よくデパートに行っては、ただトイレを使いたいだけなのに、つい無意識にも買い物をする気配を漂わせてしまいます。トイレの方向を示す看板に従って歩き、まるで何か買おうとしているように振る舞おうとします。興味がない服まで目を向け、触れたり、歌を口ずさむふりをして、真に興味があるかのように商品を見回します。でも実際は、ただ緊張して不安なだけで、触れていた服に注意を向けると、不思議な模様の女性用服だったりして驚くこともあります。そんな気まずい状況でも、思わず「母親のためにちょっと見ているだけだよ…」と顔を作ってしまうんです。厄介です。
私は何をやっているんだろう？誰も私の行動に注目しているわけでもないのに。
小さな雑貨屋に迷い込んでしまった時も同じようなことが起きます。店に入った瞬間、展示されている商品が私の好みではないことに気付きますが、すぐには出て行けません。普通にお買い物をしているようなふりをして、奇妙なガラスのオーナメントを手に取り、じっくりと眺めることで、店員にここが間違って入ってしまった勝手知ったる侵入者ではないと思わせようとします。誰も私にそんなことを期待していないんですけどね。
時には店員に「何時まで開いてるんですか？」と尋ねたりして、一度は店を出るものの、再び戻ってきそうな雰囲気を漂わせてからやっと本当に店を後にします。そして、そのまま行けばいいのに、わざわざもう一度看板を振り返り、「いいお店だったね」という顔をして去っていくんです。
This is a HOSHINOYA MADE IN JAPAN Radio. Episode 12; I go to department stores just to use their restrooms, but end up unintentionally giving off the vibe that I'm about to make a purchase.
Wellcome to the HOSHINOYA MADE IN JAPAN Radio. Today I would like to talk about I go to department stores just to use their restrooms, but end up unintentionally giving off the vibe that I'm about to make a purchase.
I often go to department stores just to use their restrooms and end up unintentionally giving off the vibe that I'm about to make a purchase.
I follow the signs pointing to the restroom, trying to appear like I'm interested in buying something.
I even find myself looking at clothes I have no interest in, touching them, and pretending to hum a song to make it seem like I'm browsing with genuine interest.
But in reality, I'm just nervous and anxious about the situation, and when I actually pay attention to the clothes I was touching, they turn out to be oddly patterned women's clothing, which surprises me.
Even in such awkward situations, I can't help but put on a face like, 'I'm just looking around for my mother...' It's troublesome.
What am I doing? Nobody is even paying attention to my actions.
The same kind of thing happens when I accidentally wander into a small miscellaneous goods store.
The moment I enter the store, I realize that the displayed items are not to my taste, but I can't leave immediately.
I pretend to be a casual shopper, holding strange glass ornaments and examining them, trying to convince the store staff that I'm not an intruder who ended up in the wrong place.
No one is expecting me to do any of this.
At times, I even ask the store staff, 'What time do you close?' and leave the store, only to leave the impression that I might come back again.
Finally, I leave for real, but I can't help glancing back at the sign and leaving with a face that says, 'Nice store.'
