Sasaki is forty-five, single, and running on fumes. Every night after overtime, he drags himself to Supermarket S for a half-price bento, a pack of Mevius, and one small reason to keep going: Yamada-san, the sweet, smiling part-timer at register two. She's polite, professional, and utterly out of his league—which doesn't stop him from lining up at her lane every single day like a lovesick idiot.
Then, one night behind the store, he discovers the truth.
The Yamada who clocks out is nothing like
Smoking Love Behind Supermarket S - Footsteps of an inspection and a trembling portable ashtray
The smoking area after closing time was swept through by a night wind carrying the first hints of autumn.
The northwest corner of the parking lot. Two ashtray stands, one bench. Through the fence, the lights of the residential neighborhood dotted the darkness. The streetlamps were weak, and the surroundings sat in a dim half-light.
Tayama sat on the bench, turning a pack of Pianissimo Menthol over in her hands. Her hair was down, a small silver earring glinting at her ear. She looked like a completely different person from her on-duty self.
"I figured you wouldn't come today."
Gotou stood at the entrance to the smoking area. Expressionless, a heated tobacco device in her hand. Her short black bob swayed gently in the night breeze.
"Store manager."
Tayama's voice went just a little stiff.
Gotou sat down on the bench without a word. She switched on her heated tobacco and drew deeply. The smoke she exhaled was far thinner than a cigarette's.
"Head office got in touch."
"...Head office?"
"An unannounced inspection. The day after tomorrow."
Tayama's fingers tightened around the Pianissimo pack.
"Inspection... you mean, like, customer service?"
"That's right. An inspector from head office comes and scores how well we follow the service manual. Chatter during breaks, personal appearance, smoking etiquette. All of it's on the checklist."
Gotou spoke flatly. The same voice as always, impossible to read.
Tayama bit her lip.
(Smoking etiquette...)
Something went cold and tight around her heart.
"...Will the inspector stay at the store after closing?"
"Depends. This time there are two, from head office. One of them apparently watches how employees behave outside the store, too. The smoking area by the back door is on the checklist as well."
Tayama went silent.
Her fingertips were trembling, just slightly.
"Your customer service is flawless."
Gotou said it quietly.
"But I can't score the face you wear at lunch break."
Tayama's expression clouded.
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Inside the store, you do well. Nobody complains. But the you outside the store—that's a you I don't know."
Gotou drew on her heated tobacco.
Tayama couldn't say anything.
(She knows.)
(How much does she know?)
(Or is it just a hunch?)
Gotou exhaled the smoke slowly.
"Well—what I'm trying to say is, be careful."
"...Yes."
Tayama lowered her eyes.
Gotou stood.
"Until the inspection's over, you might want to hold off on smoking out here."
Leaving those words behind, Gotou disappeared toward the store's back door.
Tayama was left alone on the bench.
She opened the pack of Pianissimo Menthol and took out a cigarette. She tried to light it with a hundred-yen lighter, but her fingers shook and the flame wouldn't catch.
"...Tch."
On the third try, it finally lit.
She drew the smoke in deep.
(Maybe I should quit.)
Tayama looked up at the sky.
Thin clouds hid the moon.
___
That night, Sasaki visited Supermarket S as usual.
On his way home from work. Another day at Genki Trading's suburban branch—the same endless round of odd jobs and meetings. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes tired, his heart somehow heavy.
And still, his feet carried him to Supermarket S on their own.
Ten minutes before closing. Basket in hand, Sasaki headed for the prepared foods corner. Today, a ginger pork bento. And a bag of soy-sauce rice crackers. One can of beer.
Three registers open. He lined up at register two.
"Welcome in. Do you have a point card?"
Yamada's voice.
Her black hair gathered at the back, her green apron neatly worn. The name tag on her chest read "Yamada." Her customer-service smile shone under the fluorescent lights.
(Perfect smile again today.)
Sasaki murmured it inwardly.
But today, something was different.
Yamada's smile was just a little bit stiff.
