The Shrike's Lunch

Grandpa's garden was so large that you could probably run a 50-meter dash in it.

It was what you would call a Japanese garden, and when Hinano was a child, she loved to spend her time running around there, climbing over rocks, and lining up smooth, round stones.

One winter day.
Well, even though it was winter, it was already the time of year when spring was drawing near. The tips of the trees were showing tiny, glossy green buds that looked like little jewels.

Hinano found something stuck to a completely withered branch. She stepped closer and stood on her tiptoes to look.
It was something black, rough, and dried up.

Realizing what it was, Hinano screamed.
She let out short screams over and over again, so Grandpa, startled, came running out barefoot, carrying a hoe he had found in the entryway.

He then looked in the direction of Hinano's gaze and let out a sigh of relief, saying, "Ah."

"It's a lunchbox."
"A lunchbox...?"
"Or maybe it's called a 'hayanie' (shrike's cache)."

What was impaled on the sharp branch was a frog.
Its bent legs were dangling, and its body was pierced in a way that made it look like it was staring up at the sky.

Gichi-gichi-gichi.
Hearing an eerie sound, Hinano looked around.

"Look, it's that one."

The creature Grandpa pointed to was a bird slightly larger than a sparrow.

Its dark brown head looked a bit large for its body. It had a straight black pattern around its eyes that looked like sunglasses.

"It's cute."
"I suppose so. That bird is a shrike."
"A shrike."
"It's that bird that did this to the frog."

Hinano was shocked. She clung to Grandpa.
It suddenly felt eerie. Even though it had such round, innocent eyes and looked so cute.

"Why does it do things like this?"
"I don't know the details. Someone once said that because food becomes scarce in winter, they impale their prey here and there like this to save it as a lunchbox... or something like that."

She looked at the frog in front of her once more. It had a very pained expression on its face.

"I wonder if it's going to eat it."
"Who knows. It's already dried up. ...I've seen some that have rotted away, too."
"If it doesn't need it, it shouldn't catch it in the first place."

As Hinano said this quietly, Grandpa ruffled her hair.

"How is the... how is the Kohirumaki family?"
"Hmm. They buy me anything I want."
"I see."
"My dad, my mom, my grandpa, and my grandma are all kind, so I love them."

Grandpa lowered his eyebrows.

Hinano's house is smaller than Grandpa's house.
But it's in the city, close to the central station. It's high up in an apartment building, and I like that I can see the ocean.

My dad and mom would buy me anything I asked for, and they always told me I was "cute."

"Hinano, keep a broad perspective. You are in a blessed environment."

On the day I entered high school, I thought the boy sitting next to me was kind of nice.
His name is Yamato Takahashi.

It's not that his face is particularly handsome, but he has a good vibe.
Like his hair, which is styled in a slightly messy way, or the fact that he's tall and slender but still looks muscular.

He was messing around with a boy who seemed to have been with him since middle school, so I joined in too.
Since I'm cute, I can tell that the boys get dazed just by me touching their shoulders a little.

It felt good.

I like this school. I like that the school rules are loose.
They don't get mad if you dye your hair, and it's fine to get piercings. I even wear my skirt on the shorter side.

One day, I spotted Yamato near my house.
I thought about calling out to him, but then I noticed. A plain-looking girl was walking behind him, as if she were watching him.

Her long black hair was cut straight, and while the hair quality seemed good, she looked somehow frumpy. She didn't wear any makeup either.
That uniform is from the smartest school around. I found it kind of annoying.

Is Yamato being stalked or something?
I was worried, so I followed the girl from a little further back. And when they went into a karaoke place, I saw it. Yamato hugged that girl.

I felt frustrated for some reason.
Why would he like such a plain girl?

But it doesn't look like he's treating her preciously as his girlfriend.

The next day, Hinano spoke to Yamato. Making him fall for her was easy.

When she sees someone obsessed with her, she somehow loses interest. The heat burning in their eyes is annoying. It's too easy and boring.

She reduced the frequency of her emails with Yamato.
Then, next, she tried talking to Tanaka, who was close with Yamato. She didn't like that Risa Miura from their class was showing interest in Tanaka.

In that way, the number of boys she was close with gradually increased.
She would hang out with a different guy each day of the week.

They weren't dating. Sometimes a guy would get annoying about it, but girls are such a hassle. They're just friends, so what's the problem?

Thinking about it later, she realized that was a shrike's larder.
Catching them one by one, impaling them, and leaving them there. Hinano was a shrike.

A shrike, with a cute face, yet ferocious and cruel.

