Tayama/Yamada

The alley behind the supermarket was quiet tonight.

Not silent—never silent. The distant hum of traffic drifted through the evening air while the store's ventilation units buzzed steadily overhead. Somewhere beyond the buildings, a train horn echoed faintly before disappearing into the darkness.

Leaning against the wall beside the employee entrance, Tayama exhaled a slow stream of cigarette smoke.

The glow at the tip briefly illuminated her features before fading again.

Her shift had technically ended a while ago, but she wasn't in much of a hurry to leave. The night air was pleasant, and the alley provided a welcome escape from the endless chorus of scanners, shopping carts, and customer greetings that filled the store.

With one hand tucked into her jacket pocket, she tilted her head back slightly and watched the smoke disappear into the darkness above.

Another ordinary evening.

Or so she thought.

A sound caught her attention. Footsteps.

Not unusual. Employees came and went through the back entrance all the time, and occasionally customers wandered into the alley by mistake.

Still, Tayama glanced in the direction of the approaching noise.

A faint grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. Whoever it was, they hadn't arrived yet.

That brief moment before recognition—before names, greetings, or awkward small talk—was always interesting. There was a certain mystery in it. A tiny story waiting to reveal itself.

She took another drag from her cigarette and waited.

The footsteps drew closer.

Whether the approaching figure was familiar or a complete stranger, Tayama found herself curious.

After all, unexpected encounters were often the most entertaining ones.

The supermarket's automatic doors opened with their familiar chime, letting another customer drift inside from the fading evening light. The store was neither crowded nor empty, settled comfortably in that in-between state that marked the end of a typical workday.

Behind register three, Yamada scanned a basket of groceries with practiced efficiency.

"Thank you very much."

Her smile came easily as she handed over the receipt. The customer offered a polite nod before departing, leaving the checkout lane empty for a brief moment.

Yamada straightened her posture and glanced toward the front entrance. The bright fluorescent lights reflected off the polished floor while a distant announcement crackled over the store's speakers. Shopping carts rattled somewhere near the produce section, blending into the steady rhythm of the evening.

It was an ordinary shift.

At least, it should have been. Her gaze lingered on the entrance a second longer than necessary before she quietly returned her attention to the register. Another customer approached, and her welcoming smile immediately returned.

"Good evening."

The next few transactions passed without incident. Barcode after barcode slid across the scanner while the minutes ticked by. Yet despite her focus, Yamada occasionally found her attention wandering.

There were people who became regulars at the store. Familiar faces she saw almost every day. Office workers stopping by on their way home. Elderly customers shopping at the same hour every week.

And then there were the customers she found herself unconsciously looking for.

The thought brought a faint smile to her lips.

As if summoned by coincidence, the entrance doors chimed once more.

Yamada looked up from the register. Whether the person stepping through those doors was familiar or not remained to be seen, but the evening suddenly felt a little more interesting than it had a moment ago.