原文ページ１５６
後で注意しないと、と思って視線を戻すと、「あ、見て、見て、このお菓子、ホワイトチョコがでたんだ！」と女性客二人組が、私が並べた新商品を手に盛り上がっている。
「これ、CMで今日見たよ！食べてみようかな！」
コンビニはお客様にとって、ただ事務的に必要なものを買う場所ではなく、好きなものを発見する楽しさや喜びがある場所でなくてはいけない。私は満足してうこさ頷きながら、店内を速足で歩き回った。
今日は暑い日なのに、ミネラルウオーターがちゃんと補充されていない。パックの２リットルの麦茶もよく売れるのに、目立たない場所に一本しか置いていない。
私にはコンビニの「声」が聞こえていた。コンビニが何を求めているか、どうなりたがっているか、手に取るようにわかるのだった。
行列が途切れ、レジにいた女のこが私の方へ駆け寄ってきた。
「わあ、すごい、魔法みたい」
私は整えたポテトチップスの憂いばを咳く。
「今日、一人バイトが来れなくなって、店長に連絡しけれど繋がらなくて、（１５７）困ってたんです。新人さんと二人で。。。」
Later, I need to be more careful, I thought and turned my gaze back to the shelves. Two women customers were excitedly holding the new products I had arranged, saying, "Look, look, this snack, it's white chocolate!"
"I saw this on a TV commercial today! Should we try it?"
A convenience store should not just be a place where customers buy things they need in a perfunctory manner; it should also be a place where they discover the joy and excitement of finding things they like. Satisfied with their reaction, I nodded and quickly walked around the store.
Even though it was a hot day, the mineral water hadn't been properly restocked. There was only one 2-liter pack of barley tea, which sold well, placed in an inconspicuous spot.
I could hear the "voice" of the convenience store. I could understand what the convenience store was seeking, what it wanted to become, as if it were speaking to me through my hands.
The line of customers finally subsided, and the girl at the cash register rushed over to me.
"Wow, it's amazing, like magic!"
I coughed out a chuckle as I adjusted the potato chips.
"Today, one of the part-time workers couldn't come, and I couldn't reach the manager when I tried to call, so I was in trouble. It's just me and the new employee today..."
