Three Days of Happiness

142
head.
When I got tired of origami, I went out to get some fresh air. I
bought short Hopes from the cigarette shop, lit one on the spot,
and after drinking a canned coffee from a vending machine, I
realized something.
I didn’t even see it right under my nose.
I guess a little mutter must have slipped out, because Miyagi looked
at my face and asked “What is it?”
“No, well, it’s really stupid... I just remembered something I can
really, truly say I like.”
“Please, tell me.”
“I love vending machines,” I said, scratching my head.
“Ah,” Miyagi said, seeming to miss a beat. “...What about them do
you like?”
“Hmm. I don’t know if I can say for sure myself. But as a kid, I really
wanted to be a vending machine when I grew up.”
Miyagi slowly tilted her head and looked at my blankly.
“Um. Just checking, but by vending machine, you mean the
machines which sell coffee, soda, and the like? Like the one you just
used?”
“Yeah. But more than that. Cigarettes, umbrellas, charms, yaki
onigiri, udon, ice, ice cream, hamburgers, oden, french fries, corned
beef sandwiches, cup noodles, beer, liquor... Vending machines
offer all manner of things. Japan is the land of vending machines.
Because they’re good for keeping order.”