Summary

“Part Two: Two Rivers and a Hill” has a short subtitle which is simply “The assistant.” Makiko’s assistant during her research of the murders is interviewed. Again, his interview is presented as a narrative directed toward an interviewer who removes all trace of herself from the section. Makiko’s assistant was a year younger than her in college. He had a bit of a crush on Makiko, but Makiko was dating someone else who the assistant had never met. Makiko was extremely professional and reserved during the interviews and at school as well. The assistant was surprised when he watched Makiko conduct interviews because she put on a different personality for every different person she was interviewing without being aware of it at all. The assistant says he was present for every interview except Makiko’s final interview with Hisako Aosawa...