It's weird but I relate to the protagonist Keiko so much. Feeling like being outside of society, her joy and inner peace about finding a job where she basically gets a manual to be a useful member of society. Finding peace in the order and structure of the convenient store.

And then the frustration with the people inside society, the pressure of her becoming "normal", meaning to marry and or having a career.

When she finally fits into society by having a man living with her, and she realises that the "normal" people are finally treating her as a member of society but the nature of their conversations (about the man etc) is so out of the protagonist's interests.

People really do get into other people's business and are weirded out by those they can't understand. I feel pretty lucky that there's no pressure on me to "get a husband and start a family". But I know there's a certain social solidarity I can only be part of if I could provide stories about relationships of my own. It gets really tiresome to avoid certain topics, even with some friends.

I was so proud of Keiko in the end!