After the fight with Miya at Atami, our protagonist Kwanichi not only disappeared from Miya’s vision but also from the readers’ for a while. Instead of writing about neither Kwanichi nor Miya, Ozaki Koyo (尾崎 紅葉) chose to open Book II with a group of students boarding the train.
Kwanichi remained in the shadow for several chapters, and we, as readers, only heard some rumor about him. Koyo writes:
“Oh! Who was it said that he was now a usurer’s clerk or something of that kind,” said another.
“Yes, yes,” laughed Kamata, “there was some such rumor, but I am sure Hazama would never make a usurer: he is too soft-hearted.”
“It is very strange,” said Arao, “but I feel sure I saw Hazama at the station. I am almost sure it was Hazama.”
“Humph, that’s strange! Did he not recognize you?”
“I saw him first at the entrance to the waiting room, and being surprised, I rose from the sofa where I was sitting; but he instantly disappeared: then, after a while, I looked round and saw him again.”
“Quite a detective story” said Amakasu.
“The moment he saw me get up,” continued Arao, “he vanished again. Then, as I walked down the platform I looked back, and saw someone waving his black hat to me. And I am sure it was Hazama.” (103-105)
As Amakasu said, “Quite a detective story”. As the group of students started gossiping about Kwanichi, the readers’ curiosity grew. Did he really become a usurer’s clerk? Did he really appear at the station? By indirectly writing about Kwanichi, Koyo also reminded the readers the protagonist’s “soft-hearted” temperament.
When Kwanichi reappeared, he became a person who “have placed all his hopes on money”. He says to Mitsue: “I have no more thoughts of love and honor. Money is the most reliable thing in the world. The heart of friends may change: money never does” (123). What a contrast with the “soft-hearted” image we had in our mind! Due to the plot structure, Kwanichi’s change has been dramatized.
The scene which Kwanichi and Miya met at the Viscount’s house was also very melodramatic.
Koyo Writes:
"Miya was on the point of turning when she suddenly thought that if she met Kwanichi in this narrow lane, there would be no possible means of avoiding meeting him face to face: she would not mind that if she were alone, but the thought of Shizuo’s sharp eyes watching her was intolerable…She broke out in a cold perspiration at the thought of the possible rencontre, and asked Shizuo if there was a side lane into which they might go. But the reply was “no.”… but alas! A figure appeared and there was no hope of avoiding the meeting " (160-161).
The meet was inevitable. Visiting the Viscount’s house on the same day, running into each other on a narrow lane which there’s no way to avoid face to face meeting. What a coincidence! In Book II, this is the first time that Miya appeared, and of course, she met her beloved Kwanichi melodramatically.
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