Tsukuru reflects on his life and contemplates his loneliness, feeling as though he is destined to be alone. He observes a pattern where people come into his life, seeking something meaningful, but ultimately leave without explanation. This cycle leaves him feeling abandoned, as their departure feels abrupt and without closure, severing the emotional connections he believed were strong.

The intensity of these connections is highlighted by Tsukuru’s description, comparing the severance to a “silent hatchet,” symbolizing the suddenness and pain of separation. Despite the warmth and life that once flowed through these relationships, he is left with a haunting sense of emptiness as he grapples with the disappointments and emotional scars left by those who have departed.