午飯時在拉麵店裡讀到前日發生的東京八王子無目標殺人事件的受害人資料。八王子是我在東京時待過一個月的地方，案發現場的書店就在京王線火車站旁，那時常常在回宿舍前入內看書。死者齊木愛，事發時只是在書店裡兼職，二十二歲、就讀中央大學文學院，畢業論文題目是獨角獸，正在享受人生的最後一個暑假。活潑友善、朋友眾多，不久前才通知於家鄉寡居的母親已經得到公司取錄、確定畢業後就職的消息。與死者毫無關係的我在麵店讀著這則新聞，也讀得搖頭嘆息，已經喪夫的母親，自然更是難以接受這種令人費解的噩耗。
(讀賣新聞寫受害人的報導寫得很好，下附該報導的英文譯本)
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Random murder in Hachioji
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Another innocent individual was randomly robbed of lifeTuesday in Hachioji, Tokyo, a mere 1-1/2 months after an indiscriminate violent rampageclaimed the lives of seven people in the Akihabara district.
Mana Saiki, 22, a senior at Chuo University,was slain Tuesday night at a bookstore where she worked part-time.
According to sources, Saiki had been enjoying life as astudent, and had managed to find a job prior to her graduation in March nextyear. People who knew her are deeply shocked by the tragedy.
Saiki was studying Western history at the university'sFaculty of Letters, under Prof. Taiichiro Sugizaki. She had many friends andplayed a leading role in Sugizaki's study group, Sugizaki said. "Ms. Saikiwas a lively student. She used to sit at the front of the class and ask manyquestions," Sugizaki said.
Saiki's graduation thesis was about unicorns and she hadjust begun working on the thesis after receiving an informal job offer,Sugizaki said. "She was rich in originality and full of ideas. I waslooking forward to seeing her submit a unique and interesting thesis,"Sugizaki said.
Saiki was raised in Utsunomiya.According to a teacher at Saiki's former high school, Saiki's father died whileshe was a student at the school. However, she continued to work hard on allaspects of school life.
Saiki's first-year high school teacher said: "Shealways scored well in tests. She studied enthusiastically and often said shewanted to study Chinese and foreign cultures at university. I can't understandwhy such an honest student met such a cruel end."
According to Saiki's landlady, she moved to Hachioji in April2005, after leaving her family home in Utsunomiya to beginstudying in Tokyo.
She started working at the bookstore in a buildingconnected to Keio Hachioji Station two years ago, the landlady said. Saikireportedly told her the bookstore was a convenient place to work as it was veryclose to the station.
The landlady said she had recently been contacted bySaiki's mother to say her daughter would vacate the condominium in March,because she had received an informal job offer. The mother was very happy abouther daughter finding a job before graduation, the landlady said.
"Ms. Saiki was a very gentle person who took good careof others. I still can't believe such a good person was attacked likethis," the landlady said.
A 41-year-old company employee who lives in the samecondominium said she had a party with Saiki and other residents soon aftermoving there in spring 2007. "She was very charming with a lovely smile,and always dressed fashionably," the company employee said.
The woman said she heard about the incident last night whenpassing close to the site. However, she did not learn that Saiki was the victimuntil the following morning.
"I'm sure she had many things she wanted to do in thefuture," she said.
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