior Year in High School, My Grades Improved Rapidly, and I Took on the Challenge of University Entrance Exams.
In the actual exam, I missed passing one university by just a few points.
Believing I could make it with one more year, I decided to take a gap year to try again.
However, the following year, I ended up enrolling at our beloved Keio University.

My university life went relatively smoothly, and in my first year, my GPA—a measure of academic performance—was stable.
Still, I found myself missing the tension and focus of the entrance exam period, so at the time of advancing to my second year, I took a leave of absence and became a kamen rōnin—a student who remains enrolled at one university while secretly preparing to transfer to another, usually aiming for a higher-ranked institution.

The result: I failed.

I returned to Keio, expecting to finally move on to my second year.
However, due to having skipped the first session of a year-long required course, I was practically guaranteed to fail the class by spring—meaning I was almost certain to be held back.

Since the final grade for the year-long course wouldn’t be determined until the end of the academic year, I couldn’t bring myself to tell my parents.
Instead, I thought, “I need to achieve something to make up for this failure,” and decided to take the exam for the National Public Service General Position (Civil Service, General Education Track).

The first stage of the exam felt like an extension of university entrance tests,
so for someone like me, who had spent years preparing for such exams, it was surprisingly familiar.

In the second stage, I participated in discussions and presentations with students from top universities in Japan—Tokyo University, Hitotsubashi University, and Waseda/Keio.
It was more stimulating than I had expected, and for the first time in a while, I felt like

I was truly “doing something.”

In the end, I passed.

…Or so I thought.

A few months later, I received notice from the university that I had failed to advance to the next year.
Despite passing the civil service exam, my graduation was delayed by the university.
Since many Japanese companies and government agencies require a university degree, I was no longer eligible to become a civil servant.
It felt like a moment when the national interest had been compromised.

Around that time, I also went through a breakup, which hit me hard emotionally.
I even considered dropping out of university, but after spending about two months holed up in my room, I gradually recovered.
Before I knew it, I was back to living life as usual.

The year 2024 passed quietly, without any particularly noteworthy events.
And now, in 2025, job hunting has begun.
I still don’t know where I’m headed, but for now, I’m moving forward—neither rushing nor taking it too easy.

One more thing—I enjoy drinking.
Being from Kyushu, I feel I was raised in a culture that values social gatherings and drinking parties.
If there’s a get-together, I’d love to join.

So, with that in mind, I’d be happy to connect with others who’ve had their own unique experiences,
and build relaxed, meaningful relationships.
Looking forward to it!