Noriko, 33 and originally from Kanazawa, Japan, deliberately rejected provincial life by pursuing studies and a career in Tokyo. She married an employee of an elite trading firm, resulting in a four-year-old son and a five-year relocation abroad due to her husband's work.

Her marriage is marked by emotional distance and neglect. Her husband prioritizes work and other women, contributing to Noriko developing bulimia—a condition he acknowledges yet ignores. A significant secret defines her past: on her wedding eve, she sought out Hisao, a former classmate and apprentice in her father's traditional sweets business. Their one-night encounter resulted in her son's conception. Hisao proposed during this meeting, pleading with her not to marry, but she rejected him and left for her new life abroad.

Returning to Japan, Noriko visits Kanazawa with her son, driven by unresolved feelings and a need to confront her past. She discovers Hisao is now married with a one-year-old daughter and remains dedicated to his craft. Contemplating revealing her son's true paternity, she ultimately chooses silence upon learning of Hisao's new family. She departs, verbally assuring him of her happiness while internally wrestling with unresolved regret.

Noriko's emotional arc centers on reflection and disillusionment. She harbors deep-seated envy toward her elder sister's seemingly simple, contented rural life, contrasting it with her own perceived emptiness despite achieving her ambitions of sophistication and escape. The Asano River, initially embodying independence but later appearing constrained and controlled, serves as a metaphor for Noriko's life and restricted choices. Her development culminates in quiet resignation. Faced with the consequences of her past and Hisao's circumstances, she consciously maintains the secret of her son's paternity and continues her strained marriage, embodying a complex acceptance of her constructed path.