Summary

In "Aren’t We Fantastic Ones? — Part II," a mantis named Gee, who has ears on his belly, is helped by a character named Shakutori to escape a trap in the jungle, reflecting on the uniqueness of jungle inhabitants and the value of friendship and assistance.

Abstract

The narrative continues from a previous installment where Gee, a mantis with auditory adaptations, finds himself in a precarious situation. With the help of Shakutori, Gee manages to escape through a tiny hole, expressing gratitude for the assistance he received. The story delves into the unique characteristics of jungle creatures, such as mantises having ears on their bellies, and emphasizes the surprise and fascination these traits can evoke. Through their journey, Gee and Shakutori discuss past experiences, the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, and the surprises that come with discovering the diverse adaptations of their friends in the jungle. The tale concludes with Shakutori sharing his past adventures and encouraging a focus on positive aspects like finding food and water, boosting Gee's confidence. The author, Kaori Mitsui, invites readers to explore her other works and supports her writing through a membership link.

Opinions

The author conveys a sense of wonder and appreciation for the unique adaptations of jungle animals, as seen in Gee's belly ears.
Friendship and mutual aid are central themes, highlighted by Shakutori's willingness to help Gee escape and the mention of past friendships.
The story suggests that a positive mindset and openness to new experiences are crucial for overcoming challenges.
The character Kokki is portrayed as someone who maintains a cool demeanor but is also capable of laughter and camaraderie.
The narrative encourages readers to embrace adventure and the joy of discovery, as exemplified by Shakutori's recounting of his past journey.
The author emphasizes the interconnectedness of creativity and storytelling by linking to her web application with writing prompts and her fiction stories.
There is an underlying message of support for creators, with the author suggesting readers buy her a coffee or become Medium members through her referral link.

Aren’t We Fantastic Ones? — Part II

“Flint & Steel Two-Part Writing Challenge.”

Previously, the two were trying to escape. Then something awkward happened to Gee.

Aren’t We Fantastic Ones? — Part I

“Flint & Steel Two-Part Writing Challenge”

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“Are you okay?”

Before flipped upside-down, he thought he heard a sound, but he wasn’t sure.

Coughing Gee.

“Don’t scare me!”

“Ears are on my belly. Didn’t mean to scare you. My old ears, I have to flip to listen for the last few years.”

“For real? Let me see. Wowwwww!”

“Gosh, don’t shout at my belly. I can still hear well around my belly.”

“Haven’t seen ears on the belly. Sorry about that. Does every mantis look like this?”

“I know. Everyone gets surprised. Yes, we all have ears on our bellies. When I was your age, all my friends used to get surprised when I talked about it.”

“Jungles let me meet many friends and discover their uniqueness. And this is very interesting. One of the most astonishing things I have found in the last couple of years.”

“Kokki used to laugh so loud all the time, and I had to put Haramaki on when I go out with him.”

“Laugh loud? Really. He always looks so calm and cool.”

“Men are like that, trying to be cool, especially in front of students. He is still the same Kokki I know. I haven’t seen him for years. Oh, I was trapped here for years.”

“No more pessimistic thoughts!”

“Oh, thanks for helping me! Flipping back is sometimes tricky.”

Pass through the tiny hole. Gee followed him.

“Quite easy, wasn’t it?”

“Really, if you didn’t come, I wouldn’t be able to get out there. I have to thank you and Kokki.”

“So, I told you. Don’t worry. You would just get a wrong assessment if you worry too much and only think about negative things.”

“Totally right. I stayed there for too long.”

“Use this if it’s hard to walk.”

“Very good. This muddy soil makes an old guy like me so hard to walk.”

“We got a long way to go. Take it easy.”

“X mark was so scary, back there.”

“You are free now. And let’s think about some fun stuff. First, we need to find some delicious meals and water. Hope we find some good leaves to rest.”

“Zero to over 80% confidence with a happy mind right now, young man. Let’s find those.”

Shakutori told everyone about his adventurous trip in the Southern jungles when he started as a student of Kokki about ten years ago and how he helped Gee out of the Jungle.

Thanks for reading and listening!

Find out what characters look like: Shakutori → Here. Kokki → Here.

In case you wonder what Haramaki is. Haramaki is a clothing item or bellyband which covers the belly.

I made a web application, Writing Prompts & Tips. It offers free “Easy” and “Medium” difficulties — over 44 free writing prompts for you to spark your creativity. And you get to find hidden prompts and see the characters from my fiction stories! If you tried it and found it helpful, how about buying me a coffee?

Kaori Mitsui writes fiction stories. She uses the software Blender to create the images for the series.

Also, if you become a Medium member using my referral link here, you will support me with a portion of your membership fee and other authors on this platform.