It was an intense yet invigorating week at work.

While I typically work from home some days, this week was spent entirely in the office as I wanted to ensure I was well-prepared for my newly assigned tasks.

By the end of my shift yesterday, I finally felt able to breathe and release the tension that had built up in my body. This morning, I struggled to get out of bed, which turned into a pretty lazy Sunday for me.

However, I did manage to take a walk down a street filled with cherry blossoms. It’s that beautiful time of year again.

Here’s how my week 1,523 unfolded.

1. What I read.

New Manga Techniques: How to Create Villains（荒木飛呂彦の新・漫画術 悪役の作り方）by Hirohiko Araki

The quote that stuck with me:

“When an editor says, ‘This manga feels like something is missing,’ in more than 90% of cases, I think it’s because ‘the villain isn’t standing out.’”（編集者が「この漫画、なんか足りないんだよね」と言うときは、九〇パーセント以上の確率で「悪役が立っていない」のだと思います。）

2. Who I saw.

I had the opportunity to reconnect with an ex-colleague who was visiting from headquarters. We previously worked together in the same team, focusing on troubleshooting alternative payment methods, and saw each other daily during that time.

The little details I observed:

He has since moved to a different team, which coincidentally is the same one I recently joined. I was fortunate to do my first shift with him, and it was a valuable experience. His extensive knowledge in the field allowed me to learn so much.

In our chats, I found out that he’s currently preparing to be a developer — a long-held dream of his. His journey to create his own path is truly inspiring, as he continually seeks ways to improve himself.

3. What I created.

I’ve been working on a reflection piece about my first week with the team at work.

The story behind it:

I plan to share my experiences and insights from my initial shift in this new role. This marks a significant milestone in my career journey, and I am eager to learn and grow from this invaluable experience, for which I am truly grateful.

Next Week’s Peek — What I’m looking forward to and why

Next week, I am excited to attend a workshop that I’ve been participating in since the beginning of the year. However, I missed the last two sessions, so I’m happy to reconnect.

Also, I want to continue enjoying the writing process. I don’t want to lose sight of the excitement, appreciation, and joy I feel when I wake up knowing I can spend the day writing again.

Hope you had a great week.

Catch you next week!