Chapter 43 Summary

With the war over, everyone is unsettled about how their lives may change when the occupation forces arrive. Instructors in H's school are no different. Instructor Tamori, once an overbearing and abusive teacher, has transformed himself into a nice, middle-aged gentleman in a suit. Many of the student conversations at school focus on this remarkable change from "demon instructor" to an ordinary man. Although some teachers continue to treat their students in the same fashion as before the war, others, like Tamori, make a complete change in their behavior and attitude toward their students.

Other changes are taking place as well. The school factory is closed down, and the machinery installed in the classrooms is loaded onto trucks and taken away. The "octopus pot" dugouts are filled in before the occupation forces arrive. Students are assigned to clean up the city's bombsites.

At...