do Japanese people actually talk like that

The answer to this actually ties into why the Japanese have such a reputation for toxic work culture. You might have heard about long hours at Japanese workplaces. The real reason for this is communication. For example, if the boss means to say ‘Hey Shinji, please write this report for me by 3:30 pm on Tuesday’, it will usually go

‘Hey Shinji…’

‘Yes?’

‘Could you…unless…’

‘Uhhh what?’

‘Write this report?’

‘Ok’

blush ‘by 3:30?’

‘Wtf there’s barely enough time wtf’

‘Oh, is that a problem?’

whips out gun and points at own head ‘I can’t!!’

‘Oh…could it be done by tuesday?’

collapses

5 hours from now, the employee has recovered from the unnecessary dialogue and is working on the assignment till 11:00 pm