I was talking with a co-worker the other day about nescient youth and eventual bumpy rise to a professional career.  I’m probably one of the youngest among my team of co-workers and even the larger organization. I’ve always felt older than I am. So, it’s a bit odd to be surrounded by people who have two or three times the life experience. In some cases, those co-workers have decades more work experience (in the same field), than I.

While talking to my fellow worker, it happened that we had similar stories about working our way through university, about leaving friends behind, and about moving forward. One striking similarity came up that has stuck with me, from that conversation. Neither of us had anything we could consider a mentor or role model.

At the time, when I was younger, it never occurred to me that I needed someone to offer direction.  In my mind I was capable enough. I knew the direction I wanted to go, and I was headed that way. Be that as it may, looking back on my younger days I can’t really say that I was all that directed or all that motivated. Explicitly, I lacked any real direction or drive. It was something I had to find later.

It isn’t like I’m all that experienced now, either. There are differences, though. I have more history, knowledge, and have grown much since that time. As a youth, I lived life as it was presented to me and mistook making choices of the options given to me as directing my own path. But, flowing through life like the winding trails of rain water is not to be mistaken for making important life decisions. It is a childish way of living.

Now that many of the decisions that I had made as a younger me have largely played out their resultant effects. I can reflect on the outcome. The time spend wisely and wasted is clearly visible to me know.  The bad decisions as well as the good are so much more distinct from each other. More than anything, I’ve come to the point that I know that there is so much more that I don’t know. Truly understanding that concept took too long in my opinion.

Now, I can honestly say, I wish I had a mentor when I was younger. I really do. My pride, probably, would have never let me say something like that not too long ago. For a time, I saw my solo adventure through colleges, jobs, and relationships as a badge of honor. Those things were a testament to my talent and drive. It was a big “fuck you” to all those people who tried to hold me back or didn’t think I could do it.  I can see that it merited very little for me.

Life is all about choices. One absolutely has to make those choices on their own, or it isn’t really worth living. Life is also about making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and using that knowledge later. However, it isn’t a bad thing to have a map of the possible troubles along life’s routes.

That’s what a mentor should be. They are the map. Not necessarily, a map of the route from A to Z. They are a map for any direction or road you wish to take. They can tell you were the bridges are or where the rivers run. You can visit the mountains or the plains, and your map will help you get there. It can’t and won’t tell you the best way or the only way, but it will help get you there.

The younger me really wishes for a mentor.

Once again, this show keeps pushing Noe to the side in favor of Hiromi. I truly cannot see this show any other way than through Noe’s character. Considering that she is the only character for which time was devoted explaining her background story it is understandable to an extent. That coupled with the fact that it is her story that the title of the show alludes.

Previously it is made certain that Noe had realized the extent of Shinichiro’s feelings for Hiromi. Shinichiro, for his part, has played the role of ambivalent love interest. I suppose we will see some major story progression now that we have moved into the part of the story where literally all of the main female characters not only are in love with the male lead openly but also are free of prior constrains limiting their affections.

I’ve stated in the past that one of the best ways to develop a character, in my eyes, is to put them through hardships. To witness a character’s progression as they endure emotional suffering is an effective way to convey their experience. How many of us can identify with a heart broken Japanese school girl as much as we can simply identify with being heart broken?

Noe’s tears:

Noe contemplates loss.

Noe sees your soul.

Noe left behind.

We see through you, Noe.

Noe caught you…

Noe is angry…

Noe is direct and to-the-point…she also seems to think you’re hungry.

Epic battle!

Noe is confused and frustrated. Your indecisiveness confuses Noe.

The majority of the show is dedicated to the developing relationship between Noe and Shinichiro. We get a lot of plot movement and character development throughout the cast, which was a nice bonus. That’s not to say that the previous episodes didn’t move the story along.

I think I was waiting for Shinichiro to discover Noe. I was surprised it took so long. Seriously, that girl gave him chicken feed. Girls don’t go around giving chicken feed to just any random guy, ‘ya know.