What about paper moon?
I think the question regarding paper moon is answered in the book itself. The characters we see, are wandering in an artificial world. As they say:
“ It’s a Barnum and Bailey world
just as phony as it can be,
but it wouldn’t be make-believe
if you believe in me.”
At the end I just wanted to say that as Murakami had said in his interview with Emily Parker that his books originate from his subconscious, so those looking for the meaning that makes more sense than a fantastic dream may be disappointed.
I think it is just a love story written very weirdly. Tengo and Aomame were meant to be with each other , otherwise all this would not have made sense. Remember when the leader told Aomame:
“1984 & 1Q84 are fundamentally the same in terms of how they work.
If you don’t believe in the world and if there is no love in it, then
everything is phony. Love is all that matters.”