Fried Chicken Bento is Justice. [Short Story]

A little ways away from my workplace, there is an old bento shop.
The noren curtain is faded, and the elderly owner's voice is unusually loud. A handwritten menu is still taped to the window, its edges curling in the wind.
But the 'fried chicken bento' here, no matter what happened, was in a league of its own.

The breading is crispy, and the inside is soft and juicy. The subtle scent of ginger in its flavor somehow soaks in even more on days when my heart feels worn down by work.
That alone was reason enough to drive my car out during my lunch break just to buy it.

On this day, too, Yui was making her way there as usual.
Since morning, she had been covering for a junior colleague's mistake, and during the meeting, she had been trying to time her comments while gauging her boss's mood, yet she was still told later that she 'couldn't read the room.'
The things she wanted to say remained stuck in the back of her throat. Every time she swallowed, she felt like her own outline was becoming blurred.

Every time I voice my own sense of what is right, I feel like I'm making someone uncomfortable, so I end up keeping my mouth shut.
―If I'm hurt, is it okay to bare my fangs?
Or should I just swallow it and be an adult?

Wasn't being an adult supposed to mean laughing and letting all that go?
I even feel disgusted with myself for thinking that way.

'Fried chicken again today?'
I give a slight nod to the owner's voice and take the paper bag. The warmth transfers to my palms, and that alone makes me want to cry a little.

On the way back to the car, my bad premonition came true.
A red paper was stuck firmly to the windshield.
No Parking.

'...I just can't take it anymore.'

I got into the car, not even having the energy to turn the ignition, and switched on the car radio.
Suddenly, a familiar intro began to play. It was Chage and Aska's 'YAH YAH YAH'.

My chest tightened.

'If you're hurt, bare your fangs, so you don't lose yourself'
'Shall we go and beat them up together?'

Those lyrics hit me straight on.
A feeling I had forgotten came rushing back all at once.

I had lived my life being considerate of others, trying not to make waves.
Telling myself 'I'm an adult,' I had swallowed things, laughed, and brushed them off.
But I feel like in doing so, I've left something of myself behind.

Baring your fangs isn't about attacking someone else.
There are times when it's necessary to protect yourself.

I open the bento lid and put a piece of fried chicken in my mouth.
For some reason, tears welled up at the flavor spreading through my mouth.
Even though it had cooled down a little, the taste was gentle.

It was a day where nothing went right.
I got a parking ticket, I felt out of place in the meeting, and before I knew it, I had stayed silent.
But the taste of the fried chicken I ate as if to reclaim myself felt like it was affirming me, if only for today.

'...Fried chicken bento is justice.'

I muttered it to myself, not for anyone else to hear.
The song is still playing.
Chage and Aska's singing voice is pushing someone's back somewhere again today.

#ThursdayIs3sday
I am participating in this project.

I tried my hand at a short story instead of an essay!
It's quite difficult, isn't it.

Thank you for reading this far.💖

Sincerely, Yoshiki