"...How did you get it?"
The Middle-aged Man furrowed his brow in confusion. "Why are you asking?"
"This cloth doll was made by a friend of a friend of mine."
"My friend wants to find that friend through this doll."
The young man's explanation was a little convoluted, but the Middle-aged Man understood.
"I see..."
The Middle-aged Man rubbed his chin.
Finding a friend for someone... Of course, if he could help, he wanted to.
But...
"Actually, this shop belongs to my father."
The Middle-aged Man spoke frankly.
"The old man's health hasn't been good these past few years, and I have a job of my own. I can come by and help out now and then, but I can't stay here all the time."
"Besides..."
"These days, general stores and the like don't make much money."
The Middle-aged Man sighed.
If the shop were profitable, he wouldn't mind quitting his job and becoming a shopkeeper.
Who would choose to work for someone else if they could be their own boss?
Then the shop could stay open, and the old man at home would be happier.
He would be happy, too.
After all, the old man wasn't the only one who couldn't bear to part with the shop. He was reluctant to let it go, too.
When he was little, he had been so proud of his family's shop.
He was always bringing his friends over to play.
To kids back then, a general store was like a mysterious place full of unknown wonders.
No one could be sure what they might discover on the shelves.
"There's no choice..."
After weighing all the reasons and considerations, in the end... "I can only transfer ownership of the shop."
The Middle-aged Man shook his head.
He quickly pushed aside the trace