Summary

This section concerns pages 508-580 of the novel. Masahiko picks up the artist to take him to Tomohiko's care home, and reveals that his father is dying. During the journey, they stop for petrol and the artist is convinced he has seen Man with the White Subaru, whose portrait he has been unable to finish. He searches for him, but does not find him (521).

At Tomohiko's, Tomohiko is asleep, so Masahiko instead tells the artist about Yuzu, who he has discovered has left her new partner and is planning on bringing up her child as a single parent (522). Tomohiko awakens, but cannot speak and does not seem to understand his son. The artist talks to him about painting, and then tells him there was an owl in his attic. He is sure that Tomohiko has understood the word "attic," so begins to drop hints...