Hello everyone.
When we left Aizu, there were only 7 Yumenomori students, but with new students and transfers to Okuma, the number of students has increased to 34 this year, our second year. That's about 5 times as much.
2024. It's been over a month since the new semester started.
For the most part, the students are having a good time without any major problems, but if you look closely, you can see that children become a little more rigid in their relationships with each other and even in their small relationships.
Of course, not everyone needs to be "friends". However, it is an undeniable fact that we are all ``comrades'' studying in the same school building.
If you're in the same group, there's nothing better than having everyone feel comfortable with each other.
So, how can we make each other feel comfortable?

3rd period.
5th to 8th grade students gather in the book plaza.
This is the beginning of a ``mental lesson'' with Mr. Ohmizu, a health designer (DE&I coordinator), and Mr. Sasaki, a school counselor.
First, designer Ohsui will speak.
``Today, let's think about how to make everyone feel comfortable through games.The first game is ``Rock, Paper, Scissors.''
picture? Rock, paper, scissors?
To be honest, I feel defeated.
"Okay, let's have you role play first. Then..."
Mr. Ohmizu, perhaps sensing my state of mind, nominated me.

Here are the rules: Play rock, paper, scissors with your dominant hand and count the number of times you won with your other hand. That's all.
Mr. Sasaki and I will try it right away.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
...The more times you play, the more you start to neglect your left hand, which shows the number of wins. If you turn your attention to that, the timing of the rock-paper-scissors will immediately become inconsistent.
Hmm, that's quite difficult...
After the role play, Mr. Sasaki will give an explanation.
"In order to play rock, paper, scissors well, you need to synchronize your breathing with your opponent. To do this, it is important to make eye contact, sense the rhythm of your opponent, and lean into each other."
I see. Things won't go smoothly if you're complacent.
A simple game contains many suggestions.

This time, we will form pairs and practice together.
“Seno, rock, paper, scissors!”
There are pairs that breathe well and move in good rhythm. There are also some pairs who can't continue playing because they can't speak to each other or the tempo doesn't match.
Mr. Sasaki will speak.
``The point is not to win at rock-paper-scissors. Nor is it a bad thing if you can't do it smoothly. It's important for each person to feel the other person's breathing and gain ``awareness'' through this activity. ”

...Thoughts start to drift by.
As I got older, I became better at reading the atmosphere.
We often act arrogantly for the sake of the other person, are timid, and uselessly try to avoid hurting the other person's mood.
...But can that be called ``spending time comfortably with each other''? Also, isn't it presumptuous to think of something ``for the sake of the other person'' without even listening to what the other person has to say?

While I'm in a daze, let's move on to the next activity.
This time it's "Dice Talk".
This is a work where participants talk to each other about the topic indicated by the roll of the dice.
It's easy to understand if you think of that game that you're familiar with on noontime shows.
Mr. Sasaki will explain the rules again.
"It's a waste to just talk. Let's try to keep the next thing in mind."
The words will be displayed on the monitor.
① Use warm words
② Find ways to convey warm words (facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.)
③ Feel the feelings of those around you (empathy, not pity)

With the above in mind, let's start the dice talk.
Overall, activities continue to be lively and fun, but there is still a sense of awkwardness.
Things don't go as smoothly as they do on TV shows. Whether you call it shame or timidity, I can see the beginnings of their own sense of self, giving them a rugged impression.
As I watched this, my thoughts drifted away again.

...This is fine.
It is blue, rough, rugged, and rugged. This is their current charm.
I think it's better than a sycophant who is condescending and complacent.
I also think at the same time.
However, the world is not so kind that you can push your own way as far as you want. If you don't have a way to adjust to the other person to a certain extent, you'll only end up having a hard time...

After school, I will talk to the school counselor, Mr. Sasaki.
``The warm words you say will always come back to you.In order to build good relationships, it is important to send out your warmth and at the same time receive the warmth of others. It's a catch-all for warmth, so to speak.
Of course, not everyone has to be friends. However, if you can build good and warm relationships with others, you and the other person can have a good time together. ”

Good relationships don't require you to wear yourself down for the sake of the other person. However, if they remain as wild children of nature, there will be problems.
It's okay to be natural, but just being a little conscious of "warmth" can make a huge difference in the resilience of your relationships.
Again, you don't necessarily have to be "best friends" with everyone.

"Can I make 100 friends?"
That song that was sung innocently...
If you were to ask me if you have 100 friends now, I would immediately answer no.
But between your friend and the stranger, there may be more than 100 people.
Nowadays, if we look at our daily lives, most of our lives are made up of relationships with people who are "between friends and strangers."
It's not "Because we're not friends..."
Maintaining a good relationship outside of friendships may be the secret to keeping each other in a good mood every day.