Kokoro

Sensei changes the focus of the story. He describes his fellow student, a man named K, who grew up as “the son of a Pure Land Buddhist priest—but not the eldest son and heir” (177). Sensei and K went to the same school and then the same university in Tokyo. K’s school fees were paid by a foster family. K led this foster family to believe that he was studying medicine, but he was secretly drawn to religious studies. He kept the change in his subject a secret for as long as he could. When he finally admitted his “deceit” to them, they cut off his funding. His birth family was also upset. K was forced to find a job to continue his studies. The stress of having to both work and study had affected K negatively, causing Sensei to worry about him. Sensei came up with a plan: He would invite K to live with him in Okusan’s house, and he would cover his friend’s living expenses. Reluctantly, Okusan accepted this proposal.