Business Advisor of the Chamber of Commerce (5) The Wavering Shopping District and the Hope Rekindled [#CreativeAward2025 #WorkNovelCategory]

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“...Sorry, I’m going to pass after all.”

Those words struck Yuto’s heart, quietly but surely.
The people of the shopping district, whom he had persuaded so desperately and who had begun to change their minds, if only a little.

The small hope that had sprouted gradually lost its color due to Miura’s cold words and his shadow-like maneuvers.

“If we fail...”
“It’ll be a hassle if it gets to Mr. Takimoto’s ears...”

Such whispers spread slowly through the town, and the air turned heavy and damp once again.

Among them, Shigeru Tanaka, the owner of the greengrocer, was the first to announce his withdrawal.

“It’s not going to work anyway. We’ve tried and failed so many times before.”
“Morita-kun, you’re young, so maybe you can charge ahead on momentum, but... we don’t have the energy for that anymore.”

Many shop owners nodded at Tanaka’s words.
“That’s right... It’s too painful to have hope in vain again.”
“We have families to support, and we can’t do anything reckless.”

Yuto gritted his teeth.
“But... if we don’t do anything now, the shopping district will truly disappear!”

However, no one said a word to Yuto’s plea.
The silence said it all.

—The next day, Yuto went to see the people of the shopping district again.
The first person he visited was Shigeru Tanaka, the greengrocer.

Tanaka frowned.

“...I told you it’s impossible. You’re persistent.”

However, at that moment—
“Grandpa, why won’t you do it?”
Tanaka’s granddaughter, Akari Tanaka, poked her head out.

“Eh...?”

“Grandpa, you always said the greengrocer was fun!”
“Weren’t you going to chat with customers like in the old days and teach me how to work at the shop?”

Tanaka was lost for words.
“Akari...”

“I love your shop, Grandpa!”
“So, I’d be happy if the shop got busier!”

At those words, Tanaka closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

—The moment that summer day when he stood under the tent with Akari, calling out “Welcome!” while holding a sun-drenched tomato, and Akari’s radiant, innocent smile suddenly came back to Tanaka’s heart.

And then,
“...All right.”
Tanaka whispered quietly.

“I’ll try it one more time.”
“I’ve been defeated by your enthusiasm.”

The moment he heard Tanaka’s words, something hot welled up in Yuto’s chest.
He instinctively clenched his fists, unable to hold back a rising smile, and looked up at the sky.
In that instant, a certain light had shone into his heart.

——Finally, I was able to take one step forward.

With Tanaka's actions, the atmosphere in the shopping district began to change.
"If Tanaka-san is doing it, I'll do it too!"
"For the first time in a while, shall we give it a go?"
"Let's try taking on the challenge one more time!"

One after another, the people of the shopping district decided to participate in the Sakuragawa Marche.
At the center of it all was Kota from Matsudaya.

"Yay! Everyone is motivated!"
"With this, the shops will become lively again!"
Kota's innocent smile spread as if to bring brightness back to the shopping district.

Beside him was Akari.
While looking straight at her grandfather's back, she gripped the hem of her apron tightly with her small hands.

Akari, too, must have sensed the changes in the town.
In her eyes, there was a somewhat proud light.

The smiles of the two children, Kota and Akari, naturally brought smiles to the faces of the adults who had once been dejected.

"Alright, this is where the real work begins!"

Yuto, together with the people of the shopping district, began preparations in earnest.

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