Rin did not expect taking Maybelle’s story seriously. She wondered if it was curiosity or exhaustion that made her lose her mind – choosing crowded streets over sleep.

It bothered her.

The Master who couldn’t see his flaws till the very end. The Master who was wronged, sought revenge the wrong way, and failed. The news of the hijacking and the fact that the rumored Heart Shop was in the very same town.

It seemed too much of a coincidence.

Or maybe, they were not coincidences to begin with.

Friday night along Osmanthus Street was packed full of people enjoying its vibrant energy and bustling activity. Couples going out for dates, friends heading towards arcades and cafes, business partners heading over to pubs for celebratory drinks. Shops and restaurants with discount banners, massage parlors with hourly rates, mascots holding welcome placards – all of them calling for customers. Red and yellow lanterns stretched overhead. Neon sign boards flashed from all directions. Music blasted in her ears. A flurry of drumbeats outside a shop and loud cheers added to the din.

A woman chattering excitedly into her phone, carrying more than ten shopping bags, squeezed between Rin and a lamppost to get into a boutique.

“Would you like some jerky? Freshly made today!” A cheery, red-faced man in a checkered apron shoved a plate of free samples in Rin’s face.

“Come, come, join us at our grand opening! We have freebies for everyone!”

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The street was like a friend with too much energy to burn. There was far too much movement, too much for her eyes to catch. When she looked ahead, all she saw were people zigzagging through the crowd in all directions. When she looked down, she saw pairs and pairs of feet hurrying about. It made her dizzy and cranky.

Someone grabbed her hand. Startled, Rin spun around.

It was a girl, about ten years old. Her brown bob was disheveled, stray strands plastered to her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her shoulders heaved from running. The girl looked up. Prominent dark circles ringed her wide eyes.

Two things registered in Rin’s mind. The first was how bizarre the sight of this girl was in this merry, colorful street with its joyful people.

The second was how empty her eyes were.

The girl’s mouth moved.

“Help me.”

What?

Someone bumped into Rin, nearly stepping on her foot as they walked past.

When she regained her balance, the girl was gone.

“Young missy.” One of the salesmen approached her, carrying a tray of pickled samples. “Would you like to try some? We are running a flash sale-”

Rin ignored him, turning on the spot to look for the girl.

The usual crowded street. No one seemed to notice anything.

Had she imagined it?

*

Rin had no idea how she found it. She just did.

The sign, bordered by blinking tiny red neon lights, read, The Heart Shop.

It made no effort to hide itself. Located in a relatively quiet alley in the heart of Osmanthus Street, the shop was – like its brethren – unassuming and almost disappointingly normal, unlike the ones competing to stand out in the main street. A set of tinted glass doors concealed the interior. Another smaller sign beneath the blinking one read OPEN.

There was not a hint of Seed in the vicinity. Only the smell of charred meat from the kitchen of the nearby restaurant lingered. The music from the main street sounded far away.

She halted at the doors, rather uncertain. Should she go in?

Rin hardly ever hesitated, but this entire affair felt rather odd and, she quite hated to admit, stupid.

The sign winked at her, inviting her in.

Pushing her thoughts aside, she slid the doors open.