明日は、ずっと入りたかった会社の面接だ。Tomorrow is the interview at the company he had wanted to join for a long time.ミンジュンは部屋で、何度も自己紹介の練習をしていた。In his room, Minjun practised his self-introduction again and again.「はじめまして。キム・ミンジュンと申します。」"How do you do. My name is Kim Minjun."鏡の前で言ってみるが、どうしても顔がかたい。He tried saying it in front of the mirror, but his face was stiff whatever he did.
時計を見ると、もう夜十一時だった。When he looked at the clock, it was already eleven at night.早く寝なければいけないのは分かっている。He knew he had to go to bed early.でも、ベッドに入っても、明日の質問のことばかり考えてしまう。But even in bed, he couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow's questions.面接の前の夜ほど長い夜はない、と先輩が言っていたが、本当だった。His senior had said that no night is as long as the night before an interview, and it was true.
十二時を過ぎたころ、スマホが鳴った。Just after midnight, his phone rang.韓国にいる母からだった。It was his mother in Korea.「まだ起きてるの?明日でしょう。」"Are you still up? It's tomorrow, isn't it?"「うん。緊張して眠れなくて。」"Yeah. I'm too nervous to sleep."母は少し笑って、昔の話を始めた。His mother laughed a little and started telling him a story from long ago.母も若いころ、日本の会社の面接を受けたことがあるそうだ。When she was young, she had also had an interview at a Japanese company.「あのとき、日本語で名前を言うところで、自分の名前を間違えたのよ。」"That time, when I had to say my name in Japanese, I got my own name wrong."「え、それで?」"What? And then?"「面接官が笑ってくれて、そこから話しやすくなったの。結果は合格。」"The interviewer laughed, and after that it was easier to talk. And I passed."
電話を切ると、不思議と体の力が抜けていた。After he hung up, he found that, strangely, the tension had left his body.完璧に話そうとしなくていい。自分の言葉で話すことこそ、大切なのだ。He didn't have to speak perfectly. Speaking in his own words was what really mattered.ミンジュンは電気を消した。Minjun turned off the light.
次の日の朝。面接の部屋に入ると、面接官が言った。The next morning. When he entered the interview room, the interviewer said:「では、お名前をどうぞ。」"Your name, please."ミンジュンは深呼吸をして、笑顔で答えた。Minjun took a deep breath and answered with a smile.ただ、結果を待つ一週間ほど長い一週間は、ほかになかった。Still, no week had ever felt as long as the week waiting for the result.