The air inside the store carried a faint scent of dust, but it was warm.

The cozy feeling typical of an old space enveloped me.

True to its name, Sweet Stationery also exuded a slightly sugary scent that felt oddly comforting.

The tension and rigidity in my shoulders started to melt away—no, I couldn’t let that happen!

‘Don’t let your guard down.’

I bit down on the inside of my cheek and pushed forward.

The walls, lined with metal shelves, made the narrow space feel like a maze. On those shelves, neatly stacked snacks filled every compartment.

At the center …