The combination of realistic and mystical aspects
The combination of realistic and mystical aspects is known as magical realism. A woman working patchwork in Tokyo waits for her husband in Sweden to settle so she may join him there in Ogawa's dormitory. She is lonely and has no desire to travel to Sweden because it is exotic and far away. Loneliness and seclusion are represented in grief and for pleasure during this period in her life. Magical realism is felt as a result of a combination of realistic and magical events, in which isolated and lonely moments offer anguish and pleasure.
The cousin moves in
Meanwhile, a young cousin of hers who was coming to a University in Tokyo phones requesting to be accommodated in the dormitory she once lived as a student. The woman then took the cousin to the old dormitory to see if there was a vacancy. The dormitory is now nearly abandoned as the students living there currently are fewer compared to the last years when she used to be there.
The strange relationship between the woman and the dormitory manager
The cousin then moves in allowing the woman to renew her friendship with the dormitory manager where a strange relationship between them is seen. The dormitory manager does not have one leg and both arms yet able to serve perfectly. The remaining one leg of his has no bruise or a single cut. Magical realism narrative is seen in the way the manager carries out his normal activities without assistance from anybody yet lacking some of his body parts.
The manager's demise
The manager is then dying on the bed with the strange visitor in the darkened room as he takes the last piece of cake. She then notices the bees swarming around a spot on the ceiling of the room. The story blends well the real and magical events that the reader is eager to keep reading.
