Happtivity Practice

6 a.m. Time to begin my happiness activities⁠—my happtivities.

Happtivity number one: within 30 minutes of waking up, take a 20 minute walk outside and bask in the rays of the sun.

It’sh alwaysh good to take a walk and get your mind off of thingsh. You can do thish, Nagi-shan. Hip-hip-hooray!

Okay. Let’s go.

I feel a strange wave of self-esteem from just waking up early and getting things done. Maybe I’ve joined the ranks of the image-conscious now⁠—

Watch where you’re fucking going! You wanna get killed or something?!

9 a.m.

The weather’sh sho nicshe today. The flowersh will shoak the shunshine right up.

Yeah. Me and the leaves are both glowing today.

Happtivity number two: spend at least five hours a month connecting with nature.

It really helpsh to lower shtressh levelsh.

I connect with nature every day, so maybe that means I’m more resistant to stress than most…

Hrng…!

Ah, that scared me.

Hey, you! The bouquet I bought at the department store yesterday already wilted!

I’m very sorry about that. If you have a receipt… Wait, the department store?

Yes! The bouquet I bought at the department store!

11 a.m.

De-weeding.

1 p.m.

Happtivity number three: eat fermented food for improved gut health.

The gut and the brain are somewhat connected, so improving your internal health will also improve your mental health.

Some miso soup I made by adding hot water to miso and some pickled vegetables I splurged my money on. Also, natto I bought at 90 yen for three packs and frozen rice… Time to eat.

Oh, Nagi, it’s you. Having some lunch?

Yeah. I’m improving my gut health and my happy health at the same time…

I see. Adding some grated onion and apple cider vinegar to your miso could help with that.

I’ll add that to my happtivity notes. Did you learn that from your grandma or your mom?

Hm? Ah… Well… Let me…see… I think I learned about it…from my father.

Ugh…

Hm? Do you have a headache?

No, I’m alright.

Hey, Hachinoya. It’s time. Let’s go.

2 p.m.

Is there anything I can help you with, besides giving you a ride for your property hunt?

(Happtivity number four: contribute to the community.)

Nah, this is fine. All the nice places in Ward 15 are owned by people who know that piece of shit old man.

Old man… Is that your grandpa?

Yeah, they’d never let me have the property, even if I got on my knees and begged for it.

I’m good at that.

I don’t need your help.

They say that three heads are better than one so I know that I just met you recently but I’m sure I can help you in more ways than just giving you a ride because I do have my own business so if you’re looking for some property I can just⁠—

Shut up already! And focus on driving, for fuck’s sake!!

3 p.m.

De-weeding.

4 p.m.

Okay, Raito-shan. We’re excshited to learn from you today too.

(Happtivity number five: take steps towards personal growth.)

Nagi, do you know how to be assertive? It’s an important communication skill that helps you voice your opinions to others without causing them discomfort.

No. I’ve never heard about that. I didn’t even know that was possible.

That’s okay, it’s easy to pick up. You’ll get the hang of it once you start doing it. The key is to make yourself the subject of your sentences… Let’s start with an example scenario.

An upset customer comes in, saying that the flowers they bought from you wilted in a very short amount of time, but you find out that it was due to the customer’s poor treatment of the flowers. What would you do?

Apologize profusely, issue a refund and exchange, and offer them a free voucher. Depending on the severity of their reaction, direct them to the consumer affairs center.

Ahaha… I see you’re the type of person to avoid voicing your opinion to people.

Hey! I tried to use the voucher you gave me at the department store, and they didn’t take it! They didn’t even exchange me for a new bouquet! What is the meaning of this?!

Ah, it’sh the pershon who came here this morning…!

…Did you buy your flowers at the department store instead of this shop?

Yes!

I understand that it’s very sad to have your flowers wilt when they’re usually a source of happiness. You must be a very compassionate person.

We’re deeply sorry that we’re unable to assist you, as you bought your flowers from a different shop, but…

We empathize with your feelings, and we would be glad to offer you our business in the future to make up for it. Would that be alright?

We recognize how much you care for flowers, so we would be honored to sell ours to you.

Oh, my…! What a wonderful little shop! I would love to buy my flowers from here!

W-Wow… Hish communication shkillsh are on another level!

To think that Raito-san considers this skill easy to learn… He’s amazing. I’m no match for him… Even though we’re both team leaders…

8 p.m.

Thank you so much for the flowers! Bye-bye! I’ll see you later.

I need to give out flowers to balance today’s happiness on the way home.

(Happtivity number six: balance out my happiness yajirobe.)

Maybe I can just scatter 500 roses around everywhere. I guess you could say I’m petaling them.

(Any flowers I don’t give out can go to the chief. I’m really glad that I don’t have to worry about having flowers left over anymore.)

Excuse me, I’m handing out some free flowers. Would you like o⁠—

HUH?! Flowers? I don’t need that shit!

Hey, ain’t you the guy who was givin’ us trouble that one day?

Ah! Ow! I got pricked by the thorns on the rose you forced onto me! I gotta go to the hospital now, so hand over the cash for the bill, shithead.

Y’better hand over that money if you value your life, pisshead.

Nighttime… 10 p.m.

*sigh…* I got a lot of the weeds out, but it’s going to take a bit longer for it to be completely clear.

(I’m really thirsty, but I forgot my water bottle. There should be a vending machine around here…)

There it is.

(I’ll get something bottled. Maybe some Yippie! Green Tea.)

…Ah, I don’t have any money. All of it was stolen…

Huh…?

A treat for all of your work.

Thank you… But why are you here?

I can tell when you are feeling sad. I can also tell your whereabouts at all times.

You are to me like this bottle is to you. You’re my precious donor, after all.

…This is the first time someone’s ever looked out for me.

Thanks for buying it for me. Now I can keep going.

Huhhh? Are you not returning home?

Not yet. I think I can keep at it for a bit longer… Hup.

What are you doing?

De-weeding.

I found this empty plot while I was walking around my ward, so I asked the owner if I could help clean it up.

All by yourself? By hand?

Ahaha! That is awfully inefficient! You’ve been strangely active recently, Gii!

Yeah. I wanted to do something new, but I wasn’t sure what, so… I’m giving a bunch of new things a try.

Happtivity number seven: do something nice for someone.

I listened to a lecture on the psychology of happiness on the radio a while back. They said that doing volunteer work makes you happier.

Hohhh. But if you are doing volunteer work in order to gain happiness, is that truly considered volunteering?

Huh? Is it not?

Ahaaa, you’re so funny! Did you save me for your own benefit as well?

I’m not really sure…

I’m the only person you shared your secret with, so I think I just wanted to make you happy.

Eheh! My chest feels like it’s throbbing! How strange!

Allow me to make you aware of an eighth happtivity. Every night, before you sleep, write down three good things that happened that day.

This activity will take advantage of the human brain’s tendency to imprint the final feelings of the day into its memory.

Woah…

Well, I just barely avoided getting hit by a truck… That’s a good thing, right?

One good thing!

…I gained a new potential regular customer.

Two!

Ryui…made me emotional…?

Three!

Raito-san made me realize that I have room to grow…!

Even more?!

I got my money stolen, so you bought me a drink.

Mhm!

I realized that there are people who’ll look after me.

Technically, I am not a person.

(A lot happened today, but if I actually think about it…)

It was a really good day.