The Kemono Chronicles

Of course, it had to be the chicken parlor of all places. Millie should’ve expected that when it comes to Shiba’s food choices.

Charlie’s Chickens. The very restaurant our Maine Coon has been quite acquainted with for some time now. Despite it being located just several streets away from her estate, Millie knew nothing about such a place until Shiba forcibly dragged her towards it some months ago. Her initial complaints that day had turned into moans of delight after her first (forced) bite into their bestselling chicken burger her Shiba Inu friend had bought for her to try. 

Millie swore she would never go to Charlie’s Chickens ever again. Why would she want to ruin the healthy lifestyle she has been trying to maintain by eating whatever this processed combination of a burger is?

Yet here she was sitting in one of the stalls, taking her first bite out of the twentieth Charlie’s Chickens burger she has bought in her whole life.

“Uh-huh. I see you’re enjoying yourself over there.”

Millie stopped chewing to glare at the strawberry blonde-haired girl seated across the table, whose face had a grin plastered to it in a delightful kind of amusement. In her hand was a plastic cup, half of the soda already drunk, while her chin rested on her other hand in a smug manner.

“…And what makes you think that’s the case?”

Shiba laughed at Millie’s annoyed reply. “You’re eating slowly, duh!”

She took a sip from her cup and set it back on the table, leaning back on her chair to enjoy the unusual sight in front of her from a further angle. “Why else would you be eating slowly other than to try and savor the flavor? You’re not as sly as you think, you know!”

“My dear Shiba, have you ever heard of healthy eating habits?” Millie set her burger back on the table before wiping her mouth with a restaurant napkin. “Eating slowly prevents you from gaining weight fast. You ought to try it sometime so you can do something for that huge stomach of yours.”

“Hey, my stomach is not as big as you think it is!” Shiba exclaimed in disagreement, to which Millie snorted. “Whatever you say, Millie. Your face was not lying at all when you took a bite into your burger. Your eyes were even as sparkly as my soda!”

“Shut up with your teasing, Shiba,” Millie groaned in embarrassment. “If I hear one more thing from you, then I swear I will never agree to step into this place ever again.”

“Your face is red though,” Shiba giggled, then picked up her burger and started munching on it. Millie rolled her eyes, having nothing to say to that. She never expected to develop a liking for fast food, anyway. At least, for this specific type of burger.

“A chicken burger, huh…” The young Maine Coon suddenly thought of the burger itself having chicken as an ingredient. It was quite a strange concept, considering that Chickens are an actual race in their world. In a way, it would be breaking both their universal policies and basic morals to be eating this so-called ‘chicken burger.’

“Shiba.”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that we seem like we’re eating the Chickens?” Millie pondered out loud. “I mean, yes, I do know that what we’re eating are just lumps of artificially flavored fibers. But it’s strange to still be calling synthesized food ‘chicken’ and ‘pork’ and ‘beef’ and anything else related to the Survival Eon as terms with clear and obvious connections to certain animal races in the present.”

“Well,” Shiba mumbled while still chewing her food. “Yeah. It’s kinda strange. No one has problems with it though.”

The Maine Coon frowned. “That is what’s peculiar about it. How come nobody is complaining? It sounds like we are breaking the universal oath. It’s illegal to eat other animals, but right now it seems like we are doing that with this so-called ‘chicken’ burger.”

The Shiba Inu swallowed a bite. “Maybe you’re thinking too hard about it? Everyone’s probably used to it already. Isn’t this food-naming thing related to the Old Animals too?”

“I don’t think I’m thinking too hard about it, Shiba,” Millie sighed. “It’s a weird culture that could possibly destabilize the current social order if the majority saw it from that point of view. Racial segregation is a  possible outcome for that, which shouldn’t be the case in the modern times. We’ve all evolved from our ancestors already.”

“Umm, yeah… But hey, at least we’re lucky that nobody really thinks of it that way right now. Right?” Shiba said, to which Millie nodded her head in agreement.

“Yeah. At least that’s the case.”

Both girls grew silent and stared at each other. Shiba continued to munch on her burger, which made Millie feel awkward for having brought up such a serious topic out of the blue. She shifted in her seat as she watched Shiba take the last bite out of her food.

“You’re right. I really was thinking too hard. wasn’t I.” Millie let out a deep sigh. “Sorry for the sudden history discussion…” 

“Yep! You are. It’s not good to overthink too much, because you’re just going to become sadder and sadder. It’s not a good thing to be sad most of the time, because there are many things we can enjoy in life. And it’s not that we should ignore those sad things. It’s just that it is much better and reassuring to face towards the light when you see that there is one in the darkness. ”

Shiba paused for a short moment. The Maine Coon stared at her, not expecting all of that to come out of the usually ditzy puppy’s mouth. Strangely enough, it did have a point. Maybe the girl was better at making analogies than Millie initially thought.

“I want another burger,” Shiba announced.

“Wow! All that out-of-character talk from you and then you suddenly announce that you want another burger.” Millie laughed at the strangeness of the situation, leaning back towards her seat and resting an arm on top of it. “Hopefully you haven’t forgotten who’s paying for all of this…?”

“I’m sorry! I just happened to be both very broke and very hungry this week! Just for today, pleaaase?” Shiba clasped her hands and begged in a cute, whimper-like manner. Millie glanced at the girl’s large innocent eyes and unconsciously began to give in—how could she say no to that kind of look?

“Fine. But just one, okay?” 

“Hooray!” Shiba suddenly stood up from her seat, startling Millie and several other customers seated near them. “I will never ever ever forget this act of kindness coming from The Millie herself! A free Charlie’s chicken burger from the queen herself?! Truly an historical honor!” 

“Hey! Stop being so embarrassing! Sit down!” The flustered Maine Coon hissed before rushing over to the Shiba Inu’s side and yanked her shoulders downwards, forcing the latter to sit down. The other customers smiled in amusement as a blushing Millie gave them an apologetic look.

“Aren’t you happy? Now people are aware of your good qualities.” Shiba grinned in satisfaction. Millie merely clicked her tongue as a reply as she went back to her seat, although a slight smile was present on her face because of Shiba’s eccentricity.

“Just for today, and just one burger, alright?”

“Yes, yes! I promise! I’m a good doggy and I promise that I will only ask for one more today!”

Millie rummaged through her purse to find her wallet. “Well, if you’re so broke, then why’d you invite me to eat out? You could just cook for yourself. I ended up paying in the end too, although it’s not really a problem since the food here isn’t expensive.”

Shiba’s face lit up.

“Don’t get the wrong idea though. I’m not going to regularly pay for you, you know.”

Shiba pouted. “I wanted to eat here so bad!” 

“…That’s it?”

”You know what the ancient philosophers say! There is no obstacle to a girl’s love for food other than money! My broke self was finding a way to eat here and you happen to have no problem with going out and paying today!”

“You just made all that up by yourself!” Millie laughed before heading to the counter to buy another chicken burger.

Yep. Today was just another normal day at Charlie’s Chickens for Millie and Shiba.