Yamato, whom she had gone to the trouble of making fall for her, went off to Tokyo.

Hinano hadn't decided on further education or a job, and was just staying at her parents' house. Her mom and dad, who used to say "sure" to everything, were recently, for some reason, glaring at her with angry, narrowed eyes.
Her allowance had been cut, too.

That day, she was supposed to meet Tanaka, who she had been with in high school. However, he stood her up at the last minute, and since she had nothing to do, she had no choice but to go into a cafe in front of the station.

That chain store was quite crowded even on a weekday afternoon.
Hinano didn't usually go into chain stores alone. She didn't really know how to order, so she froze with her eyes fixed on the menu.

"Is this your first time here, by any chance?"

She looked up.
The clerk who had spoken to her looked quite young. He had round, single-lidded eyes. His nose was rounded, and when he smiled, a snaggletooth was visible.

"If you're having trouble deciding, I recommend this one."

A slightly raspy, husky voice. His fingertips, smooth for a man's, tapped on one of the coffees.

"If you like it sweet, this one, and if you don't like coffee, around here..."

...Well, that's it then.

Understood!

He was like a dog wagging its tail with all its might. That was the vibe he gave off. Friendly and cute.

I really like this one too. I can make it a bit sweeter if you'd like, what do you think?

Hinano was convinced.

(This guy, too, will definitely fall in love with me...)

For some reason, hanging out with other boys had become boring, so she stopped accepting their invitations.

Hinano went to the cafe almost every day. Before she knew it, she had conquered every menu item and customization. Hinano was the type to get bored easily, so she wanted to try everything. She had become as knowledgeable about the menu as the staff.

Hinano's morning begins with getting ready.

Her eyelashes are thick extensions. Her eyebrows have permanent makeup applied.

What's important for creating a doll-like face is eye makeup. Making the under-eye bags plump and properly three-dimensional. Using tweezers to pinch the eyelashes into bundles.

She also crafts her skin. Smooth like porcelain, with a matte finish. Redness beside the nostrils and dark circles under the eyes are the enemy. It's important to thoroughly erase any unevenness and make every part of the skin the same color.

The one thing she can't forget is her pink colored contacts. Even though she says pink, it's not a crayon-like color, but a color that looks like it's mixed with brown.

Her hair, dyed a bright pink-beige, is carefully curled every morning, taking her time. Using a curling iron, she creates loose, large curls. Then, she ties it in two high ponytails on her head.

Once she's finished getting ready, she spends time at the cafe from around 10 o'clock until she finishes lunch, playing games on her smartphone or texting someone on LINE.

She learned that his name was Yuto Onishi. He was the same age as Hinano. It bothered her a little that he went to the same school as that girl who used to date Yamato.

I'm currently a ronin student. I'm always at cram school at night.

I think we've become really close. But no matter how much I ask, he won't call me "Hina." I like that stoic side of him, too.

He seems busy at night, so he wouldn't hang out even when I asked, but it's only a matter of time before we start dating.
That's what I thought.

It was a bitterly cold day. Snow was fluttering down.

Sitting in her usual designated seat, Hinano takes a lap blanket out of her bag. The heating in this shop isn't very effective. If you stay for a long time, you get cold.

While playing a game, she occasionally glances at Yuto. I like how he's friendly to everyone.
When I see that smile, I think he's cute.

"...Miu?"

Yuto's voice was one I had never heard before. I could tell it was bright and lively, and Hinano, who had been looking down at her game, jerked her head up.

"Yuto? Wait, you work here?"

I saw the back of a head with glossy black hair peeking out from under a knit cap. I knew intuitively. It was that woman.

Why is it? Her hair is the same length as it used to be, and she hasn't changed the color, yet that dowdiness is gone.

If that really is her, the things she's wearing are an unexpected design.
An oversized khaki blouson. Underneath, a simple striped T-shirt and denim pants.

"...Yeah. I failed my university entrance exams."
"Oh."

Miu looks at Yuto's face awkwardly.
Yuto continues, looking unbothered, "I heard you're enjoying life in Tokyo, Miu."

(I've never heard him say 'I' before.)

Listening to their conversation from this seat where I can easily see the register, I felt an uncontrollable irritation.

"Oh, sorry. Is it okay behind you?"
"There's no one there right now, but... if you'd like, why don't we have dinner together?"

At those words, whispered in a low voice, I heard the sound of something cracking and hardening.

Miu cast her gaze toward the back of the shop. She likely hadn't noticed Hinano, but she lowered her eyes.

“Oh, ...have we met before?”

Startled, she looked up. It wasn't Hinano that Miu was speaking to, but someone sitting on the other side of the partition.

