Running the Little Shop

"Alright, it's decided then."
Li Nai smiled.

The young man in the sand-colored coat blinked, looking around the narrow little shop once more before asking,
"My young shop owner, who are you talking to?"

"Huh? I'm not, dear customer. As you can see, there is no one else here besides you and me. Who could I be talking to?"
Li Nai put on his trademark smile.

"Instead of worrying about that, would you like to take a look at our shop's specially made bandages?" Li Nai turned around, took a roll of bandages from the misty shelf, and pushed it toward the young man.

The young man observed the roll. It looked ordinary, like any bandage sold on the market, with no brand on the plastic packaging, only a small heart shape in the corner. But when picked up, the plastic didn't make a rustling sound. The touch felt not like plastic but like a soft biological membrane, strangely like a fish bladder. But that feeling was only fleeting, and the packaging returned to normal.

The young man wondered if it was an illusion. The roll was pure white and clean. On the back of the packaging, a small line of text was printed: "Miss Bandage wants to help you."

The young man showed interest and asked casually, "How much?"
"1,500 yen," Li Nai replied.
"How... how much?!"

The young man's lazy eyes widened in surprise. He leaned down to look closely at the roll, then looked up at Li Nai:
"Shop owner, you aren't mistaken, are you? I asked for the price of one roll, not a crate."

Li Nai was actually very guilty. He also felt this price was too exorbitant! Who would spend that much money to buy an unbranded roll of bandages from a shady shop? But he had no way to lower the price, as the pricing was not decided by him. Facing his first customer, Li Nai tried to maintain his composure, smiling profoundly:

"That's right, 1,500 yen a roll. Things bought here cannot be found elsewhere. Quality guaranteed."

The young man was half-believing and half-doubting. "Really?"
"Absolutely real. I never lie to anyone," Li Nai asserted.

The young man rolled his eyes, then leaned against the counter and smiled. "Ah, although this amount is just pocket change to me, unfortunately, I lost my wallet when I jumped into the water today..."

Li Nai's spring-breeze smile instantly vanished, replaced by a cold expression. "Then why did you ask?"

The young man was stunned by this rapid face-changing speed. "Don't be so cold, shop owner. How about we get to know each other first? I am Dazai Osamu, and you?"

"I don't want to exchange information with a nuisance," Li Nai said coldly. "Wait until you become my customer."

"Is it really not allowed..." Dazai pleaded pitifully. "How about letting me buy on credit..."

Dazai's hand drew circles on the tabletop, then suddenly grabbed Li Nai's hand.
"No Longer Human!"
No reaction. The shop and the youth in front of him remained completely unchanged. *Not an ability user?* Dazai lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts, then smiled brightly again:

"The shop owner and I really get along like old friends. If I had money, I would definitely buy it, but what a pity credit isn't allowed..."

Li Nai stared at his hand being held. An invisible pressure descended, making Dazai vigilant. But the tense atmosphere lasted for only a second before Li Nai burst into a radiant smile, grabbing Dazai's hand with both of his and shaking it vigorously:

"Then it's decided!"
"Huh? On credit?"
"Yes! The shop offers a credit service. You just need to confirm the purchase!"

Dazai felt something was off. He was about to deny it when he saw the youth's smile grow even more brilliant.
"You just agreed, didn't you?" Li Nai gently squeezed his fingers. "I believe you won't go back on your word, right?"

Facing that flawless face and captivating smile, Dazai's brain felt slightly dazed, and he nodded unconsciously.
"Wonderful! I knew you were a good customer! Meeting you on our opening day is truly lucky!" Li Nai was overjoyed.

Dazai took the roll of bandages, put it in his coat pocket, and turned to walk out. As he was about to leave, he turned back and asked, "Right, shop owner, now that I'm a customer, what is your name?"
"Just call me Li Nai."

Dazai stepped out of the shop, his heart still beating with a strange rapidness. This was a physical, instinctive reaction. He frowned. Since when did such a place appear in Yokohama? This shop had suddenly appeared before him when he was lost—an impossible feat for someone who knew the city map like the back of his hand.