[Short Story] The Famichiki Incident

5:30 PM, in front of FamilyMart.
At this hour, still too early for dinner, two high school boys stand around with Famichiki in hand.
Uzaki and Okada.
One finds the lukewarm March breeze pleasant, the other finds it unpleasant.

One who got into the University of Tokyo, and one who did not.

The jealousy dwelling in Okada's gaze does not reach the oblivious Uzaki. Ever since the acceptance results were announced, Okada has repeatedly tried to assert his dominance at every opportunity, but Uzaki never notices. He looks at him with innocent eyes, saying, "Wow, that's amazing!" which makes Okada feel uncomfortable and pout.
However, Okada realizes something. There is nothing he can beat Uzaki at.
Okada was merely dazzled by the "money" and "women" that gather around the "University of Tokyo graduate" credential, and he has absolutely no interest in the "quantum theory" that Uzaki talks about. Uzaki aimed for UTokyo to do research at the university, while Okada aimed for it to have fun. He thinks to himself that he had already lost at the level of motivation.

"So, Okada, where are you going after all?"
Uzaki asks, sipping his milk tea.
"A teacher's college through the second round of admissions. I don't have the money to go to a private university."
Okada drinks his sugar-free Mount Rainier while grimacing.
"What about studying for another year and going to UTokyo?"
"I'm not going."
Okada answers, cutting him off.

Okada is not going to UTokyo.
He hated the idea of spending a year as a ronin to get into UTokyo, as it would feel like he was chasing after Uzaki.
Uzaki had always been behind Okada.
When they were in fifth grade, he had casually spoken to Uzaki because he was using the same mechanical pencil. Okada thought he was a dull guy. Feeling pity for Uzaki, who had no friends, Okada invited him to join his soccer club team as if to offer him a helping hand. Okada didn't have many friends either.
Uzaki chose the same cram school as Okada and took the entrance exam for the same high school. When Okada said, "I'm going to UTokyo," Uzaki also said, "Then I'll go to UTokyo too." Wherever Okada went, Uzaki would follow along, lanky and thin.
But in reality, it was Okada who was struggling just to keep up. Uzaki and Okada both passed the entrance exam for the best prep school in the prefecture. However, Okada barely made it. On the other hand, Uzaki passed with top marks and gave the speech as the representative of the new students at the entrance ceremony. Listening to Uzaki's monotone speech, Okada thought to himself.

(Could that guy actually be amazing?)

His academic ability, his soccer skills, the speed at which he gets a girlfriend.
Before he knew it, Okada had been overtaken by Uzaki.
No, Okada thinks, perhaps Uzaki had been far ahead from the very beginning.
Ever since that time, when he tapped Uzaki on the back in their seat order by attendance number, he thinks it was actually he who had been the one behind.

"Then I won't go to UTokyo."
Uzaki says suddenly.
Okada's straw makes a slurping sound.
"It's not fun without you, Okada."
"Huh?"
Okada takes the Famichiki out of the plastic bag.
"I can do the research I want to do somewhere else."
Uzaki also takes out his Famichiki.
"I don't get it."

A long silence. This is the first time such an awkward atmosphere has flowed between the two.
On the opposite side of the road, elementary school students are throwing mud-mixed snowballs at each other.

Feeling the warmth of the Famichiki in his hands, Uzaki says,
"Why don't we go on a graduation trip? It's a bit late, though."
"Where?"
"Okinawa."
"I don't have that kind of money."
"My parents said they'd pay for it."
Uzaki's parents are doctors with their own practice.
Okada remembers the wealth of Uzaki's family and realizes that the "I'm not going to UTokyo" declaration from earlier is more realistic than he thought. The extremely laissez-faire Uzaki family would probably even allow the foolish act of "declining admission to UTokyo."
And Okada gradually begins to feel irritated that he had been unconsciously subjected to a display of wealth.

Uzaki holds the Famichiki with both hands and carefully peels off the tape. Then, he takes the chicken out by hand from the opening of the folded bag and bites into it.
Okada stares at that. He is staring intently.
Uzaki continues eating without caring.

"Hey."
Okada opens his mouth.
"Don't you know about the tear-off line on the Famichiki?"
Uzaki tilts his head.
"I don't."
"What? You don't know?!"
Okada acts overly surprised.
"There's a tear-off line in the middle of the bag. If you tear along it, the chicken is half-exposed, making it easier to eat."
Okada explains smugly.
"Huh. I didn't know that."
"I can't believe there are people who don't know this."
Okada smiles.
Uzaki's expression darkens just a little.
"…Yeah. I didn't know."
"Even if you get into UTokyo, there are things close to home you don't know about, huh."
Uzaki's brow furrows.

"Watch. You do it like this."
Okada slowly tears the Famichiki bag as if peering into Uzaki's face.
One by one, the seams tear, and the chicken inside is gradually revealed.
Okada's provocative attitude.
Uzaki holds his breath.
When he had torn the bag about halfway, Okada swung his right hand, which was gripping the top of the bag, with all his might...

"Thank you. For teaching me."
At that moment, Uzaki said that with a smile.

Okada's right hand stopped, caught on something.

Over the tear-off line, a piece of tape with "Family Mart" written on it had been stuck.

The End