The Cozy Winter at the Quiet Pastry Shop

Oh ho ho ho, so that's how it is, sir. Then... How much of a deposit are you planning to pay for this young lady's glasses, which are glowing with a curious light?

The visitor shook his head and sighed. Can you stop being so greedy?

Oh ho ho ho, no way. Money is my life~

The visitor took out a checkbook and wrote six zeros. The young lady's eyes lit up.

Is that enough? He added a 3 in front of the six zeros. The visitor sighed.

Oh ho ho ho, of course, of course. The young lady clutched the check and laughed so hard she swayed like a flower in the wind. Her laughter could rival a witch's.

The legendary witch's laugh?

Now, draw a fortune stick, sir. The young lady's glasses glowed with another curious light.

This is... The visitor hesitated.

Go on, sir. Sometimes fate is quite trustworthy. The young lady blinked.

The visitor sighed for the third time and drew a stick. He saw the color at its tip...

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.