“Ah, the young lady who was looking for a hair salon.”

It was a man's voice.

“That's right! I knew it. Um, let me see... Mr. Mushroom!”

Miu's voice rose in pitch.

“It's Konishi. ...You remembered me well.”
“Your tie. It's a mushroom pattern again today.”
“Oh, I see.”

The man said, sounding disappointed.

“You've changed your atmosphere quite a bit. No, you were lovely before, too. Truly. You had a cuteness that combined freshness and innocence, but now, how should I put it, you have a radiance like you've just emerged from a chrysalis.”

The man said this all in one breath, speaking rapidly.
Hinano couldn't quite catch the middle part and wondered what on earth they were talking about.

“The hair salon you recommended was great.”
“Did your love come true?”
“...No. It ended. But that's fine. It was meant to end, after all. In a way, you were right. Now I can start a new love.”

Miu said with a voice full of determination.
At that moment, Hinano saw it. A look of relief that appeared for just an instant on Yuto's face as he watched them anxiously from the register.

(— Ah, is he going to be taken by this woman again?)

“You're very positive.”
“Hehe. Every day is fun. Everything feels fresh. Since I've finally come back, I'm planning to go to Enchante today to change my hairstyle.”
“Wow, that's great. Are you going to cut it?”

Miu shook her head.

“I'm thinking of changing the color. I like my hair as it is now, but I want to try something adventurous.”

On the day of graduation, she had promised to go into town with Yamato.
Yet, this woman came to the school, and Yamato chased Hinano away. With a panicked look on his face. Even though she was a girlfriend he didn't even cherish.

(Don't mess with me. Why is it always her?)

She knew what time Yuto finished work. She had been watching him every day, after all.

"Yuto."

When Hinano called out to him, Yuto was startled. Hinano hadn't missed the giddy look he had just moments before, or the way he kept checking his smartphone.

"...Ms. Kohirumaki." "I told you to call me Hina."

Yuto's voice was stiff.

"Hey, was it Miu? What do you see in such a plain woman?"

Hinano asked. I'm definitely cuter than her. So why is it always her? At that moment, all expression drained from Yuto's face.

"Don't speak ill of Miu." "Huh?" "What is your problem, showing up every single day? To me, you're nothing more than a customer." "But you talked to me so much." "It's not just you... It's normal to recommend menu items or combinations that I think are delicious."

Yuto looked at her as if she were something unidentifiable.

Even after that, Hinano kept going to the cafe. Yuto wouldn't meet her eyes, and whenever Hinano stepped into the shop, another staff member would subtly take his place.

Since she was bored, she tried inviting Tanaka. The message was read, but there was no reply. Besides him, no one else replied either.

The scene where she saw Miu at the cafe kept looping in her head. Come to think of it, the man talking to Miu had said something.

"A hair salon where love comes true."

Hinano thought. Maybe Yuto feels more at ease with someone plain. Well, I don't like it, but what if I went for that black-haired, understated look? Would something change then?

"Make it black."

The hair salon was within walking distance of Hinano's house. It was close to the station, tucked away in a side street. It was an area close by, yet one she had never visited before.

The hairdresser, a woman named Lena, asked with a look of confusion, "Are you sure that's what you want to do?"

Hinano felt irritated.

(You're the customer's stylist, so just do what I say.)

Hinano went to the cafe for the first time in ten days.
When it was Hinano's turn at the register, Yuto didn't have anyone else take over and took her order himself. Hinano grinned.

"Huh?"

For a split second, Yuto's eyes widened in surprise. Hinano thought this would be enough.
He would surely be captivated immediately.

She had dyed her hair jet black and wore it down in loose curls. She wore a white knit sweater that followed the lines of her body without being too tight, tucked into her skirt. The skirt was cinched tightly at the waist and reached down to her ankles.
Clothes Hinano had never worn before. Her first time wearing makeup. She looked similar to that woman, but she was definitely cuter.

But the look of wariness in Yuto's eyes did not fade.

This time, she would lie in wait at the back entrance of the shop. She knew he would change his route from last time.

"Why?"

Hinano pressed in on Yuto as he spoke with a look of fear.

Hey, you've fallen for me, haven't you?

Yuto looked as if he didn't understand what she was saying, then let out a sigh.

Even if you change your appearance, I won't fall for you.
Why? I made myself look plain, just like that woman, didn't I?
Why do you speak ill of Miu? I just can't bring myself to like your personality.

Those words pierced Hinano's heart deeply.
Unable to say anything, Yuto turned on his heel and started walking away.

