[36] Andso, whentherecameamomentarylullintheirconversation, theboysaidtothegirl, “Let’stestourselves — ’s100% perfectlovers, thensometime, somewhere, , andweknowthatwearethe100% perfectones, we’?”
[37] “Yes,” shesaid, “thatisexactlywhatweshoulddo.”[38] Andsotheyparted, shetotheeast, andhetothewest.
[39] Thetesttheyhadagreedupon, however, , becausetheyreallyandtrulywereeachother’s100% perfectlovers, , , indifferentwavesoffateproceededtotossthemunmercifully.
[40] Onewinter, boththeboyandthegirlcamedownwiththeseason’sterribleinfluenza, , ’spiggybank.
[41] Theyweretwobright, determinedyoungpeople, however, , theybecametrulyupstandingcitizenswhoknewhowtotransferfromonesubwaylinetoanother, , theyevenexperiencedloveagain, sometimesasmuchas75% oreven85% love.
[42] Timepassedwithshockingswiftness, andsoontheboywasthirty-two, thegirlthirty.
[43] OnebeautifulAprilmorning, insearchofacupofcoffeetostarttheday, theboywaswalkingfromwesttoeast, whilethegirl, intendingtosendaspecialdeliveryletter, waswalkingfromeasttowest, :
[44] Sheisthe100% perfectgirlforme.
[45] Heisthe100% perfectboyforme.
[46] Buttheglowoftheirmemorieswasfartooweak, , theypassedeachother, .
[47] Asadstory, don’tyouthink?
[48] Yes, that’.
[1981]
Notes
(村上春树 ): He, bornin1949 , , ’sfiction, oftencriticizedbyJapan’sliteraryestablishment, ishumorousandsurreal, “amongtheworld’sgreatestlivingnovelists” forhisworksandachievements.
