Episode 23: Yuto and Middle East Situations 2

Deepening Losses

Yuto opened his investment app once more.

His portfolio return, which used to be +7%—
had now plummeted to -11%.

It felt impossible that this was happening just a month after he started.
He felt a sickening sensation, as if all the time he had spent carefully building his assets had collapsed in an instant.

"I just... want to quit."

His true, raw feelings slipped out in a quiet murmur.

What would happen if it dropped even further?
How much longer would he have to endure this?

There were no answers to be found anywhere.

The Courage to Not Give Up

Just then, his eyes caught the email still open on his smartphone screen.

—"Are you doing okay, Yuto?"

Miona-sensei's words echoed quietly inside his head.

Yuto slowly turned his gaze toward Hikappa.

It still had that slightly anxious expression from before.
And yet, its eyes seemed to hold a flicker of unwavering trust.

"...Hikappa."

"I'm not going to run away."

"I won't stop the monthly investments. I won't quit, and I won't give up."

"I promise."

The moment he put those thoughts into words, his heart felt just a little bit lighter.

The anxiety hadn't completely vanished.
Even so—he had made up his mind to face it head-on.

After the Storm

—One month later.

The global stock markets continued their volatile movements,
but they were gradually beginning to regain their composure.

Signs of change were starting to appear in the Middle East situation as well.

"Discussions toward a ceasefire are making progress—"

When that news broke, the market reacted subtly but surely.

The stock prices, which had been in a relentless downward spiral, began to reverse.

Yuto opened his investment app once again.

The numbers were back in the positive.

The market crash he had feared so deeply did not last forever.

He felt as though Hikappa looked just a little more energetic today.

"We made it through..."

As Yuto whispered those words to himself, his voice carried a newfound shred of confidence.