Episode 20: Hikappa and Winter (Part 1)
"I Want to Do Something"—Yuto's Dilemma
This story is a serialized work that illustrates the concepts of asset building—such as long-term, diversified, and recurring investments—through the growth of a plant.
In Episode 20, we follow Yuto as he wrestles with his intense urge to "do something" for Hikappa, who has lost its vibrant energy in the dead of winter.
With winter arriving in full force, the season had turned into one where Yuto couldn't go anywhere without his scarf and down jacket.
In the morning, the moment he stepped out of his front door, his breath turned into white puffs of mist.
Casting a glance toward the balcony, he saw little Hikappa sitting there.
It was moving around much less than before, and somehow, it looked completely drained of energy.
Hikappa was still so small.
It didn't meow or bark like a dog or a cat, nor did it ever complain about the cold.
Precisely because of that silence, Yuto began to feel a creeping sense of anxiety.
During the day, he made sure to place Hikappa out on the balcony so it could absorb as much sunlight as possible.
Even so, by the time he finished work and arrived back home, Hikappa always looked entirely frozen through.
A thought like that constantly flashed across his mind.
Since it looked so cold, maybe it would be better to move it to a slightly warmer spot.
He also couldn't help but wonder if it was suffering from a lack of nutrients.
He wanted to do this for it.
He felt like he should absolutely do that for it.
Yet at the exact same time, a counter-thought hit him just as hard:
How much did he actually, truly understand about Hikappa?
As winter deepened, Hikappa grew even quieter.
It almost looked as if it had fallen into a deep sleep.
Whether this was a perfectly normal reaction or a sign that something was seriously wrong, Yuto simply had no way to judge.
Therefore, Yuto made up his mind.
Before taking any sort of action based purely on his own assumptions, he would consult an expert.
That's it! He would send an email to Miona-sensei right away!
From: Yuto
Subject: Regarding Hikappa's Condition
Dear Miona-sensei,
Good evening. The weather has turned incredibly cold lately.
I am quite worried about how Hikappa is doing.
Recently, it just doesn't seem to have any energy...
I am attaching a photo of Hikappa. Could you take a look at it for me?
Is it because I am not watering it enough?
Or could it be a lack of fertilizer? The cold?
I am completely at a loss as to what to do.
Could you please give me some advice?
Thank you very much.
He sent off the email to Miona-sensei.
He laid out Hikappa's current state and voiced his anxieties with absolute honesty.
A short while later, a reply arrived in his inbox.
From: Miona
Subject: Re: Regarding Hikappa's Condition
Dear Yuto,
Thank you for your email. You don't need to
worry about Hikappa at all.
Please come to the botanical garden next week.
Reading that single line, Yuto felt a massive weight lift off his chest.
Takeaway from this Episode
Precisely when you feel the urge to "do something," that is the exact moment to pause. When markets chill or growth appears to grind to a halt, people tend to panic and make unnecessary, harmful interventions. However, nature—just like the market—operates in cyclical waves. Before acting on uncertain self-judgment, always stop and return to a trusted framework of guidance.