At what age did Nakata's mentor die, leading to the shop's closure?

• A. 30
• B. 50
• C. 40
• D. 60

Answer: (C)

Nakata’s backstory centers on a mentor who ran a small shop and guided him in his early years. The narrative makes a clear note that this mentor dies at forty, and with that death the shop is no longer able to continue, leading to its closure. That specific age marks the turning point in the mentor’s life and in the shop’s fate, which is why forty is the best answer. The other ages would place the event at times not supported by the story’s timeline, so they don’t fit the details given.