After dark by Haruki Murakami

This document contains excerpts from Haruki Murakami's novel, After Dark, translated by Jay Rubin. The provided sections introduce the setting of the story in an unnamed city during the late-night hours, describing its various districts and inhabitants. The narrative follows Mari Asai, a young woman spending the night in a Denny's restaurant, and her interactions with Takahashi, a jazz musician, and Kaoru, a love hotel manager. Parallel to Mari's experiences, the text follows the mysterious state of Mari's sister, Eri, who is in an unnaturally deep sleep, and explores the unsettling actions of a man named Shirakawa. Themes of isolation, the nature of reality, the passage of time, and the hidden complexities of urban life are explored through these characters and their nocturnal encounters.