How old was Nakata when his mentor dies, closing the shop where they both worked?

• A. 40
• B. 30
• C. 50
• D. 60

Answer: (A)

Understanding a character’s timeline helps you see how past experiences shape what happens later. Nakata works with a mentor in a small shop, and when that mentor dies, the shop closes. That moment marks a clear turning point: the end of their shared chapter and Nakata stepping into the world on his own. Being forty at that time places the event well into adulthood, showing that Nakata had many years of learning and dependence on the mentor, but now must navigate life independently. This timing also reinforces themes of solitude and self-reliance that run through the story. If he were younger, the closure would feel more like a budding transition; if older, the impact and the arc would read differently.