The tenth day.
Shuo stood outside the Confectionery Shop, staring blankly at the "Closed" sign.
It was still the same sheet of paper. The wind had curled its edges, leaving them limp and floppy. It was irritating to look at.
He reached out, tiny particles of light gathering at his fingertips, and gently pressed the curled edges flat. His movements were languid, yet held an indefinable care.
He fished out the key and turned the old lock. The door creaked open. Sai followed quietly behind him, still carrying the little bag of cleaning rags-he had it ready every day without Shuo having to say a word.
They went in, opened the windows, swept the floor, and wiped down the tables and chairs. The whole routine was no different from the previous nine days, dull enough to make them sleepy.
Shuo swept sluggishly, dragging the broom back and forth across the floor, yet missed not a speck of dust. The particles of light at his fingertips occasionally swept through the corners, gathering the fine dust together so he would not have to bend down to pick it up. Too much trouble.
Once he finished sweeping, he went straight to the display window. The three white plates still sat securely in place, spotless, without a trace of dust.
Shuo took six candies from his pocket, all in orange wrappers printed with chestnuts. He had bought them specially the day before.
He placed them in the plates one by one, two on each plate, arranged neatly.
Sunlight streamed in and fell on the wrappers, giving them a warm glow that mingled with the particles at his fingertips, dazzlingly bright.
Sai watched from beside him and said softly, "Three each. Just right."
"Mm." Shuo did not even look up, his tone flat. "Yours are