Fusako’s traditional breakfast suggests that her engagement might not entirely represent a break from Japanese culture. Still, by associating this with his memories of the consulate, Ryuji suggests that her fidelity to Japanese culture is limited—at best, she can achieve a hybrid of East and West. Meanwhile, Ryuji’s story is a clear example of the kind of adventure that he will never be able to have again, now that he has given up sailing. Noboru’s reaction suggests that he will no longer have Ryuji as a heroic role model—instead, Fusako’s version of Ryuji has won out over Noboru’s. This is also why Noboru starts to see Ryuji as dishonest: he believes that Ryuji is abandoning his true essence by choosing love over glory.