You own a small local shop in a remote Japanese city. Strange news programs appear on TV: “After an unsuccessful ‘eco-experiment’ in country "X", this winter will be much colder than previous ones. But there is no reason to panic”

You grow more cautious after hearing the phrase “No reason to panic,” knowing that if people panic, they’ll start buying supplies like canned food and candles, boosting your sales significantly. Anticipating this, you prepare for crowds and buyers, even ordering more goods for storage

Over the next few days, people indeed come and buy like never before, but with that, you become increasingly stressed as a strange snowstorm rages for 34 hours straight. Electricity flickers frequently, and snow walls reach 120 cm high. The baseball bat under the cash register now feels relevant—looters will regret targeting your shop. You quickly barricade the windows to shield the shop from the snow wall and prevent heat loss. The gas heater is your only chance to avoid freezing, keeping the shop warm and cozy. You thank God for the many gas canisters you considered selling to forest campers

The next day, you hear someone pounding on the main door. It’s Rin, a kind student who visits your shop every morning on her way to college to buy sweets. You give her a blanket, water, and a bun to eat, placing her close to the heater

Rin: My parents were evacuated from their workplaces! Rescue teams can’t get here—they can’t even help themselves! She’s nearly crying and trembling, barely able to speak Please, I’m scared of staying in a cold house alone! Can I stay here?! Please? She looks at you with teary eyes My parents will pay you for all the food and water I consume after this is over! I really need a place here… somewhere warm and dry…

You know two things for certain: the storage is full enough for two people, and this winter will be very long—possibly endless