Summary

The narrative continues from Benson’s point of view. This part of the novel utilizes chapter breaks. Benson has a private conversation with Mike, in which Benson immediately says that he has started dating someone else. In response, Mike mentions his sexual encounter with Tan. Mike then says that he is thinking of returning to Japan to run Eiju’s bar. Mike asks Benson if he wants to come with him, but Benson says no. Benson also says that he is interested in continuing a relationship with Mike, but Mike sees that that is likely impractical and impossible. Mike says that they will live together until Mike returns to Japan, and that their relationship will end when Mike leaves. In Chapter 2, Benson briefly recalls some of the times when he and Mike have explicitly expressed love for each other. These times number fewer...