While the two parts of each episode of Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You don’t always align thematically, they do with episode eight. Each presents two stories about connections with memory—one about a lost object and the other about the show’s favorite addiction. Let’s jump in!
The Shift
Yamada realizes that she’s misplaced the pocket ashtray that Sasaki had gifted her. She looks practically everywhere but can’t find it. What is she to do?
In Part B, a rainy day evokes memories of past connections with important people, especially as Yamada and Sasaki talk about why they each began to smoke.
The Smoke Break
In my last review, I noted how Yamada is falling pretty hard for Sasaki. While at first it seemed like a mix of care for a customer who is obviously smitten with her and treats her well, and having fun at his expense, her feelings are now much stronger, particularly expressed in how upset she is about losing the ashtray.
The ideas of connection and how people impact us run through both halves of the episode—first in Yamada’s anxiety at losing the ashtray with its obvious connection to Sasaki, and then later as the two talk about why they each picked up smoking. Both are connected with people. I’ll avoid spoilers, but Yamada’s connection is especially meaningful.
I also have to say that I love when anime sometimes goes full nostalgia, taking viewers to a past, meaningful event as it does here when Yamada tells her story, while setting a mood that imprints the moment on your heart as we’re meant to realize it’s imprinted on one of the characters’ hearts as well. The music in the scene makes it feel like it’s out of a movie from the 1930s or 40s; very romantic!
And one final note: The structure of the romance is really hitting me now. At first, I thought of it as a one-direction sort of story; it begins with Sasaki already liking Yamada, so romance is about her falling for him. Now I realize that the romance more or less starts at ground zero; Tamaya, despite the false name, is the “true” Yamada, so Sasaki starts the series not feeling a deep affection for the actual woman. As the series progresses, Tamaya starts to fall for Sasaki, but will he fall for her? And what about the love triangle at play—will Sasaki forget the “fake” Yamada and embrace the true one?
A little confusing, but very thrilling!
After the Smoke Clears
Yamada is now a step closer to being fully in. Unfortunate that “Slow-sa-ki” is as slow to catch on as ever.
Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
©Jinushi/SQUARE ENIX, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Production Committee
