You, Past Your Expiration Date (Short-Short Story)

This is takewoody.
The theme for the 4th 'Amano Writing Club' is 'You, Past Your Expiration Date'.
This time, Amano-san provided two images that fit the theme:
a female version and a male version.
Since I had the chance, I wrote for both.
I posted the female version yesterday.

The male version of the second installment, 'You, Past Your Expiration Date', was difficult.
I didn't write it very well, but I connected the punchline to the first installment.

The theme for the 4th 'Amano Writing Club' is 'You, Past Your Expiration Date'.

◆ You, Past Your Expiration Date (Short-Short Story) (596 characters)

Ah, I've turned 56 now.
If you round up, isn't that 60, the age of a full life?

I, who was so desperate for marriage in my 20s,
am now a carefree single man in my 50s.

People often mock women by saying they are
past their expiration datewhen it comes to romance and marriage depending on their age,
but what about men?

Many men in this world think they can have romances anytime, at any age.

Many women prefer older men,
and it's common for older men to have romances with younger women in age-gap couples.
When people talk about a man beingpast his expiration date, I feel like it brings to mind retirement, or that 'thing' down there becoming dysfunctional,
or just the image of old age.

I vividly remember the competitive swimmer Irie-kun, who performed well in the Olympics many times,
retiring because he could win silver medals but not gold.
In an interview during his active career, he said at a young age,'Maybe I am past my expiration date', and that has stayed with me.

That is how much men feel down when they cannot fully demonstrate their abilities and strength.
At such times, they might think of themselves as
'past their expiration date'.Men are creatures with such a strong desire to have their strength recognized by others.

Yes, men suffer great damage from dysfunction.
Oh, I don't want to hear about dysfunction.
Oh, I don't want to become dysfunctional.
Men want to be men for their whole lives.
They want to be desired by women.

If someone says to you, 'You are past your expiration date', it's a life with no future.
Active for life! That is the true ambition of a man.
That's it, even if I move into a nursing home, I'll just have to find romance!!
Yes, that is truly being active for life!
Hmm, there's still a long way to go!

The End

◆ Afterword

Man, the male version is even harder.
I tried connecting the punchline to the female version.
I hope you enjoy the world of fantasy and fiction.
I want to improve my skills for the next Amano Writing Club.
Thank you for reading until the end.
See you later.

#AmanoWritingClub
#ProjectByMitsuruAmano
#ShortShortStory
#YouPastYourExpirationDate

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