This book lingers more than it should, likely due to its absurdity, perpetual stagnancy, and "rotten stench." While many Japanese best-sellers currently lean toward cozy slice-of-life or mystery, Takase Junko populates this story with mostly unpleasant characters.

The narrative shifts between a neutral third-person view of Nitani and a first-person account from Oshio. They work together in a sales division, often picking up the slack for their incompetent but "archetypically ideal" colleague, Ashikawa. Despite her professional failings, Ashikawa’s sweetness and constant supply of home-baked goods lead the office to overlook her flaws. This drives Nitani—who is secretly dating her—and Oshio to bond over their shared frustration in bars and izakayas. And when Oshio suggests bullying Ashikawa, Nitani participates, only for her to take the fall when the ruse is up.

The story is infuriating. Nitani hates everything Ashikawa does for him yet won’t break up; Ashikawa settles for his lack of appreciation. Oshio simmers in her frustrations, resorting to petty revenge but at least she finds a backbone and escapes the "hell" of this story in the end.

I’m still not entirely sure what the core of this book is. It touches on Japanese work culture and deep-rooted misogyny, but those themes often feel like fillers. The only lasting impression is my own frustration.

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