murakami, haruki - Norwegian wood

On the train out to Kichijoji, Reiko watched the Musashino landscape
passing the window with all the curiosity of a tourist.
"Has it changed much in eight years?" I asked.
"You don't know what I'm feeling now, do you, Watanabe?" "No, I
don't."
"I'm scared," she said. "So scared, I could go crazy just like that. I
don't know what I'm supposed to do, flung out here all by myself."
She paused. "But 'Go crazy just like that.' Kind of a cool expression,
don't you think?"
I smiled and took her hand. "Don't worry," I said. "You'll be OK. Your
own strength got you this far."
"It wasn't my own strength that got me out of that place," Reiko said.
"It was Naoko and you. I couldn't stand it there without Naoko, and I
had to come to Tokyo to talk to you. That's all. If nothing had
happened I probably would have spent the rest of my life there."
I nodded.
"What are you planning to do from now on?" I asked Reiko.
"I'm going to Asahikawa," she said. "Way up in the wilds of
Hokkaido! An old college friend of mine runs a music school there,
and she's been asking me for two or three years now to help her out. I
told her it was too cold for me. I mean, I finally get my freedom back
and I'm supposed to go to Asahikawa? It's hard to get excited about a
place like that - some hole in the ground."
"It's not so awful," I said, laughing. "I've been there. It's not a bad little
town. Got its own special atmosphere." "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. It's much better than staying in Tokyo."
"Oh, well," she said. "I don't have anywhere else to go, and I've
already sent my stuff there. Hey, Watanabe, promise me you'll come
and visit me in Asahikawa."
"Of course I will. But do you have to leave straight away?
Can't you stay in Tokyo for a while?"
"I'd like to hang around here a few days if I can. Can you put me up? I
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