Summary

In Chapter 3, after finding Mariko by the woods, Etsuko and Sachiko approached and found that she was apparently uninjured, except for a cut on her thigh. Etsuko was worried, but Sachiko was unconcerned and dismissed Etsuko’s worries. Etsuko asked about the mysterious woman whom Mariko had mentioned. Sachiko admitted that it was a woman whom Mariko saw once, years ago; Sachiko then said that the woman was now long dead. Sachiko then said that she and Mariko would soon be moving to America with Frank, an American man whom Sachiko had begun dating. Sachiko then added that, effectively immediately, she would no longer be working in Mrs. Fujiwara’s noodle shop. The narrative then shifts to Etsuko and Niki in England. It soon becomes apparent to the reader that, years ago, Niki chose not to attend university. Etsuko asks Niki if she will...