LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6
"The Lint Balls" Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

I wake up in the back of drawer today, too.
In a quiet place, alone—just one.
The lint balls has been increasing.

The lint balls whispered something again today.
"You too, someday..."
The color of the thread looked familiar.
That soft texture.

I see.
So... you’ve been here all along, right.
By my side, quietly, changing shape.


"The Lint Balls" は "Life As Just One Half"の続編
タンスの奥で、ぼくは今日も目を覚ます。
静寂の中、ただひとり。いや、ひとつ。
毛玉たちが、また増えていた。

毛玉たちは、今日も囁く。
「君も、いずれ…」
ぼくは気づいてしまった。
あの、見覚えのある糸の色。
あの、柔らかな手触り。
そうか。

君は、ずっとここにいたんだね。
ぼくの隣で、静かに、形を変えて。

Corrections

"The Lint Balls" : Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

I wake up in the back of the drawer today, too.

You can use "the" since we know you're a sock, and it's expected that socks go in a drawer. I prefer this to using "a drawer" because "a drawer" could mean that it was a different drawer from the last time you woke up (unless you intend that meaning?)

In a quiet place, alone—just one.

I think you were right to not try translating the ひとり、いや、ひとつ part. The closest thing like others have said is "by myself - no, itself," but that's weird because it sounds like the sock is suddenly referring to itself in third person. Sometimes things just don't translate!

The lint balls hasve been increasing in number.

Or "The amount/number of lints balls has been increasing."
You have to specify the aspect that increased, because alternatively it could mean something like "The lint balls have been increasing in size."

The lint balls whispered something again todayy whisper to me today as well.

Better to use "they" since you just mentioned the lint balls
"again today" = it happened more than once in one day
"today as well" = it happened today as well as on a different day

Changed tense to present to fit with the rest

"You too, someday..."

The color of the thread lookeds familiar.

That soft texture.

I see.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.haven't you?

Agreed with Lionel

By my side, quietly, changing shape.

Feedback

The much-anticipated sequel dropped!! But it ended up even more sad...
Wow, it seems there are a lot of different opinions in the corrections here. Thought I might as well add my (obviously correct xP) opinion.
I think you did a great job of capturing the somber mood. I actually feel kind of inspired...

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

today

6

Thank you for checking my writing and your comments.
Actually, I was not sure how to say "the ひとり、いや、ひとつ" in English, so I wrote "alone—just one!".

As for "The lint balls has been increasing.", now that you mention it, I need to write the amount or number of lints balls.
I wanted to say the amount.
"The amount of lint balls has been increasing.".

This poem got sad, but I think the half sock felt it was okay to be with the other half that has become the lint balls.

"TheAmong Lint Balls" (A Sequel to "Life As Just One Half")

I waCOMMENT: Reading this closely, I imagine a mouse in a wooden drawer. A human could not exist in a drawer. Is the main character a mouse (or perhaps an insect)? コメント:注意深く読むと、木製の引き出しの中のネズミを想像します。人間は引き出しの中に存在できません。主人公はネズミ(あるいは昆虫)なのでしょうか?¶
MY GUESS: I, a small mouse, wo
ke up in the back of a drawer today, too once again.

In a quiet place, alone—just one注:日本語原文には「他に生き物の姿は見えない」という記述は明示されていませんが、この詳細を追加しました。I am a quiet place, alone—no other creatures in sight.

The lint ball提案:糸くずがどこにあるかを明記してください。 The lint balls inside the drawers has been increasing.

The lint balls whispered something to be again today.

"You too, someday, will become ..."

So... you’ve been here all along, right.?

Feedback

A mysterious poem! Thanks for sharing!

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

yesterday

6

That makes sense, when we hear it that way, we imagine a small rodent in the drawer.
I was going to write one half of a sock(ソックスの片割れ).
However, I was not sure how to say "靴下の半分" in English.
I realize now that I should have explained it in more detail.

"The Lint Balls" Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

I wake up in the back of the drawer today, too.