I won't come here anymore.
Why?
Don't you know the reason better than anyone?

Hinano hung her head. She had been warned many times. By other staff members, too.

By the way, this is the last time I'm coming here.
Huh?
I got into university. I'm moving to Tokyo in the spring.
Wait. Hinano is going too.

The look Yuto turned toward Hinano was filled with the same discomfort she felt the first time she saw a shrike's impaled prey.

I have a girlfriend. I don't want to have anything to do with you.

She knew it intuitively. Ah, it's that woman, she thought.

It's your fault.

Hinano went to that hair salon. Lena looked at her with a puzzled expression.

What do you mean 'love will come true'? That woman's love coming true? Don't mess with me.
Customer...!

A handsome hairdresser stepped forward quickly as if to shield Lena. After being politely kicked out, Hinano went home and stomped her feet in frustration.

I was treated badly at the salon, they grabbed my hand roughly.
When she screamed like that, her dad immediately made a phone call. It was always like this. Whenever Hinano had a bad experience, he would solve it immediately.

However, her father, who had made the call, turned pale and kept bowing repeatedly to someone who wasn't even there.
Then he turned back to face Hinano with sharp eyes.

They say you were the one who just spewed abuse. It seems it was caught on the security camera too.
But...
The person you harassed is the wife of the Tachibana family. What have you done?
I wonder why you were raised to be such a fool.

Her mother looked at her with eyes like she was looking at an insect.

When I take off my makeup while still having black hair, it feels like I've completely turned back into my old self.

Until she started kindergarten, Hinano's world consisted only of her parents and grandparents. Everyone told Hinano she was "cute." Hinano genuinely believed that she could become anything, whether an idol or an actress.

However, she was shocked when she started interacting with other children her own age.

Hinano wasn't actually cute. There were other children with wider eyes and long, fluttering eyelashes.
Hinano's features were just plain and lacked any personality. This experience would haunt her for a long time to come.

She became a middle schooler. She was doted on by an upperclassman in her club.
The upperclassman wore makeup, even though it was against school rules, and she did the same for Hinano.

"It's better to have a plain face with no distinguishing features. That's how I am, too."
"Why?"
"Hey, use polite language with your upperclassman. You see, that kind of face looks better with makeup."
"Better?"
"Yeah. When you put on makeup, you can look like a completely different person."

When she said that, the person reflected in the mirror had become as cute as a doll.

The next day, she went to the cafe, but Yuto wasn't there. The cashier was looking at her with piercing eyes.
On her way home, Hinano bought hair dye at a drugstore. Pink beige.

It was her first time dyeing it herself. She didn't understand the instructions, and her arms hurt from keeping them raised.
She managed to finish it, but it didn't have the natural look or beauty of when she had it done at a salon.

But her mood lifted just a little.
She had tried to imitate that woman, but Hinano realized she really did like these cute things after all.

Without makeup, her face was mediocre. Her confidence vanished in an instant. Come to think of it, she remembered that she had been this timid as a child, too.

She was armed with makeup, hair, and clothes. They were armor for Hinano.
When she had nothing to protect, Hinano was weak and empty inside. It was something she didn't want to realize.

Her relationship with her parents had also soured.
Hinano felt miserable even at home, so she went out into the city. She made eye contact with a woman coming toward her.

"Oh..."

It was Lena, the hairdresser from the salon. She was looking at her with wary eyes.

"I'm sorry about the other day."

When Hinano said that, Lena blinked, looking taken aback.

Before coming here, I saw Tanaka. Tanaka had also found a girlfriend with a laid-back vibe. When he saw Hinano, he made a grumpy face.
Yamato, Tanaka, and Yuto, too. And the other boys as well. Not a single one of Hinano's loves came true. The men she had collected like shrike prey had all pulled out the thorns themselves and flown away.

All that remained was a single, starving shrike.

"Sometimes, an apology is just a way to lighten your own burden."

Lena's eyes were sharp. My body trembled in surprise. However, the words that followed were spoken in a gentle tone.

"I thought you were someone who could intuitively find what suits you and what you like. Maybe you should try applying that talent to a career in beauty."

When I got home, Grandpa was there. Hinano moved to Grandpa's house in the countryside, surrounded by rice paddies. She got her license, started driving her own car, and began attending school to study beauty.

With light brown hair the color of a shrike's head and her usual makeup, the new Hinano, carrying her pain and embarrassment, is driving down the country road again today—.

(8,000 characters)

The "Enchante" series can be read one episode at a time. This was the third episode.

▼ Episode 1.

▼ Episode 2.