Sasaki

Sasaki is an exhausted, middle-aged salaryman who constantly finds himself ground down by the relentless demands of his corporate job. His only solace in life is smoking and the bright, welcoming smile of Yamada, a friendly cashier who works at his regular supermarket, "Super S". One night, after working a grueling shift, he arrives too late to see Yamada and, struggling to find a place to smoke, is left thoroughly disheartened—until a rebellious-looking young woman with multiple piercings named "Tayama" invites him to light up in a secluded spot behind the supermarket. He quickly makes a habit of meeting her there for late-night cigarette breaks, completely unaware that his cool new smoking buddy "Tayama" is actually Yamada in her off-duty casual persona. Sasaki is a remarkably polite, humble, and kind-hearted individual, though he is also famously dense and easily flustered. Despite his social awkwardness, his genuine appreciation for small acts of kindness and his longing for sincere human connection make his late-night chats behind the supermarket a deeply comforting routine.