That will be 243,400 won, please~

After finishing the payment

Have a great day~

'I can't believe I have to work like this even though it's my birthday....'

Looking at the other employees, it seems like no one even noticed it's my birthday..

I didn't know not being able to celebrate a birthday would feel this disappointing.

He continues to work with a long face.

...He's smiling on the outside, but he's upset on the inside. He wishes all of this were just a prank.

'There's nothing more upsetting than no one knowing.'

I checked the time. Worried that my birthday might have already passed. I checked again.

Fortunately, today hasn't ended yet. In fact, there was quite a lot of time left.

---

Before long, it's time for Looky Mart to close. That time means....

'It means there's not much time left until my birthday is over.'

....

The thought of forcing a celebration by saying, "Everyone, it's my birthday today~ Please say a word of congratulations~" crossed my mind, but I decided against it because I thought it would make me feel miserable.

In the end, this birthday is passing by without anyone knowing again. Just one day out of so many days, and that one day is my birthday. ...There must be people in the world going through worse things than this.

Let's not be upset. Even if it's just for the sake of those who are having a harder time than me.

..Still, human emotions can't be hidden.

From the moment I opened my eyes today, I thought I would be congratulated on my birthday. I went to work with such high expectations... I spent time thinking about how to react if I received a gift, or what to do if they threw a surprise party. All those moments feel like they're becoming futile.

Birthdays are like that. They happen every year, and the year after that, so there's no need to worry.

....

I walk down the street lost in thought. I walk silently down the path I would normally walk while whistling.

'Birthdays come every year. But that doesn't mean I get celebrated every year. Just look at today, no one knew.'

I think I have too many distracting thoughts. So what if I didn't get celebrated once? There's always a next time. I should forget the past and look to the future.

Let's look to the future.

Honk—!!

....!

It seems I can't even avoid this. When did I end up standing here blankly? Because of those thoughts just now?

Unable to even move my body, I squeezed my eyes shut and reflexively protected my head.

'I'm going to die now.'

Even though I know it, I'm afraid. Death is terrifying for anyone. For those who want to die, and for those who don't.

My life flashes before my eyes. It's like watching a series of connected film strips.

If today hadn't been my birthday. If I had been celebrated today, I wouldn't have had those distracting thoughts. Then,

I wouldn't have died.