Part I, Chapter 20, Tengo Summary

While Fuka-Eri sleeps, Tengo works on his own novel, using a pen and paper in the kitchen. He has not written at night in years, and he finds he works well uninterrupted. His writing is smooth and his imagination is free. It was like his life: sex, without complications, and floating through things unhindered by unnecessary burdens, like marriage.

At two in the morning, Fuka-Eri wakes up and joins him at the table, dressed in his pajamas. She recites the "Tale of the Heike" to him, about an ancient Japanese battle. The two of them discuss history and writing. Tengo reads to her a book about the Gilyak people, written by a Russian writer named Chekhov, during which time she falls asleep.

The next morning, Fuka-Eri leaves before Tengo wakes up. He regards the pajamas she wore...