Episode 29: The Night the Liquid Fertilizer Ran Out
On the Train Ride Home
After finishing a long day at work, Yuto boarded one of the last trains of the night.
As he sank into his seat, he opened a news app on his smartphone.
Massive headlines lined the screen.
- Bank of Japan Decides to Raise Interest Rates at Monetary Policy Meeting
- Expectations Rise for Improved US-Iran Relations
- Nikkei Stock Average Surpasses 70,000 Yen
"I've been so busy with work, I haven't even had the peace of mind to properly look at the news..."/p>
The markets move every single day.
Things happen all over the world, and every time they do, stock prices and exchange rates shift.
"To be honest, I still have no idea how any of this affects what."/p>
It had been less than a year since he started investing.
Balancing his demanding job was already taking everything he had; trying to perfectly understand the markets on top of that felt completely impossible.
As these thoughts drifted through his mind, the train arrived at his home station.
A Quiet Room
Walking through the chilly night breeze, Yuto finally made it back home.
Lately, working until near the last train had become a common occurrence.
Sometimes, he would notice the date had already changed before he even realized it.
He stepped into the hallway and flipped on the room light. In that exact moment...
"Wait... what?"/p>
Hikappa, who was supposed to be in the corner of the room, was barely glowing.
Yuto rushed over in a panic.
The leaves hung limply, and their usual vibrant, healthy green had faded.
Only a faint, pale light flickered weakly.
"Hikappa...!"
His heart sank
Come to think of it, when was the last time I tended to it?
Was it... last week?
Swept away by the hectic rush of daily life, he had completely forgotten.
Panic and Regret
Yuto hurriedly grabbed the liquid fertilizer from the shelf and took the bottle in his hand.
Right then—
Clatter...
A hollow, disheartening sound echoed through the quiet room.
Even when he turned the bottle upside down, only a few stray drops fell out.
"No way..."
Yuto stood frozen in disbelief.
"How did I not notice this?"/p>
Using his busy schedule as an excuse, he hadn't even bothered to check how much was left.
Hikappa didn't blame him.
It just sat there, quietly and subtly wilting.
Seeing it like that sent a sharp pang of guilt straight through Yuto's chest.
Desperate First Aid
Mixing the remaining few drops with some water, Yuto gently poured it over the roots.
"Please..." He whispered.
"Just hold on a little longer."
After a short while, Hikappa regained a tiny fraction of its glow.
Still, it was nowhere near its usual lively self.
Yuto clenched his fists.
"If only I had been paying proper attention... I wouldn't have put you through this."
He found it incredibly difficult to fall asleep that night.
The Next Morning: Deciding on a "Subscription"
The next morning, Yuto woke up earlier than usual and opened his smartphone.
He pulled up the purchase page for the liquid fertilizer.
Without a moment's hesitation, he tapped the"Subscribe" button.
"I never want to run out again. Noo matter how busy life gets, I want to protect the things that matter most."
The words "Delivered Monthly" appeared on the screen.
In that instant, Hikappa's leaves swayed gently.
A slightly warmer, kinder light had returned compared to yesterday—almost as if it were celebrating Yuto's decision.
Yuto's Realization
A gentle smile crossed Yuto's face.
"Automation... isn't about being lazy, is it? It's preparation to protect the things that matter."
Everyone has busy days.
That is exactly why people forget things.
That is why we make mistakes.
And that is exactly why systems and automation exist.
It's the same with recurring investments.
Setting up a system to automatically invest every month isn't about slacking off on wealth building.
It is a system designed to protect your future self and your precious assets.
As if responding to his words, Hikappa spread a warm, gentle light throughout the entire room.
"Alright, I'm heading off to work now, Hikappa."
Systems exist to protect the things you care about. Being busy is not a bad thing. However, when people get overwhelmed, they often put off the most important things. Automating your recurring investments and budget management isn't about taking the easy way out or neglecting them; it's about freeing up the time required to tend to your precious garden (your assets). In other words, creating a system is a smart strategy to ensure long-term growth. Once a system is built, it will keep working diligently on your behalf—even on your busiest or most exhausting days. The garden of wealth building grows not just through sheer effort, but through the systems you put in place.
STEP3・Automating Your Investments: Payment and Management Concepts