Regular Customer: “Hey, boss. Have you heard that thing Tenshin Nasukawa posted on X? He said, ‘When you pursue something deeply, you’ll feel loneliness, but beyond that loneliness, comrades await.’”

Owner: “Oh, of course! Leave it to Tenshin to say something deep like that. He’s a guy who conquered the world at such a young age.”

Regular Customer: “Yeah, right? But when he first switched from kickboxing to boxing, people criticized him, saying, ‘He can’t KO anyone.’ And guess how he responded? He just shrugged it off with a bright attitude.”

Owner: “I can imagine him saying, ‘Let them say whatever they want.’ He knows he’s confident in what he’s doing, so there’s no need to listen to the noise around him. After all, those people aren’t the ones who are going to guarantee his life.”

Regular Customer: “Exactly. They even gave him flak just for striking a pose before a match. But Tenshin believed that as long as he stuck to his own style of boxing, the tide would eventually turn in his favor. He didn’t care at all about what others were saying.”

Owner: “That kind of strength is important. Even when you feel lonely, you’ve got to trust that comrades are waiting on the other side of that loneliness. That’s how Tenshin got through it all, I bet.”

Regular Customer: “Speaking of which, have you heard the story about the eagle and the crow?”

Owner: “Oh yeah, the eagle is the king of the sky, right? But the only bird that dares to attack the eagle is the crow. The crow lands on the eagle’s back and pecks at its neck. But instead of fighting back, the eagle just keeps flying higher and higher. The higher it flies, the harder it gets for the crow to breathe, and eventually, the crow falls away.”

Regular Customer: “Exactly! That story is such a great metaphor. It’s like, even when you’re attacked or criticized by others, you don’t have to react. You just keep flying towards your goal.”

Owner: “Yeah. Don’t waste time or energy on the crows—just focus on flying higher. Eventually, the crows will disappear on their own. It’s the same in life.”

Regular Customer: “Totally. I’ve got some ‘crows’ around me too, and even though I try not to let them get to me, there are times when I can’t help but get annoyed.”

Owner: “I get it. But those are the times when you need to keep flying like the eagle. Don’t pay any mind to the crows—just focus on where you want to go. I think Tenshin’s words and the story of the eagle and the crow have a lot in common. As we pursue our dreams and goals, we’re bound to face criticism and negativity. But if we push through that loneliness and keep refining our path, we’ll eventually meet comrades who share the same vision.”

Regular Customer: “Just like the eagle who kept flying higher and higher until the crow fell away. There are plenty of ‘crows’ in our society too—people who laugh at and criticize others’ dreams.”

Owner: “Yeah, I’ve had moments in the past where I let those crows get to me and lost my temper. Looking back, it was such a waste of energy. That’s why we should follow Tenshin’s example—stay true to our path and keep pushing forward. If we keep going, real comrades will show up someday.”

Regular Customer: “So, don’t let the crows distract you. Just keep moving forward, huh?”

Owner: “Exactly. What’s waiting at the end is a quiet sense of accomplishment and comrades who’ll walk with you. Thinking about that kind of future, well, it just makes me think that once again today…”

Regular Customer & Owner: “Today, like every day, it’s all about the yakitori!”

Owner: “Thanks as always. Let’s keep giving it our best tomorrow, too.”