The shop was quieter than before.
The boxes no longer stirred. The stars beyond the windows blinked slowly, like they were watching.
Rin stood in front of the counter, still unsure if this was real or a dream too deep to escape.
Moonchan adjusted his round glasses and looked at Rin with calm eyes.
"You came at the right time," he said.
"Your first visit means one thing: you're ready to borrow something."
"Borrow?" Rin asked.
Kuro, lounging atop a shelf, stretched with a yawn.
"Technically, everything here is borrowed," he said.
"Nothing's free in dreams—not even dreams themselves."
Moonchan nodded. "Each item from this shop carries a price. Sometimes, it's small. Sometimes, not so small. But the choice to accept it is always yours."
Rin glanced at the countless dreamboxes around him.
Each one had a different glow, shape, or energy.
But one box—small and light blue—seemed to shimmer when he looked at it.
"That one," Moonchan said softly.
"It called to you the moment you stepped in."
Rin hesitated, then reached out.
The lid lifted without resistance.
Inside was a pair of earbuds.
Not just any earbuds—they sparkled faintly, like moonlight had been woven into the cords.
Simple. Sleek. Magical.
"These," Moonchan said, "will let you hear what others truly feel—when they speak, you'll hear the truth beneath the words."
Rin's eyes widened. "Like… their real thoughts?"
"No," Kuro said lazily. "Not thoughts. That would be cheating."
"You'll hear the feeling behind their words. The part people try to hide. The part even they might not know is there."
Rin looked down at the glowing earbuds.
Something in his chest stirred—was it fear? Or hope?
"And… what's the price?" he asked quietly.
Moonchan's eyes didn't leave his.
"For as long as you wear them… your own feelings will become harder to hide."
Rin blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You'll feel everything more clearly," Moonchan said.
"Loneliness. Shame. Even happiness—it won't be dull anymore. You'll feel it all. Raw."
Kuro added, "People's words won't be the only ones that sting."
Rin held the earbuds carefully. They felt warm in his hands.
He thought of school.
Of how often he didn't understand why people said the things they did.
Of how alone he felt walking down the hallways.
And… how maybe, just maybe, this could help.
"I'll take them," he said, voice steady.
Moonchan smiled.
Kuro chuckled. "First trade accepted."
Then, Moonchan reached beneath the counter and pulled out a small velvet pouch—dark blue, with a moon-shaped clasp.
"This is your Dreambag," he said.
"It will carry your item back with you. Once you remove the item to use it… the bag disappears."
Kuro twirled in the air. "And when the item has served its purpose—poof. It vanishes. So use it wisely."
Rin took the pouch, placing the earbuds inside.
Shiro wagged his tail. "Ready to go back?"
Rin nodded.
The dream began to fold in on itself, like pages of a book closing softly.
And just before it vanished completely—
Moonchan's voice echoed once more:
"Come back anytime, Rin.
The shop never leaves you.
It just waits… until you remember how to find it."