Yuichi, the Saint
When Yuichi comes to Mikage's place to invite her to join him and his mother for dinner, Mikage says that he "seemed to glow with white light," which evokes associations with a saint. This image becomes stronger when Mikage contrasts the bright figure with the "black gloom" that she finds herself in. Moreover, she feels like there is a "straight road" leading from her to him, which makes it seem as if some supernatural force were guiding her.
The Grandmother's Kitchen
Yoshimoto appeals to a variety of senses to emphasize how nostalgic and melancholic Mikage feels when she has finished cleaning out her grandmother's old kitchen. Mikage is now looking around an empty room, recalling all her memories: "The kitchen window. The smiling faces of friends, the fresh greenery of the university campus as a backdrop to Sotaro's profile, my grandmother's voice on the phone when I called her late at night, my warm bed on cold mornings, the sound of my grandmother's slippers in the hallway, the color of the curtains. The tatami mat." Her description ends with "The clock on the wall," which indicates that she knows that everything in life is only temporary and perishable.
Eriko's House
When Mikage suggests cooking for Eriko, the image of the room becomes bright, with the weather mirroring her mood that brightens up: "The entire apartment was filled with light, like a sunroom. I looked out at the sweet, endless blue of the sky; it was glorious." Moreover, the feeling of belonging comes back to her when she recognizes a familiar smell: "The house smelled of wood. I felt an immense nostalgia, in that downpour of morning light."
The Sea and the Lighthouse
At the end of the novella, the image of the sea and the lighthouse evokes feelings of hope. Mikage is at the beach, looking at the "endless sea shrouded in darkness," which is associated with sadness and despair. She notices the waves crashing against "the shadowy forms of gigantic, rugged crags," emphasizing that the succession of sad moments in life never ends. However, she then discovers a lighthouse, which is a symbol for her positive attitude toward life. Even in her darkest moment, she trusts that she will find something positive that will bring her back to happiness.
