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Chapter 47: The Taste of Happiness—
🕑 Added 2025-02-04 01:48:58 +0000 UTC"A fried chicken nugget? Just a chicken nugget, and it turned out like this?"
Iijichi Seika looked at the bento box on the table, then glanced at PA-san, who had completely lost the elegance and composure expected of a mature adult.
Her mind was running at full speed, yet she couldn't comprehend how someone could end up like this just from eating a single chicken nugget.
"I-I don't know either."
Hitori Gotoh still hadn't fully processed the situation and responded blankly.
From what she remembered, PA-san had only taken a single bite of the chicken nugget. Before she could even share her thoughts on the taste, tears had already started streaming down her face.
She cried while eating, clutching Hitori Gotoh's hand, all the while mumbling, "To have a junior as adorable as Bocchi, to work in such an amazing environment—I'm truly a blessed woman."
Hitori Gotoh, who had always been terrified of social interactions, was utterly dumbfounded.
"Could it be that Bocchi bullied PA-san? That underneath her social anxiety hides an entirely different, terrifying persona—something like that?"
Yamada Ryo, always eager to stir up trouble, raised her hand and stated her opinion in an emotionless tone.
"N-no no no no—!"
Hitori Gotoh's pink lips trembled as she opened her mouth.
She had never expected the situation to suddenly escalate to this level.
Panicking, she quickly picked up the bento box from the table and stammered in defense, "R-really, it was just the chicken nugget that did this!"
"Alright, Ryo, stop teasing Bocchi."
Ijichi Nijika sighed and reached out to knock Yamada Ryo on the head, stopping her from bullying Hitori Gotoh any further.
Then, as someone who always cared for others, she turned to Hitori Gotoh and reassured her:
"Bocchi, don't overthink it. It probably has nothing to do with the chicken nugget—PA-san must have just remembered something sad."
That's right.
It was just a chicken nugget. How could a mature and well-mannered adult possibly be moved to tears by something so simple?
Thinking this, she picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of the chicken nugget, and gave Hitori Gotoh a reassuring demonstration, biting into it without hesitation. While chewing, she continued speaking:
"If you don't believe me, you can see for yourse—eh?"
She stopped mid-sentence.
A single thought surfaced in her mind.
It's delicious.
The chicken had no excessive seasoning, preserving its natural umami. A hint of sweetness lingered beneath the saltiness, and the crispy coating remained perfectly crunchy, even after sitting out for an entire day.
Ijichi Nijika hadn't expected much—at a glance, it looked just like any ordinary chicken nugget. Yet the difference in taste was staggering.
Who on earth had made something this simple taste so incredible?
She certainly didn't have the skill to make something like this.
But before she could dwell on that thought any longer, something else took over her mind.
She suddenly recalled her childhood.
She remembered how back then, her older sister, Ijichi Seika, was always busy with her band, neglecting her. She had always wanted to play with her sister but never got the chance.
She thought about how, later on, after their mother passed away, her sister had given up on her long-cherished dream, abandoned her bandmates, and started Starry live house—just for her.
From that moment on, she had grown up under her sister's devoted care, gradually becoming the happy person she was today.
And as these memories flooded back, Ijichi Nijika, much to Ijichi Seika's shock, suddenly lunged into her sister's arms—just like PA-san—sobbing loudly:
"I've been so blessed to have my sister take care of me all this time! Why have I never realized how fortunate I am? I've already been so incredibly happy!"
"???" Ijichi Seika.
Something's wrong! Something is definitely wrong!
She turned her gaze toward Hitori Gotoh's bento box, still clutched in her dazed hands, and hurriedly warned Yamada Ryo:
"Ryo, it's just the two of us left—don't eat Bocchi's bento! There's something weird abou—"
Her words stopped dead in her throat.
Because she had already seen it.
Yamada Ryo's usually sharp features were now puffed up, completely stuffed with chicken nuggets and stewed potatoes.
"Manager, do you want some too? Bocchi's bento tastes amazing."
Yamada Ryo spoke while chewing, then picked up another chicken nugget with her chopsticks and, without hesitation, shoved it into the wide-open, horrified mouth of Ijichi Seika.
The moment the chicken nugget entered her mouth—
Ijichi Seika suddenly remembered something.
That was Yamada Ryo's words from before:
Since she had spent all her money buying Kita Ikuyo's multi-string bass, she had been surviving on wild vegetables for the past couple of weeks.
Seeing actual, proper food in front of her, it was no surprise she couldn't resist.
Damn it—she totally miscalculated.
Ijichi Seika thought as she instinctively began to chew, and soon enough, her mouth was filled with the rich, savory taste of crispy, tender chicken.
It's so good.
She couldn't help but think.
This flavor reminded her of her mother.
Back when their family was still whole, their mother used to make fried chicken nuggets for both her and Nijika. The two young sisters would eagerly hover around the frying pan, waiting for the next fresh batch to come out.
Those were some of the happiest moments of her life.
But... was she no longer happy now?
No... she was still happy, wasn't she?
Nijika had grown into a wonderful high schooler.
Next would be college.
Her younger sister was already striving for her dreams.
And by now, she had become an independent, mature person who could think for herself.
Wasn't it a blessing to have such a sister?
Perhaps she truly was one of the luckiest people in the world.
And besides, her live house was filled with wonderful employees.
Hitori Gotoh, Yamada Ryo, Kita Ikuyo—they were all people she could trust and rely on.
Ijichi Seika's thoughts kept running.
The lingering umami of the chicken, with its slight sweetness, filled her mind with these warm, nostalgic memories.
Maybe she really was the happiest person in the world.
As she came to that realization, tears welled up in her crimson eyes.
Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Hitori Gotoh—who was completely frozen in shock—and Yamada Ryo, who was muttering to herself, "Being able to breathe such fresh air, eat such delicious food—I'm truly so lucky..."
And then, she too burst into uncontrollable sobs.
Inside Starry, cries and shouts of gratitude echoed non-stop.
Meanwhile, outside the entrance, Kita Ikuyo stood in stunned silence, staring at the bizarre scene before her.
She hesitated for a moment before slowly retreating, gently closing the door behind her, her face full of self-doubt.
"Did I come at the wrong time?"
