The sun was setting in a lazy smear of orange and purple, and the air was thick with leftover heat. The station platform hummed with the usual evening rush, but just outside—by the vending machines near the exit—it was quiet. Ryota was crouched in front of the drinks, intensely debating.
"I don't know which one to get," he muttered, squinting at the glowing selection. "Lemon soda? Coffee milk? Apple tea?"
Junpei leaned against the railing with his hands in his pockets. "You've been staring at the machine for five minutes, man. Just pick something before the machine thinks you're trying to rob it."
Sota sat on the low stone wall nearby, swinging a convenience store bag from his wrist. "This is classic Ryota paralysis. Too many choices and his brain short-circuits."
Ryota stood up, arms crossed. "I'm just saying, this is a moral decision."
Junpei blinked. "Moral."
"Yes. Because once I pick one, I'm saying no to all the others. I'm denying them their potential to refresh me. And what if I regret it? What if I pick lemon soda, but deep down, I was craving apple tea the whole time?"
"You sound like you're choosing a life partner," Sota said.
"It is a commitment!"
Junpei rolled his eyes. "It's a hundred-fifty-yen sugar bomb. Just get something."
"No. No, this matters," Ryota insisted. He turned to them, suddenly serious. "Okay. Hypothetically. Let's say you could only drink one drink for the rest of your life—"
"I pick water," Sota said immediately.
"Okay, boring," Ryota replied. "But fine. You're locked in. No soda, no juice, just water. Forever. Happy?"
Sota shrugged. "At least I'll survive. You'll die of orange soda poisoning."
Ryota turned to Junpei. "You?"
Junpei paused. "If I say coffee milk, do I sound like a child pretending to be an adult?"
"Yes," both Sota and Ryota answered.
He shrugged. "I stand by it."
Ryota nodded. "See? These are the kinds of decisions that define a person."
"You mean, which carbonated drink you'd marry in a bottle ceremony," Sota said.
"I'm going with lemon soda," Ryota finally declared, pressing the button.
The machine clunked and hummed, then spat out the bottle. Ryota picked it up, turned it over in his hands like he'd just adopted it.
Junpei watched him. "So. You happy with your choice?"
Ryota opened the cap, took a sip, and stared off toward the tracks.
"…I kinda wish I picked apple tea."
Sota groaned and fell backward onto the wall.
Junpei just sighed. "We're never getting home before sunset, are we?"