JunkocametothistowninMayofherthirdyearinhighschool.Withherfather’ssealandpassbook,shehadtakenthreehuhousandyenfromthebank,stuffedalltheclothesshecouldintoaBostonbag,andrunawayfromhome.ShetransferredfromoraintotherandomuntilshehadeallthewayfromTokorozawatothislittleseasidespotinIbarakiPrefecture,atownshehadneverevenheardof.Attherealtor’sacrossfromthestationshefoundaone-roomapartment,andthefollowiookajobatavenieoreonthecoasthighway.Tohermothershewrote:Don’tworryaboutme,andpleasedon’tlookforme,I’mdoingfine.

    Shewassicktodeathofschoolandcouldn’tstandthesightofherfather.Shehadgottenonwellwithhimwhenshewaslittle.Onweekendsandholidaysthetwoofthemhadgoneeverywheretogether.Shefeltproudandstrongtowalkdowreetholdinghishand.Butwhenherperiodsstartedheendofelementaryschool,andherpubichairbegantogrow,andherchestbegantoswell,hestartedtolookatherinastrangenewway.Aftershepassedfive-foot-sixihirdyearofjunih,hehardlyspoketoheratall.

    Plus,hergradeswerenothingtoboastabout.hetopofherclasswheeredmiddleschool,bygraduatiowouldhavebeeneasiertotherplathebottom,andshebarelymadeitintohighschool.Whiottosaythatshewasstupid:shejustcouldn’ttrate.Shecouldneverfinishanythiarted.Whenevershetriedtotrate,herheadwouldachedeepihurthertobreathe,ahmofherheartbecameirregular.Attendingschoolwasabsolutetorture.

    NotlongaftershesettledinthisowKeisuke.Hewastwoyearsolder,andagreatsurfer.Hewastall,dyedhishairbrown,andhadbeautifulstraightteeth.HehadsettledinIbarakifoodsurf,andformedarodwithsomefriends.Hew