Summary

In Chapter 4, “Out for Chinese” (53), Makiko, Natsuko, and Midoriko went to a Chinese restaurant near Natsuko’s apartment. Makiko asked Natsuko if she had heard that Kewpie, a busker in Shobashi who Natsuko remembered fondly, had died. Aside from busking, he made a living from throwing himself in front of people’s cars and extorting money from them. Makiko told Natsuko that Kewpie had died in an accident attempting a job.

Makiko embarrassed Midoriko by saying that she watched her sleep when she came home after work. Midoriko stared at Makiko intensely in response. This seemed to anger Makiko, and she asked what Midoriko was staring at. Midoriko wrote, “YOU’RE GROSS” (59) in response.

Midoriko recounts getting into a fight with her mother over money. Midoriko says that she knows it is because of her that her mother has to work so hard...