(Am I imagining it?)
Sasaki set his basket on the counter.
"Would you like your bento heated?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Certainly."
Yamada scanned the items. Her fingertips seemed to tremble, just barely.
(So something did happen.)
A small, sharp ache pricked at Sasaki's chest.
"That'll be one thousand two hundred forty-six yen."
Sasaki took coins from his wallet.
"Exact change, thank you."
Yamada held out the bag.
"Thank you very much. Please come again."
"...Thanks."
Sasaki took the bag and stepped away from the register.
When he glanced back, Yamada was already smiling at the next customer.
(Just like always.)
(But something's off.)
Sasaki went around to the back of the store.
No one was in the smoking area.
He sat on the bench and lit a Mevius Premium.
He drew the smoke into his lungs and let it out slowly.
(Will Tayama-san come?)
He waited a few minutes.
A figure appeared from the store's back door.
It was Tayama, her hair down.
"...Old man."
Tayama sat down beside Sasaki.
"Good work today."
"Yeah."
Tayama took out her cigarettes. Pianissimo Menthol. She lit one.
A quiet silence settled between them.
Normally, Tayama would be the one tossing out teasing remarks.
But today, she stayed silent.
Sasaki smoked and stole a glance at Tayama's profile.
(Yeah, she's not herself.)
(Something happened.)
Sasaki stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
"...Tayama-san."
"What?"
Tayama looked at him.
"No, it's just... did something happen today?"
Tayama looked a little surprised.
"...Why?"
"Why, well... um, you just—you don't look so good."
Sasaki stumbled over the words.
Tayama let out a small laugh.
But it wasn't her usual mischievous smile.
"You actually notice things, old man. Surprising."
"Eh—ah, no, I mean..."
Tayama stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray.
"Hey, old man."
"Yes."
"Should I quit being a store clerk?"
Sasaki caught his breath.
(Quit?)
(Tayama-san, quit the store?)
"...Why, all of a sudden?"
"Head office is sending an inspector. Unannounced. It's not just the service manual—they check chatter during breaks, smoking etiquette, all of that."
Tayama lowered her eyes.
"In the store, I do everything right. The smile, the greetings, stocking shelves. But outside the store... I smoke like this, let my hair down, wear earrings."
Tayama touched the earring at her ear.
"If that gets found out, my credibility as Yamada is gone."
"...Credibility?"
"Yeah. Customers see my smile and shop with peace of mind. But if they knew I was a woman who smokes on the sly, they'd be disillusioned, wouldn't they?"
Tayama's voice was shaking.
"I can't live as Tayama. And being Yamada scares me. I don't know what to do anymore."
Sasaki felt his chest tighten.
(Tayama-san's been carrying all this.)
(And I never knew.)
Sasaki gripped his own pack of cigarettes.
"...Tayama-san."
"What?"
"I like your smile, Tayama-san."
Tayama raised her head.
"Huh?"
"No, I mean—I like Yamada-san's smile too, but... your real smile, Tayama-san, I think it's good. Really good."
Sasaki forced the words out.
"So please, don't say you'll quit."
Tayama stared at Sasaki.
"...Old man."
"Yes."
"Thanks."
Tayama gave a small smile.
This time, it was a little closer to her usual mischievous one.
___
The day before the inspection.
On his way home from work, Sasaki stopped at a shop.
A general store near the station.
(Will this do?)
Sasaki picked up a portable ashtray.
A simple silver one. The same model he'd used for years himself.
(Will Tayama-san be happy?)
Sasaki hesitated a little.
(No, but she might think it's weird.)
(A forty-five-year-old man giving a twenty-four-year-old girl a portable ashtray.)
(...Yeah, that's weird.)
Sasaki put the portable ashtray back on the shelf.
But then he picked it up again.
(But Tayama-san's always looking for an ashtray when she smokes.)
(With a portable one, she could smoke anywhere.)
(And it might take her mind off the inspection, at least a little.)
Sasaki took a deep breath and headed for the register.
