What quotes show Joji's desire to continue his relationship with Naomi?

After Joji banishes Naomi, he seems to regret his actions almost right away. There are many quotes that highlight Joji's enduring fondness for Naomi and his desire to maintain a relationship.

One quote that draws attention to the almost inextricable need Joji has for Naomi is when Joji says,

For a long time, I tried to think of a way to cure myself of this love, but I was unsuccessful. I could only recall how beautiful she’d been.

It seems like Joji’s love for Naomi is more sickness than love. The word “cure” implies that something might be wrong with Joji. Perhaps he loves Naomi too much. Perhaps his love isn’t love but an obsession or an infatuation. Maybe that’s why Joji is so determined to maintain his connection with Naomi—she’s, metaphorically speaking, infected him with an incurable disease.

Another quote that shows the extent to which Joji wants Naomi back is when he talks about playing horse with Naomi. He says if Namoi came back, the first thing they’d do is play horse again. Yet Joji does more than fantasize about playing horse with Naomi. Joji writes:

In the excess of my love, I got down on all fours and crawled around and around the room as though her body were resting firmly on my back even now. And then—I’m ashamed to write it—I went upstairs, took out her old clothes, piled them on my back, put her socks on my hands, and crawled around that room, too.

Indeed, Joji wants Naomi back so badly that he’s recreating her with her clothes.

One more quote that highlights Joji’s rather fanatical need to be with Naomi comes when Naomi freely admits that she’s blackmailing and manipulating Joji. Yet Joji doesn’t care. He just wants to be with her. As Joji says, “Though I said I was afraid of her temptations, the truth is that I looked forward to them.”

It seems like Naomi can demean and humiliate Joji all she wants. It doesn’t matter. Joji will tolerate constant mistreatment so long as their relationship can continue.

What quotes demonstrate Naomi's willingness to continue their relationship?

There are many quotes that demonstrate that Naomi is still interested in continuing her relationship with Joji after he banishes her.

Let's take a moment to discuss the use of the word “relationship.” That word strikes me as too innocuous and inoffensive for what Naomi does to Joji. It might be more accurate to say that the following quotes provide evidence that Naomi wants to continue to tease, tempt, and manipulate Joji.

Anyway, one quote that comes to mind is the “friends’ kiss.” The “friends’ kiss” takes place in the scene when Naomi tries to change with her back toward Joji. He stares at her, so she has to go into another room. She returns and says, “Joji, you’ve been a good boy. I’ll give you a kiss.” She clarifies, “That’s a friends’ kiss.”

Again, the “friends’ kiss” literally tells the reader that she still wants to be friends with Joji. Of course, Naomi’s definition of “friend” might be a tad different than a more general definition of “friend.”

More evidence that underscores Naomi’s inclination to keep Joji close comes through her daily visits to Joji. If she didn’t want to keep a “relationship,” she probably wouldn’t visit him on a daily basis. Yet these visits seem more harmful than helpful. As Joji reveals:

I was formed by frenzied attacks of what might be called male hysteria. Since she came every day, the attacks also came at the rate of one a day.

Then again, Joji’s “hysteria” seems to be an attraction for Naomi. After one particularly hysterical night, Naomi tells Joji, “It was fun. I want to make you do it again.

One more quote that showcases Naomi's desire to continue to exploit or take advantage of Joji is when she asks him to shave her without touching her skin. She says:

You don’t have to touch me. You can apply the soap with a brush, and you’ll be using a Gillette razor. In a barbershop, the assistants don’t touch you if they’re any good.

This quote, like the others, illuminates Naomi’s need to keep this teasing, rather tortuous relationship alive. The shaving scene suggests that this relationship is not a relationship of equals but more of a master/slave or master/servant relationship. Naomi could be the master. Joji might be the slave/servant.