In a quiet place, alone—just onethe deep silence, by myself... no, by itself.

1) Since the emphasis is on the silence rather than the location in the Japanese version, "place" is removed
2) The ひとり vs ひとつ part is tricky as there is no equivalent of the personified vs objectified counter. Instead, we will make use of the "self" part to express the single unit nuance while changing the "my" to "it" for the epiphany of "I am just an object".

The lint balls has beenve increased againg.

1) "have increased" vs "have been increasing"
have increased: This increase was completed. (This matches the 増えていた in the Japanese version)
have been increasing: The increasing is happening right now.
2) Added the また

The lint balls whispered something again today.

"You too, someday..."

Theat... familiar color of thea thread looked familiar.

Added a little pause to match with the あの nuance

That... soft texture.

I see.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.haven't you?

Just a little more poetic than "right", which sounds a bit more casual.

By my side, quietly, changing shape.

Feedback

That's very good writing. I actually learned quite a few Japanese words as well. I added them to my Anki deck for review later. 😀

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

Thak you for checking my writing.
The lint balls have been increasing: My original sentence has become "増えた", but I think "増え続ける" sounds more natural, right.

When I write English sentences, I'm sometimes confused, but I keep trying. 😀

Lionel's avatar
Lionel

Feb. 21, 2026

0

For "have been increasing", I think "増え続けている" is the best match. But in your writing, there is no correct answer... it just depends on the feeling you wanted to convey. 🙂

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

That makes sense. The way we say things changes depending on what we want to express.

It’s hard for me to translate into English, but I’m having fun anyway!
Thank you. 😉

"The Lint Balls" : The Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

I waoke up in the back of the drawer again today, too.

In a quiet place, alone—just one.

The original sentence is grammatically correct, but to try to capture more of the nuance of the sock referring to itself as "ひとり" before correcting to "ひとつ", these could be two possible options: "In a quiet place, alone - or rather, just one half of a pair."/"In a quiet place, by myself - no, by itself."

The lint balls hasve been increasing (in number).

The lint balls whispered something again today.

"You too, someday..."

The color of the thread looked familiar.

That soft texture.

I see.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.

By my side, quietly, changing shape.

Feedback

Very bittersweet, but glad to see the conclusion of this story.

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

In a quiet place: the sentence was particularly hard for me to translate into Engilsh.
I was not sure how to express them, thank you for telling me about those expressions. 😀

But it's really hard for me to translate into English.

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

In a quiet place~: the sentence was particularly hard for me to translate into English.

I made a mistake.

"The Lint Balls" : Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

Another possibility:
The Sequel to "Life As Just One Half": The Lint Balls

Today, I wake upagain in the back of a drawer today, too.

Shortening "wake up" to "wake" here makes this read more like a poem.

In a quiet place, alone—just onme.

The lint balls hasve been increasing.

The lint ballsy whispered something again today.

I eel like this could also be rewritten as: "There are whispers among them," for a more mysterious tone (like they are talking to each other behind your back).

The color of the thread lookeds familiar.

The story is being told in the present tense, so maintaining that throughout is important.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.

Feedback

Ominous, I like it! Well done.

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

Thank you for checking my writing.

Today, I wake up again~: It focuses on today, and it's a sentence and very nice. 😢

This poem ended up being sad.
In the near future that one half will become the lint ball as well.

LeahLeah's avatar
LeahLeah

Feb. 21, 2026

6

Today, I wake up again~: It focuses on today, and it's a sentence and very nice. 😀

I made a mistake.

The lint balls has been increasing.


The lint balls hasve been increasing (in number).

The lint balls hasve been increasing.

The lint balls has beenve increased againg.

1) "have increased" vs "have been increasing" have increased: This increase was completed. (This matches the 増えていた in the Japanese version) have been increasing: The increasing is happening right now. 2) Added the また

The lint ball提案:糸くずがどこにあるかを明記してください。 The lint balls inside the drawers has been increasing.

