This was another frustrating fragment to read. I’m tempted to just quote&comment each sentence this week, but I’ll try to restrict myself, especially since Kindle app started screaming about copy limit when I was preparing my quotes.
Spoilers
In the first part, it was heart-crushing to fully see that the perfect world of konbini is just Keiko’s illusion. The 100% professional relations she had with other workers and managers were only there because they thought she is too weird.
「今まで、お店の人にそんなこと言われたことないですよ」「それはね、あんたがおかしすぎたからですよ。」
Or at least, it’s Shiraha’s interpretation, but I agree with him on this one.
今までは、顔を合わせると、最近暑くなってチョコレート菓子の売り上げがいまいちだとか、近くに新しいマンションが出来たから夕方のお客さんが増えたとか、再来週の新商品はCMがすごく入るらしいから期待できるとか、そんな有意義な話を、コンビニ店員とコンビニ店長として真っ直ぐに交わしていたのに。
I was so sad reading this list of work topics gone for Keiko. Or at least diminished? They still have to talk with her about it, too, or else no work would be done?
今まで知らなかったが、どうやら皆、たまに飲み会をしているようで、子持ちの泉さんも夫が世話をしてくれる日は顔を出したりしているようだった。
And they were even going out for drinks without her. I’m wondering when exactly were they making these plans, since Keiko never heard anything for 18(!!!) years, just by coincidence, for example by walking into the wrong room at the wrong moment.
Until now, I really believed that konbini relations really were that shallow - it is a temporary/part-time job after all, so maybe people there just weren’t interested in making friends. But no, it was another of Keiko’s illusions
一番怖かったのは、新人のトゥアンくんだった。彼はどんどん店を吸収していて、店の皆に似てきていた。
Nooooooo. Nooooooooooooo!!! Not トゥアンくん!!!
They’ve broken him, too
As for the second part, with the sister, she certainly was very annoying for a person who helped Keiko with excuses until now. I hated it when she said that she has to “我慢する” Keiko’s behavior. Whaaaat? If it’s bothering you so much, you could just meet less often… (it was the sister who was pressuring Keiko into meeting more before, when Keiko didn’t understand why seeing sister’s baby is more valuable that seeing any baby)
「え、我慢してるの?それなら、無理に私に会いに来なくてもいいんじゃない?」
…Oh, thank you Keiko.
Also, Keiko finally specifically asked her for instructions and sister just started crying.
ねえ、指示をくれればわたしはどうだっていいんだよ。
Just a continuation of “no I won’t explain to you what is the problem but will expect you to correct your actions anyway” from the childhood.
As for Shiraha’s help, I don’t think it was either “growth for him as a character” or “selfish manipulation”, but that’s because I don’t think he’s 100% rotten person. Of course he was protecting his calm, tranquil hideout, but I also think he was just feeling uneasy listening to the whole conversation.
This also again shows difference between Keiko’s and Shiraha’s capabilities.
Shiraha knew how to calm down Keiko’s sister and what lies would make her happy. He was able to hold down a “normal” conversation.
But he’s unable to hold down a job.