Reviews

This volume of Blood on the Tracks has an interesting shift. After following along with Seiichi's childhood, we suddenly jump ahead to when he is in his midthirties. Working a dead-end job and living without many connections, it seems that Seiichi is still struggling after what happened in his childhood. When his father gets in contact with him, a series of events unfold that will propel Seiichi into a new section of his life.

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dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

We're back with Seiichi... and the story has fast-forwarded 20 years.

At age 36, Seiichi is currently working at a commercial bakery, choosing to move out at age 18 to go to Tokyo. His one room apartment is piled high with trash, with the only seemingly clean part being the corner where he sleeps on a futon. Seiichi's dad took care of him after the sentencing and since that day, Seiichi's seems so lost, depressed and only alive...until he isn't. (I mean, he's visited by the ghost of Shige.)

Apparently his father has been in the picture this whole time, checks up on him, and visits him from time to time, although they don't feel connected to each at all. The last time he visits Seiichi, he asks if he was ok with never seeing Seiko again. And even though Seiichi replies that he's standing true to his word, things start to go a little further south. Seiichi begins to be haunted by his mother again...and on one occasion, he has that stress-induced(?) again.

Seiichi's dad, Ichiro, has been hospitalized. At first, it seems they caught things in time, but he soon passes. He left a letter for Seiichi and one thing that stood out to me was him blaming Seiko's behavior on himself, that he "back[ed] her into a corner." What that means is anyone's guess. He also had to pay damages to Seiichi's aunt and uncle because of Shige. He also leaves Seiko's contact info...which Seiichi burns almost immediately.

Per his father's wishes, Seiichi brings his ashes to the family vault. On his way there, he reflects on the fact that now that his father is gone, the one person who was looking out for him, maybe it's fine if he leaves too.

But at the gravesite, he sees Fukiishi again with her two daughters.