The lint balls hasve been increasing in number.

Or "The amount/number of lints balls has been increasing." You have to specify the aspect that increased, because alternatively it could mean something like "The lint balls have been increasing in size."

The Lint Balls" Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"


I wake up in the back of drawer today, too.


I waoke up in the back of the drawer again today, too.

Today, I wake upagain in the back of a drawer today, too.

Shortening "wake up" to "wake" here makes this read more like a poem.

I wake up in the back of the drawer today, too.

I waCOMMENT: Reading this closely, I imagine a mouse in a wooden drawer. A human could not exist in a drawer. Is the main character a mouse (or perhaps an insect)? コメント:注意深く読むと、木製の引き出しの中のネズミを想像します。人間は引き出しの中に存在できません。主人公はネズミ(あるいは昆虫)なのでしょうか?¶
MY GUESS: I, a small mouse, wo
ke up in the back of a drawer today, too once again.

I wake up in the back of the drawer today, too.

You can use "the" since we know you're a sock, and it's expected that socks go in a drawer. I prefer this to using "a drawer" because "a drawer" could mean that it was a different drawer from the last time you woke up (unless you intend that meaning?)

In a quiet place, alone—just one.


In a quiet place, alone—just one.

The original sentence is grammatically correct, but to try to capture more of the nuance of the sock referring to itself as "ひとり" before correcting to "ひとつ", these could be two possible options: "In a quiet place, alone - or rather, just one half of a pair."/"In a quiet place, by myself - no, by itself."

In a quiet place, alone—just onme.

In a quiet place, alone—just onethe deep silence, by myself... no, by itself.

1) Since the emphasis is on the silence rather than the location in the Japanese version, "place" is removed 2) The ひとり vs ひとつ part is tricky as there is no equivalent of the personified vs objectified counter. Instead, we will make use of the "self" part to express the single unit nuance while changing the "my" to "it" for the epiphany of "I am just an object".

In a quiet place, alone—just one注:日本語原文には「他に生き物の姿は見えない」という記述は明示されていませんが、この詳細を追加しました。I am a quiet place, alone—no other creatures in sight.

In a quiet place, alone—just one.

I think you were right to not try translating the ひとり、いや、ひとつ part. The closest thing like others have said is "by myself - no, itself," but that's weird because it sounds like the sock is suddenly referring to itself in third person. Sometimes things just don't translate!

The lint ball has been increasing.


The lint ball whispered something again today.


"You too, someday..."


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

"You too, someday, will become ..."

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The color of the thread looked familiar.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The color of the thread lookeds familiar.

The story is being told in the present tense, so maintaining that throughout is important.

Theat... familiar color of thea thread looked familiar.

Added a little pause to match with the あの nuance

The color of the thread lookeds familiar.

That soft texture.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

That... soft texture.

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

I see.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

So... you’ve been here all along, right.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

So... you’ve been here all along, right.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.haven't you?

Just a little more poetic than "right", which sounds a bit more casual.

So... you’ve been here all along, right.?

So... you’ve been here all along, right.haven't you?

Agreed with Lionel

By my side, quietly, changing shape.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The lint balls whispered something again today.


This sentence has been marked as perfect!

The lint ballsy whispered something again today.

I eel like this could also be rewritten as: "There are whispers among them," for a more mysterious tone (like they are talking to each other behind your back).

The lint balls whispered something again today.

The lint balls whispered something to be again today.

The lint balls whispered something again todayy whisper to me today as well.

Better to use "they" since you just mentioned the lint balls "again today" = it happened more than once in one day "today as well" = it happened today as well as on a different day Changed tense to present to fit with the rest

"The Lint Balls" Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"


"The Lint Balls" : The Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

"The Lint Balls" : Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

Another possibility: The Sequel to "Life As Just One Half": The Lint Balls

This sentence has been marked as perfect!

"TheAmong Lint Balls" (A Sequel to "Life As Just One Half")

"The Lint Balls" : Sequel to "Life As Just One Half"

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