Hachiko Waits

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

The following morning, Yasuo and his mother don’t see Hachi or the Professor at the station in the morning. Mrs. Takahashi speculates that the Professor is either sick or out of town. When they return that afternoon, Hachi is waiting at his usual spot, but the Professor is still nowhere to be found. Now, Mrs. Takahashi is worried. She and Yasuo sit at the station and wait for the next two trains, but they don’t see the Professor. 

Mrs. Takahashi decides to talk to Mr. Yoshikawa, who says that one of the Professor’s colleagues informed him that the Professor passed away at the university the day before. Yasuo asks what happened since the Professor was not very old. Mr. Yoshikawa replies that he doesn’t know. Yasuo cries, and they all look toward Hachi, who is still waiting at the platform. Yasuo suggests to his mother that they take Hachi home with them. Mrs. Takahashi hesitates, but she agrees to look after Hachi as a favor for the Professor, as he was always kind to her and her son.

Yasuo approaches Hachi and tells him that he and his family will take care of him.