___
The smoking area after closing.
Tayama sat on the bench, smoking.
"You came again today, old man."
"Ah, yes. Good work today."
Sasaki sat down beside Tayama.
"Hey, old man, you're hiding something, aren't you."
Tayama grinned.
"Huh? Wh-why?"
"Because you keep checking your pocket."
Sasaki's heart jumped.
(She's onto me.)
"Come on, what is it? Show me."
Tayama leaned toward him.
"No, it's... it's nothing much."
Sasaki nervously pulled a small package from his pocket.
"...Here."
Tayama took the package.
"Can I open it?"
"Go ahead."
Tayama opened it.
What came out was a silver portable ashtray.
"...Huh?"
Tayama's eyes went wide.
"A portable ashtray...?"
"Um, well... I noticed you're always looking for an ashtray, Tayama-san. I thought with this, you could smoke anywhere."
Sasaki explained in a rush.
"It's the same model I use... um, if you don't like it, you don't have to use it."
Tayama stared at the portable ashtray.
"...Why would you go this far?"
Her voice trembled, just slightly.
"Huh?"
"Why would you do something like this for me?"
Tayama looked straight at Sasaki's face.
"I haven't done anything for you, old man. I just smoke with you and tease you. So why?"
Sasaki was at a loss for words.
(Why, she asks...)
(Because I want to protect your smile.)
(But there's no way I could say that.)
"...If it means you can keep smiling—"
Sasaki started to say it, then swallowed the words.
"...It's how I feel. Please use it."
Sasaki lowered his eyes.
Tayama cupped the portable ashtray in both hands.
"...You really are hopeless, old man."
Tayama gave a small laugh.
"This isn't how you give a girl a present, you know. Normally you'd give something cuter, or more stylish—that kind of thing."
"...Sorry."
"But."
Tayama tucked the portable ashtray carefully into her pocket.
"I'm really happy with this."
Tayama looked at Sasaki and smiled.
"Thanks, old man."
That smile seemed to shine brighter than anything in the dim light of the smoking area.
Sasaki felt a warmth spread slowly through his chest.
(Ah. Yeah. I love that smile.)
He murmured it in his heart.
___
That night.
Sasaki sat alone in the smoking area.
Tayama had gone home first.
Sasaki lit a Mevius Premium.
He drew the smoke into his lungs and let it out slowly.
(The inspection is tomorrow.)
Sasaki looked up at the sky.
The moon was hidden behind clouds, invisible.
(Will Tayama-san be all right?)
(Is there anything I can do?)
Sasaki thought as he smoked.
And then he remembered.
A failure from his head office days.
___
Eight years ago.
Sasaki was still working at head office.
He'd been entrusted with a project.
Young, but the company had expectations for him.
But one of his subordinates made a serious mistake.
Sasaki covered for the subordinate.
"It's my responsibility," he reported to his boss.
But his boss wouldn't accept Sasaki's report.
"You hid your subordinate's mistake. That's the greatest sin of all."
Sasaki was demoted.
Transferred to a suburban branch.
(Was I lying, back then?)
(Did I twist the facts to protect my subordinate?)
(No. I reported the facts. But my boss didn't believe me.)
Sasaki stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
(The difference between lying and protecting someone.)
(Tomorrow, I might lie.)
(To protect Tayama-san.)
Sasaki lit a fresh cigarette.
(But will that really protect her?)
(Won't my lie end up hurting Tayama-san instead?)
Sasaki exhaled.
The smoke drifted off on the night wind and vanished.
(I don't know.)
(But tomorrow, if Tayama-san's in trouble, I'll do something.)
(That much, I've decided.)
Sasaki finished his cigarette and stood.
___
The morning of the inspection.
In his apartment, Sasaki changed into his suit.
Getting ready for work, same as always.
But today, Tayama was in a corner of his mind.
(The inspection's today.)
(Is Tayama-san managing to smile for the customers?)
Sasaki checked his phone while tightening his tie.
No LINE
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