More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

In the middle of December, Satoru tells Takako that he must tell her something. They close the shop and go for a walk. They stop at the Imperial Palace, and Satoru tells Takako that the trip he and Momoko took was nice. Takako is glad and reaffirms that it was meant as a gift of thanks for all Satoru does for her. They reminisce about their bond, discussing how once Takako became a teenager, they drifted apart. When Takako reminds Satoru that he needs to tell her something, Satoru reveals that Momoko is sick again. Her cancer is back, and though she found out a while ago, it is terminal, and she cannot fight it. Takako feels crushed and is in disbelief. She tells Satoru that Momoko seems and looks fine, meaning that she cannot be sick, but the pained look on Satoru’s face confirms her fears.

Takako visits Momoko in the hospital, worried for her aunt. Momoko knits her a pair of gloves and assures Takako that she is fine. She sends Takako home, saying that she does not need the constant attention. As Takako leaves, she believes that Momoko looks healthy and normal. On the night when Satoru told Takako about Momoko’s illness, he revealed that she told him on the trip. Takako was shocked to find out that her cancer is advanced and that Momoko opted out of surgery. Satoru explained that Momoko would die.

At first, Momoko continues to work and act like everything is normal. As her illness advances, she takes time off from her job at the restaurant and spends her time at the Morisaki Bookshop instead. One day, as she has tea with Wada and Takako, she asks Wada to take care of Takako. Though Satoru and Takako know that Momoko is sick, she insists that they treat her normally—as though nothing is wrong. During this time, Satoru is melancholic, though he keeps the Morisaki Bookshop open.

In February, Momoko is admitted to the hospital, and the doctor tells Satoru and Takako that she has six months left to live. Takako does not believe it, as Momoko seems healthy and happy. She believes that her aunt can avoid death if she wants. One day, as she visits, Takako suggests that she and Momoko take another hiking trip to Mount Mitake, like they did years ago, but Momoko laughs it off, reminiscing about how Takako complained the whole time. Momoko does not say if she will go or not.

Summer arrives, and Momoko still seems healthy, alternating between time in the hospital and at home. When summer turns to fall, Momoko collapses and is admitted to the hospital for the final time. Satoru calls Takako and tells her to visit Momoko and prepare to say goodbye. This time, when Takako visits, Momoko asks her to come back and visit again. Satoru spends more time at the hospital, and the Morisaki Bookshop is infrequently open. He is distracted and losing weight, and Takako worries for him. She tells him that he is doing too much, but he insists that he wants to be with Momoko as much as possible.

The last time Takako sees Momoko, Momoko asks her to share a story. Takako tells her aunt about a time when she was a child and Satoru brought her to a summer festival, even though it was closing down. Momoko tells Takako that she wishes she went with them. She says that she is happy that she came back to Satoru and got to know Takako. She asks Takako for one final favor, expressing her worries that Satoru will suffer greatly without her. She is afraid her husband will not move on unless he cries. She believes that he will hold his emotions in. Momoko asks Takako to force Satoru to cry and move on from his grief. Takako promises, and they cry together.

Momoko’s funeral is held at Satoru’s house, and Takako is glad to see how many people attend. Everyone agrees that Momoko was a warm presence in their lives, and the funeral is a celebration of her life. Despite this, Takako stresses over Satoru, who does not show any emotion or shed any tears.

After the funeral, Satoru tells Takako that he is closing the Morisaki Bookshop for a while, and though she believes that it will only be for a short time, it turns into weeks. Satoru does not leave his house, and Takako worries about him, convinced that he is not taking care of himself and is wallowing in grief. Sabu even calls Takako one day, asking how long the shop will be closed and saying that he hopes Satoru will open it so that he and other customers can brighten his day. Finally, Takako decides to visit Satoru and cook for him. When she arrives at his house, he doesn’t come to the door, and she finds it messy. Satoru is isolated in his dark bedroom. As they eat dinner, Takako remembers her promise to Momoko and asks Satoru whether he will reopen the Morisaki Bookshop or not. He is hesitant, saying that he started working there with Momoko. He does not want his memories of her there to fade. She reminds him that time will continue to march on, even without Momoko, and that he has to continue his life.

Satoru keeps the shop closed, and Takako begins visiting to clean it. She airs out the shop and waters Momoko’s flowers on the second floor, withered from neglect. Wada tells Takako that it is good that she is encouraging Satoru to move on and heal and that he likely needs time. He believes that Satoru will one day love the Morisaki Bookshop even more because of the memories of Momoko that hurt him so much now. As weeks pass, Takako continues to care for the Morisaki Bookshop, and one night, Tomo helps her. While they work, Tomo tells Takako that she is going to meet her late sister’s boyfriend after all these years, believing that she owes him an apology. Tomo feels ready to move on and thanks Takako for her and Takano’s support.

Near Christmas, Takako visits the shop and stays late into the night. As she sits at the counter, she finds an old account book and opens it to find notes from Momoko, detailing the everyday events of the bookshop. She is startled when Satoru walks in. He saw the lights but seems disappointed that Takako is there. She realizes that he hoped Momoko was somehow back. She shows him the account book, and as he flips through it, he finds a note addressed to him from Momoko, dated only days before her final trip to the hospital. In it, she thanks him for being there for her and encourages him to revel in their happy memories. She wants him to lean on those around him to move past his grief. She even pleads with him to keep the Morisaki Bookshop open, as it is where so many of their memories are. Satoru shows Takako the note, and after she reads it, she admits to him that Momoko asked her to make him cry so that he could move in. Satoru finally lets his grief out, sobbing. Takako joins him, and they grieve together.

The next day, Wada calls Takako and tells her that the Morisaki Bookshop is open again. He walked by it after work and saw the lights on. He went inside, and he and Satoru had tea. Satoru thanked him for attending the funeral, and Wada, excited to be there, told Satoru about his novel set in the Morisaki Bookshop. Takako is relieved to hear that Satoru is opening up.

On a day off from work, Takako visits the Morisaki Bookshop. It remains open. When Satoru reopened the shop, he worried that business would be bad, but his regulars returned in force, happy to see him and the shop. When Takako saw Satoru greeting his customers, she knew that he would eventually be himself again. Takako and Wada’s relationship flourishes, and they are engaged, even introducing each other to their families.

Satoru and Takako sit down to tea and reminisce about the night they went to the summer festival. Takako tells Satoru that Momoko told her she wished she went with them. They are interrupted when the “paper bag man” walks into the store. He has a new sweater, and when he comes to the register, Takako hears him speak for the first time. He tells Satoru that he had believed that the Morisaki Bookshop had closed; he then leaves without saying another word. Satoru and Takako follow him outside and watch as he walks away.