asregisteredatased-rateprivatecollege,buthardlyeverwenttocampusandhadzeroprospectsofgraduating.HisparentsrananoldrespectedsweetshopiyofMito,andhecouldhavecarriedonthefamilybusinessasalastresort,buthehadnoiiolingdownasasweetshopowner.AllhewantedwastoridearoundwithhisfriendsinhisDatsuntruck,surf,andplaytheguitarintheiramateurband—aneasygoinglifestylethatanyonecouldseewasnotgoingtolastforever.

    JunkogotfriendlywithMiyakeaftershemovedinwithKeisuke.Miyakeseemedtobeinhismid-forties—asmall,slimguywithglasses,along,narrowfadshorthair.Hewas-shaven,buthehadsuchaheavybeardthatbysundowneachdayhisfacewascoveredinshadows.Helikedtowearafadeddungareeshirtoralohashirt,whievertuckedintohisbaggyoldos,andonhisfeetheworewhite,worn-outsneakers.Inwinter,hewouldputonacreasedleatherjacketandsometimesabaseballcap.Junkohadneverseenhiminanyotherkindofoutfit.Everythinghewore,though,otlessly.

    SpeakersoftheKansaidialectwereallbutentinthisplace,sopeoplenoticedMiyake.“Helivesaloneiedhousenearhere,”ohegirlsatworktoldJunko.“Hepaintspictures.Idon’tthinkhe’sfamousoranything,andI’veneverseenhisstuff.Buthelivesokay.Heseemstomanage.HegoestoTokyosometimesandesbacklateinthedaywithpaintingsuppliesorsomething.Gee,Idon’tknow,he’smaybebeenherefiveyearsorso.Youseehimonthebeachallthetimemakingbonfires.Iguesshelikesthem.Imean,healwayshasthisintenselookinhiseyeswhenhe’smakingone.Hedoesn’ttalkmudhe’skindofweird,buthe’snotabadguy.”

    Miyakewouldetothevenieoreatleastthreetimesaday.Inthemhe’dbuymilk,bread,andan