— How a Tiny Plush on My Bag Became a Secret Password to Invisible Connections
🕒 Reading Time: about 7 minutes
✅ Conclusion
Those quiet three hours after waking up at 4 A.M. gave me more than just free time —
they opened a path to unexpected human connections.
That little plush of the Dean isn’t just a mascot.
It’s like a secret password that attracts people who share the same values.
And I could recognize those moments only because I had time — and space — to breathe.
🪄 Key Takeaways
🧸 The Plush = A Password: It naturally connects people who share the same mindset.
🌤 3 Hours of Freedom = Mental Space: It sharpens your ability to notice kindness.
🤝 Volunteering = A Bridge: Even introverts can connect naturally when given a role.
Prologue — 550 Yen or 590 Yen, That Is the Question
7:30 in the morning.
I sit in a tonkatsu diner before work.
I come here for the morning discount.
The regular pork cutlet set costs 590 yen,
but if I skip the natto and seaweed, it’s 550 yen.
Every morning, I hesitate at the counter.
Not because I can’t afford 40 yen — it’s the principle of value.
Natto and seaweed for 40 yen? A bit steep.
But if I think of the time and effort saved, maybe it’s fair.
That day, I went with the full 590-yen meal.
Natto for protein, seaweed for minerals — a small investment in my health.
Crispy batter, warm steam, soft morning light.
As I stirred my natto, I thought,
“Alright, let’s make today a good day.”
I didn’t know then —
that this 40-yen “investment” would somehow become a secret password,
leading me to an encounter that would quietly change the quality of my life.
Life at 4 A.M. — Finding Three Hours of True Freedom
Why was I in a tonkatsu shop that early?
Because lately, I’ve been waking up at 4 A.M.
It started as an experiment, but it changed everything.
Work begins at 8:30, and I like to arrive by 8.
That means I have three hours entirely to myself — from 4 to 7.
Those hours are sacred.
No emails, no notifications, no noise.
The world belongs to me alone.
If you think “I have to do something” in the morning, it’s stressful.
But when you think “I can do whatever I want,”
you actually want to wake up.
I read. I write my blog. Sometimes I study.
Or I just enjoy the quiet with a cup of coffee.
Freedom of time creates peace of mind.
When you rush, you lose sight of people.
But when you have space, you notice kindness.
That’s what I’ve learned —
how I use my time determines the quality of my life.
A Small Plush, Swinging on My Bag
There’s always a plush of the Dean hanging on my bag.
That round face, that gentle smile —
it’s like it whispers, “You’re doing fine.”
Some may laugh. “A grown man with a plush?”
But I see it differently.
It’s proof that I’ve learned to embrace my true self.
Through Liberty University Japan (リベ大),
I didn’t just learn about money.
I learned how to live by my own values,
and enjoy the connections that come naturally from them.
I got this plush at Libefes — the community festival.
The Power of Volunteering — A “Connection Device”
At that festival, I joined as a volunteer.
That’s where the plush became a secret password.
My role was patrol.
I walked around to check if anyone needed help,
gave directions, and offered maps.
It sounds simple, but it was deeply fulfilling.
If I had just been an attendee,
I probably wouldn’t have talked to anyone —
I’m naturally introverted.
But as a volunteer, it was different.
“Restrooms are that way.”
“Here’s the event map.”
“Do you need any help?”
Having a role gives you a reason to connect.
Volunteering, I realized, is the best system
for introverts to feel naturally connected.
The Moment Someone Spoke
While I was stirring my natto at the counter,
a soft voice spoke from beside me.
“I spoke to you because of that plush.
I was a volunteer at Libefes too.”
My chopsticks froze.
To be honest, I was startled at first.
In the city, strangers rarely talk to each other.
A part of me thought, “Is this a scam?” or “Some weird pitch?”
But then I saw her calm expression.
Her eyes looked at the plush with a nostalgic smile.
That was enough.
I smiled back.
“I was a volunteer too.”
That was it.
No names. No contact exchange.
But that was enough.
“Light Connections” — The Perfect Distance
As I left the diner,
I felt a quiet warmth in my chest.
Just one line — “I was a volunteer too.”
And yet, it made me feel seen.
Same place, same purpose, same values.
We didn’t need to follow each other online.
It was enough just to know — we were part of something together.
That’s what I call a light connection.
A relationship that asks for nothing,
but leaves a trace of warmth.
The Reason I Could Receive It
If I had woken up late that day,
rushed through the morning,
I probably wouldn’t have welcomed that moment.
I might’ve thought, “I don’t have time for this.”
But that morning was different.
I had already lived three peaceful hours before sunrise.
My mind was calm.
And because of that,
I could look at someone’s face —
and see the kindness there.
When your heart has space, you can finally receive the goodness around you.
And that changes everything.
Epilogue — The Plush, the 590-Yen Breakfast, and the 3 Hours of Freedom
That little plush quietly changed my mornings.
Even my walk to the station felt lighter.
The next day, I woke up at 4 again.
Same diner. Same meal — with natto and seaweed.
40 yen more than the minimum,
but it’s an investment in both nutrition and happiness.
Because in those 3 free hours,
I gain peace of mind.
And with that peace, I can see kindness.
And kindness always leads to connection.
Time, when used well, changes the quality of life.
The plush simply reminded me of that truth.
☕ A Small Reminder, for You
Start with just 15 minutes.
Make yourself a warm coffee,
and let the world slow down.
That quiet time will become your first step
toward three hours of freedom.
And when you meet someone who feels kind,
trust that feeling —
that’s your heart finding its own space.
You don’t need names or social media.
Just a quiet sense of “Ah, we’re connected.”
A small plush.
A 590-yen breakfast.
And three hours of freedom.
That simple cycle quietly enriches my life — every morning.
🌅 As dawn breaks, I brew my coffee again.
The tiny “password” on my bag sways gently,
and another gentle day begins.
🪄 Related Articles
👉 What Can You Do with Your “Three Pitches”? — Thank-You Pitch and My Life
A reflection on how to spend our limited time — the same theme that runs through the quiet mornings of “4 a.m. awakenings.”👉 A Peaceful Day at Ninomiya Azumayama Park — Climbing, the Sea, and Fried Horse Mackerel
A quiet mountain morning and a plate of fried fish shared with my wife — a story about the peace that comes when we slow down.👉 Training for a Health Check — Running Toward a Better Morning
A 50-something’s journey to run again.
Early mornings become time for health, calm, and self-rediscovery.
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