Short-Short Story: 'Reborn' (Entry for the Chikuma 800-Character Literature Prize)

"We look forward to your continued support as we are reborn!"

Mr. Suzuki stood up and bowed as he said this. The purpose of Mr. Suzuki from Company A coming to greet us was to explain the recent internal restructuring. He said that due to departmental consolidation and staff reductions, they would be able to significantly lower prices from now on.

I have known Mr. Suzuki since I joined the company as a new graduate. I remember him smiling and telling me not to be so nervous when I, wearing an unfamiliar suit, handed him my business card while stumbling over my own name. Mr. Suzuki was a middle-aged man with a bit of a belly, and in the summer, the back of his polo shirt was always discolored with sweat. Every time I saw him wiping sweat with a handkerchief while explaining documents, I was reminded of a bear.

And now, having finished his explanation, Mr. Suzuki bowed to us and walked away, his high heels clicking on the floor. Her soft-looking long hair fluttered in the breeze and lifted slightly. It had changed quite a bit, no matter how you looked at it. 'As we are reborn,' huh.
When I glanced at the clock, it was six in the evening. Oh, I have to hurry or I won't make it to my hair salon appointment. I hurriedly got ready and left the office.

Why is a shampoo at a hair salon so pleasant? Having taken the plunge and cut my hair very short and dyed it a bright color, I was lying on the shampoo bed feeling completely satisfied. While I was dozing off, the shampooing finished, and the hairdresser spoke up.

"All done. You've been reborn, ma'am!"
"Really? I'm glad I took the plunge."

I heard my own voice. When I opened my eyes, I realized I had fallen to the floor. A woman with short brown hair was sitting in the shampoo chair, which had been tilted back, smiling happily at a hand mirror. That woman, who was a little prettier than me, picked up my bag and skipped out of the shop. After closing time, the apprentice boy mopped the shop from end to end and threw me into the trash can along with the hair that had fallen on the floor.