Before you proceed ahead, why don't you listen to Norwegian Wood Song in the background with your earphones plugged in?
Let me start with the beginning of the book. When Naoko asks Toru to never forget her.
""Do you really promise to never forget me?" she asked in a near whisper. "I'll never forget you," I said. "I could never forget you.""
I lay emphasis on these lines as they will be basis to further inquiries. Now, let's jump straight towards the end when Reiko & Toru are conducting their own mini-funeral of sorts for Naoko. The general vibe of that phase of the novel gives you the impression that Toru needs closure with Naoko & Reiko is aware of that. She details how Naoko wished that Reiko takes all her clothes. Also, Toru starts noticing for the first time that Reiko & Naoko have similar physical frame.
Reiko's only mission of this trip feels like putting a lease of fresh life into Toru's. Reiko reads Toru's mind that he has got her & Naoko all mixed up, decides to do the necessary but unusual act of consummating the farewell ceremony for Naoko by sleeping with him. I know reading this might make you feel a bit queasy, so what?
Now let's look at the last words exchanged between Reiko & Toru.
""Don't forget about me,"she said
"I won't forget you," I said."Ever."
"We may never meet again, but no matter where I go, I'll always remember you and Naoko.""
This makes it more clear that Toru has merged Reiko & Naoko into one and Reiko plays along because she loved Naoko a lot.
This clarifies that Toru has a closure with Naoko to be with Midori and be only hers. Remember, this was the condition, almost like a pre-nuptial, in Midori's words:
"But when you take me, you take only me. And when you hold me in your arms, you think only about me. Is that clear?"
Our Toru is just overcome with so much emotion that he keeps us guessing about what happens next.
PS : I have been thinking about the novel for the last couple of days and finally when I woke up today, I got my closure. I was overcome with too much sentimentality for Toru, Naoko & Reiko [I have a more fantastical version rather versions of 'What happened to Toru & Reiko'. I shall not write about that here].
