Junpei grew up in Nishinomiya and , after graduating from high school , went to study literature at Waseda University . During his first term there , he meets Takatsuki and Sayoko ; the three become close friends . Not wanting to ruin their friendship , he suppresses his feelings for Sayoko . A few months later , he learns that Takatsuki asked Sayoko out . He is unsure how to feel , but does not harbor any enmity towards Takatsuki ; however , he stops showing up for class . Worried , Sayoko shows up at his place to check up on him and convinces him to return to school . After graduation , Junpei finds solace in writing short stories and submitting them for publication . His parents also learns that he lied to them about studying business and they disown him ; nonetheless his literary careers shows promise . Sayoko studies literature in graduate school and Takatsuki becomes a journalist . Sayoko becomes pregnant with Sala shortly after she turns thirty and shortly before Sala is born , Takatsuki reveals that he knows Sayoko likes Junpei more than she likes him when they were in school ; nonetheless , he admits that she is the " greatest woman in the world . " After Sala 's second birthday , Junpei learns that Takatsuki cheated on Sayoko with a co-worker , an affair that started before Sala was born ; the two divorce months later . Junpei fills the void and is eventually told by Takatsuki that he should marry Sayoko ; Junpei is unsure regarding whether it is the right thing to do . Two years later , the quake occurs while Junpei is in Barcelona but he returns to Tokyo as soon a possible ; he does not , however , reach out to his parents who live near Kobe
quake
Great Hanshin earthquake
After the Quake