Four hours had passed since the store officially opened, yet not a single customer had crossed the threshold. The silence was suffocating, leaving me slouched at the counter, half-absorbed in a web series playing on the sleek computer before me.
"Hey, little panda," I called lazily, propping my chin on my hand. "Do you know which world we're in?"
A soft thump broke the quiet. The small, marshmallow-like creature hopped out from the drawer and landed gracefully on the counter, his round eyes blinking with calm indifference.
"We're in a parallel version of Earth," the panda replied in his childlike voice, utterly casual despite the gravity of his words. "The entire world has been overrun by zombies. Only a fraction of the human population survives now, scattered in small groups, clinging together for safety."
I froze. Zombies? My fingers stilled against the desk as the weight of his words settled in.
"This... is worse than I thought," I muttered. "I didn't realize we were in such a dangerous world. Won't those things-" my voice dropped slightly, "-come here?"
The panda tilted his head, utterly unfazed. "Your worries are unnecessary. The store is protected by the system, meaning me. No entity that could harm you can cross the threshold. Inside, you are invincible. So relax. What's there to fear?"
A slow breath escaped me as tension melted from my shoulders. "Right," I admitted. "I didn't think about that. If nothing can harm me here... then I suppose I can enjoy myself."
Without another word, I reclined in the chair and resumed my web series, a can of soda hissing softly as I cracked it open. Cold bubbles fizzed on my tongue, soothing and refreshing. This is life.
"One more hour until my break," I murmured, popping another can from the refrigerator behind me. The rhythmic sound of the series became the only noise in the quiet store—until the soft chime of the entrance bell shattered the monotony.
The glass doors slid open, and a frigid gust of wind swept in, accompanied by the heavy crunch of boots. Three figures stepped inside, bundled in thick, patched jackets, layer upon layer to stave off the bitter cold. Their faces were raw and flushed from exposure.
"Ohhh," one of them groaned, stamping his feet against the tiles. "It's warm in here."
"Finally," another muttered, shaking the frost from his sleeves. They spoke in rapid tones, their voices tinged with exhaustion yet relief.
I rose from behind the counter, my professional smile firmly in place as I approached. "Welcome to the Panda Convenience Store," I said, voice warm but clear. "If you're here as customers, please note that we currently have only two products available, Crème Puffs and bottled mineral water."
I gestured toward the neatly stocked shelves, the golden pastries lined in perfect rows, and the gleaming bottles resting on the beverage rack.
The three men turned to look, their expressions shifting from confusion to outright disbelief. Finally, the one standing at the front, broad-shouldered, his hair streaked with gray, spoke up, his voice gruff.
"Little miss... are you seriously running a store in the middle of a zombie-infested city?"
I met his incredulous stare with a serene smile. "To be frank," I said softly, "even if they came, I could erase them with a flick of my fingers."
My calm confidence seemed to startle them more than the store itself. Their eyes flickered with curiosity, and something else. In this world, no sane person would open a store. Supplies were more precious than land, more valuable than gold. And yet, here I was, surrounded by warmth and abundance.
The man with gray streaks stepped forward, offering a polite nod despite his visible fatigue. His breath clouded in the warm air as he smiled faintly.
"Hello, miss. You can call me Yamauichi. I lead this group, we were hunting for supplies when we stumbled across your store."
The other two followed quickly, dipping their heads in greeting.
"I'm Taiyo," the first said briskly.
"And I'm Kuro," added the second, his voice low but firm.
As their names rolled off their tongues, a realization sparked in my mind. Japanese names... then this must be a parallel Japan. And yet, I can understand them perfectly.
I offered a graceful nod. "My name is Evangeline Virelle. I am the manager of the Panda Convenience Store."
Yamauichi's lips curved faintly, a flicker of admiration, or perhaps amusement, in his eyes. "You're either fearless or foolish to open a shop here, Ojou-san."
"I'd love to debate that with you," I replied with a gentle smile, my voice smooth as glass. "But I'm still on shift, and my break is approaching. So, shall we get to the point?"
The man named Taiyo moved first. His boots scraped softly against the tile as he approached the neatly arranged shelf, his eyes fixed on the Crème puff. He studied them for a long moment before turning toward me.
"Ojou-san," he said cautiously, his voice carrying both curiosity and restraint, "could you explain... what exactly are 'bills'?"
I smiled, folding my hands gracefully before me. "Panda Bills," I clarified, "are the official currency of this store. You can use them to purchase any product here."
The three men exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions tightening as they fell into a hushed conversation among themselves. Their voices were low, clipped, as if weighing an unspoken concern.
After a brief pause, Yamauichi stepped forward, his tone steady but probing.
"Ojou-san, we don't have the bills you mentioned," he admitted. "But we do have gold, and some jewelry. Could those be exchanged instead?"
"That's acceptable," I replied without hesitation. "Gold, jewelry, or any item of value can be converted into Panda Bills. However..." My tone softened as I gestured toward the counter. "Before any purchase can be made, you'll need to register as customers."
Their brows furrowed slightly, but none objected. I motioned for them to follow, and the three complied, trailing behind me with cautious curiosity.
Stepping behind the counter, I opened the leftmost drawer and withdrew three cards, sleek, obsidian black with a faint metallic sheen. I placed them gently upon the polished surface, their edges catching the warm glow of the lights above.
"These," I said evenly, "are your customer ID cards. They are not mere identifiers, they are your wallets, holding your Panda Bills once you've registered."
The cards emanated a subtle chill when touched, their design exuding an aura of understated elegance. Each bore a small silver emblem at its center, a curled panda insignia that shimmered faintly under the store's light.
Kuro, still breathing heavily from the bitter cold outside, spoke up in a low voice. "Ojou-san... what if we lose one?"
I met his wary gaze with a calm, measured smile. "You can't. Even if you tried."
To demonstrate, I picked up one of the cards and slammed it lightly against the counter, its metallic surface ringing with a sharp clack. Then, turning to Taiyo, I gestured toward the card.
"Try to break it."
He hesitated, then gripped the card in both hands, veins straining as he applied force. A flicker of frustration crossed his face as he tried again—once, twice, thrice. Nothing. The card remained pristine, unmarred.
Taiyo exhaled sharply. "It's real... and I can't break it."
The other two stared, their skepticism giving way to awe.
"These cards," I continued smoothly, "will be bound to you. Once linked, you only need to think of them, and they will appear before your eyes, no matter where you are."
The three men leaned in, their earlier caution giving way to an almost childlike excitement. "How do we bind them?" Yamauichi asked at last, his voice firm but tinged with eagerness.
Without a word, I placed all three cards neatly in a row upon the counter. From the drawer, I withdrew a small, small box and set it beside them.
"Pay close attention," I said, my voice carrying the subtle weight of authority as I opened the box. "I'll assist you in binding these cards. Once done... you will officially become customers of the Panda Convenience Store."