Konbini Ossan Volume 4 Chapter 32 — The Meaning Behind Her Name
When I think back to where my connection with Arisa truly began, I suppose the answer would be — before she was even born.
That day, my sister called me over. She wanted help deciding on a name for her first child.
And so, I became Arisa’s godfather.
Because of that, I’ve always carried a quiet sense of guilt toward her.
That day, there were seven of us gathered — my sister, her husband, both sets of parents, and me. Together we were to decide on a name for the unborn girl.
Everyone else chose safe, pleasant names.
I, on the other hand, was different back then.
Arrogant.
Twisted.
I thought myself above others for no reason at all. A typical case of adolescent nihilism, festering even into adulthood.
When it came to naming her, I turned to the famous opening lines of The Tale of the Heike:
『The sound of the Gion Shouja bells echoes the impermanence of all things.
The color of the sala flowers reveal the truth that the prosperous must decline.』
From the ending of one line and the beginning of the next, I took the syllables Ari- [有-] and -sa [-娑], intending to name her Arisa [有娑].
Of course, my sister complained that [娑] looked too strange and not cute enough, so it was changed to [咲] — and she became Arisa [有咲] instead.
But the meaning I had intended remained the same.
That no matter how much happiness or glory she attained, it would all one day crumble.
That life itself is fleeting, fragile — a tragedy at its core. That living holds no inherent meaning.
I had, in essence, tried to give her a curse as a name.
Even now, I regret it deeply.
A name that should have celebrated life became a vessel for my own bleak worldview — turning a blessing into a curse before she even took her first breath.
I never told anyone the meaning behind it. Out of idle curiosity, I branded her with a name meant for despair.
I didn’t celebrate her birth — I damned it.
I was a terrible person.
Sometimes I wonder:
Why did Arisa stray down a rough path?
Why was she summoned into such a dangerous world?
Why did her skill turn out to be something so vague that it led to her exile?
There are logical reasons for each of those things, of course.
But I can’t help thinking — what if?
What if I hadn’t been the one to name her?
What if I had given her a stronger, kinder name?
Maybe she wouldn’t have gone astray.
Maybe she would’ve studied hard and grown into a model student.
Maybe she would still be at home, surrounded by her parents’ love, living an ordinary, peaceful life.
Maybe she would’ve awakened a clear, powerful skill — like her classmates.
All meaningless speculation — I know that. But after naming her with a curse, how could I ever claim I bear no responsibility?
Surely, somewhere along the line, her misfortunes stem from my role as her godfather. That thought never leaves me.
And what’s worse — what if I repeat my mistake?
Just as I once cursed her name out of youthful arrogance… what if I hurt her again, in some other way?
I’ve done it before. Doubt is only natural.
And in this world, the one person most likely to ruin Arisa’s future happiness — is me.
I am her greatest source of uncertainty.
That’s why I cannot answer her feelings.
Even if I feel the same way. Even if being uncle and niece no longer means anything to me.
For her happiness, I must not respond.
Time passed.
Apparently, I’d been sitting there for a while, completely lost in thought.
Rejecting Arisa’s confession hit me harder than expected. But I can’t stay frozen forever.
“Alright!”
I slap my cheeks to wake myself up.
Regret is something to be dealt with later. Right now, I just need to believe in my choice and do what must be done.
That night, Arisa never came out of her room.
I took her place at the counter and kept watch over the shop, quietly sorting through what I had to do next.
Keeping busy helped.
It kept me from thinking about — or remembering — her tear-streaked face.
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E/N:
He WAS the height of human arrogance… and that past is hurting both him and Arisa… What a mess! This is very, very sad, nanodesu!
On a side note, [有] kanji means "to exist" while [娑] primarily means "patience/endurance" and [咲] means "to bloom".
She was named [有娑] with the ill intent of having a life full of hardships by arrogant Ossan however was changed to [有咲] which evokes imagery of a "blooming existence", by her mother. How sweet!
Now let's talk about the idiom mentioned in the chapter:
This famous passage is the opening lines of the Japanese classic war chronicle The Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari).
Gion shouja no kane no koe,
Shogyou mujou no hibiki ari.
Sarasouju no hana no iro,
Jousha hissui no kotowari o arawasu.
︻
精『娑』諸 祇
舎 羅 行 園
必 双 無 精
衰 樹 常 舎
の の の の
理 花 響 鐘
を の『あ の
あ 色 り』声
ら
は
す
︼
Yes it's read from the right, from top to bottom and it translates to:
"The sound of the Gion Shouja bells echoes the impermanence of all things. The colors of the sāla flowers reveal the truth that the prosperous must decline."
This passage encapsulates the Buddhist concept of impermanence (mujou), which is the central theme of The Tale of the Heike, a story about the fall of the once-powerful Taira clan.
Gion Shouja (祇園精舎) is the Jetavana Monastery, a famous Buddhist temple in India where the Buddha once taught. The sound of its bell is traditionally said to teach the lesson of impermanence.
Shogyou Mujou (諸行無常) is a four-character idiom meaning "all worldly things are impermanent" or "nothing in the world stays the same". This is a core Buddhist principle.
Sarasouju (娑羅双樹) refers to the sala tree (Shorea robusta). According to Buddhist tradition, these trees bloomed and withered instantly when the Buddha died, symbolizing the transient nature of life.
Jousha Hissui (盛者必衰) is another four-character idiom meaning "the prosperous must decline" or "all that flourish must fade". This is the ultimate lesson the passage reveals.
In essence, the entire idiom serves as a somber philosophical introduction, reminding listeners and readers that power, glory, and all things in life are fleeting and will eventually fade.
Thought y'all would like to know!
Anyway! That brings us to the end of Volume 4!
"The next arc will delve deeper into Otsugi’s growth and how his relationship with Arisa evolves.
Other heroines who have appeared so far will also become more involved.
If you’re looking forward to what happens next, please consider supporting with bookmarks or rating points."
So the author says so what're y'all waiting for, go show some love to the author! Stay tuned!
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Check out my other translation -
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