くる
kuru
The moment it reaches you: くる
The picture Something out there moving toward the spot where you stand. くる moves from over there toward here; いく moves away from here.
Where the picture shows up in くる
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it comes toward you
もうすぐバスが来ます。
mō sugu basu ga kimasu
The bus is coming soon.
The bus at the far end of the road growing larger until it reaches where you stand
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the news reaches you
部長からメールが来ました。
buchō kara mēru ga kimashita
An email came from my manager.
An email sent from your manager's side flying in and landing on your screen
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you go and come back here
ちょっとコンビニに行ってきます。
chotto konbini ni itte kimasu
I'm popping out to the convenience store.
The steps that went as far as the convenience store coming back to this spot
行ってきます is also what you say leaving home — exactly the picture: I go, and I come back.
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the change has reached now
だんだん暖かくなってきました。
dandan atatakaku natte kimashita
It's been getting warmer.
The warmth of the last few days inching its way up to right now
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their action comes at you
隣の人が急に話しかけてきました。
tonari no hito ga kyū ni hanashikakete kimashita
The person next to me suddenly struck up a conversation.
The words of the person beside you crossing over and landing on your shoulder
All of it in one picture
くる is the picture of something out there moving toward the spot where you stand. The bus grows from the end of the road until it is in front of you; the email flies from your manager's side onto your screen; your own steps loop past the shop and return to this spot; the warmth crosses a few days and reaches right now; the words of the person beside you cross over to your side. Only what comes changes — a vehicle, news, you yourself, a change, someone else's action. So 〜てくる always makes the landing point 'me, here, now'.