Pathway to Japanese Literature

1

One day in mid-June, Honnobu Masuma arrived from Edo through a rainy season still reluctant to end.

Masuma was the son of the second senior elder at the Edo residence, and his name had long been known throughout the clan's domain.
A brilliant talent both handsome and scholarly beyond compare; counted among Yagyū Dojo's Three Elites—his reputation seemed custom-forged.
The purpose of his visit remained unannounced.
Some whispered he came as Auditor; others gossiped about marriage prospects.
The Auditor theory circulated only among select circles yet bore marks of credible origin.
Thus when Masuma entered his Kameoka lodgings—before unpacking travel gear—guests descended bearing greetings.
Most were merchants including official purveyors to the clan; no few came from government offices.—The Auditor role (needless to say) paralleled modern comptrollers but wielded greater power.
With clan finances teetering at collapse's edge—a seismic policy shift looming—these courtesies carried layered implications beyond surface pleasantries.
Masuma refused them audience.
Nakata Chinosuke and Hori Kanbei—his retainers—managed receptions.
When Toshima Matahachi called however—Masuma paused—then ordered him admitted.
Matahachi—third son of middle elder Satō Ichibē—had dwelled here since wedding Toshima Izaemon four years prior through adoptive marriage.
Twenty-six—Masuma's equal in age.
Compact frame sun-darkened; cheekbones knife-edged.
Speech flowed shrewd yet seamless—expressions betraying no chink in armor.

When Masuma entered, Toshima smiled amiably with practiced ease, gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, and addressed him in an overly familiar manner.

“It’s been some time—congratulations on your safe journey.”

Masuma nodded and sat down.
He neither seemed to approve of Toshima’s overfamiliarity nor showed any sign of rejecting it.

“How have things been since then?”
Masuma said with skillful indifference, “So you must already have children.”

“Well, I’m still single.”
Toshima answered promptly, “The Toshima daughter passed away—about half a year after I arrived here. So I once thought of returning to Edo, but old Toshima wouldn’t release me. And well… I’m an easygoing sort by nature. Besides… truth be told, there was a girl I’d taken notice of.”

Masuma said “Hoh” and fell silent, gazing at his upturned right hand. He did not quite match his reputation, but had a fair-skinned, well-proportioned face with refined features and a notably wide space between his eyebrows and eyes. His eyebrows were thick and sharply angled upward, while his eyes sloped gently downward. He had a habit of occasionally pursing his lips and twisting them upward—a mannerism that disrupted his harmonious features to give him an approachable air, yet when composed, his overly symmetrical countenance projected a faintly unapproachable impression. At this moment, Toshima found himself unable to read Masuma’s demeanor. It seemed permissible to grow familiar with him, yet inadvisable all the same. And Toshima knew that in such situations, withdrawing swiftly was wisest.

“There’s something I’d like to bring to your attention,” Toshima changed his tone, “something you ought to know—are you aware of the rumors circulating since your arrival? For instance, that you’ve come as the Auditor…”

Masuma gave a bitter smile and neither affirmed nor denied it.

“Of course, this is none of my concern,” Toshima continued, “but that rumor is the most widely believed—and if true, only natural—yet it’s causing quite a stir. They’ve already begun devising countermeasures for your arrival.”

“That does seem to be the case.”
“I’ve already received quite a number of gifts,” Masuma said.

Toshima looked at Masuma with a swift gaze.
Yet from Masuma’s expression, he could discern no meaning whatsoever.

“Please be careful.”
Toshima lowered his voice slightly and said, “You never know where what manner of trap might lie. Should you wish it, I would be glad to assist—having spent four years in this small town, I flatter myself I’m reasonably well-informed about most affairs. Particularly regarding merchant matters… Should anything strike you as suspicious, pray do not hesitate to summon me. I’ll come running without fail.”

“I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Masuma answered ambiguously, “If such a thing were to happen, I would ask for your opinion.”

Matahachi soon left.

That night, Nakata and Hori compiled a voluminous record of the gifts—the senders’ names alongside item quantities, including monetary amounts for those containing gold. It was an excruciatingly meticulous document. Only after completing this task did everyone finally retire to their bedrooms.

The following day, Masuma presented himself at the castle and made his rounds to greet the chief retainers in their chambers.

Of course it was merely a formality, but in the chamber of the castle’s chief elder was Harada Kenmotsu, the senior councilor, who detained Masuma for about two hours.
Kawase Tonomo, the castle’s chief elder, was fifty-two years old, and Kenmotsu was of similar age; both possessed the calm and gentle dispositions characteristic of Hokuriku people.
The two men seemed intent on extracting some information from Masuma, and (particularly Kenmotsu) made subtly probing remarks during lulls in the conversation.

“There’s nothing particularly significant.”
Masuma replied lightly, “To put it simply, I’ve come for something like a marriage meeting—though of course you already know that.”

“No—it’s not yet,” Lord Tonomo replied hurriedly. “Since nothing has been formally decided, I still haven’t told anyone about that matter.”

Lord Tonomo looked rather awkward.
Then, as if to explain himself to Kenmotsu, he spoke of how a marriage arrangement between his daughter Hanayo and Masuma was progressing, though nothing had been finalized yet.

“So your daughter…”
Kenmotsu faltered slightly, looking puzzled, but quickly brushed it aside and offered congratulations: “Well now, this is... I had no idea whatsoever, but this is truly auspicious news. I do hope the matter will be settled at the earliest possible date.”

“In any case, please keep this confidential for a little while longer.”

Lord Tonomo said this in a noncommittal tone.

Masuma received a dinner invitation from Lord Tonomo and left the castle.

II

Following Kawase’s invitation, the high-ranking officials invited Masuma one after another. Probably having leaked from Kenmotsu, everyone seemed to know about the marriage arrangement; though not voicing it directly, they offered subtle words of congratulations.

“Actually, I came for leisure.” Masuma would say this everywhere: “You’ll probably be angry if I say this, but in Edo, even if I try to relax a little, I’m immediately noticed… So please, if there are any interesting places, do show me around.”

However, people did not believe him.
The term “Auditor” lingered in people’s minds.

"This marriage proposal business is rather odd."

The high-ranking officials discussed this among themselves.

"It would be best to keep their distance."
And indeed, they adopted an attitude of neither approaching nor distancing themselves.
He was the son of an Edo elder, a handsome prodigy, and might become the son-in-law of the castle’s chief elder.
Moreover, since there were also rumors that he bore a secret mission, Masuma’s position was entirely free—one might even say nearly unconstrained.

Masuma confirmed it.
Once he had finished this round of invitations, he began going out for leisure.

It was when he first went to Amanohashidate that he rested at a traditional restaurant called Kikusui-tei on the Uchiumi side of Kirito Monju.
The rainy season had completely ended, and windless hot days continued.
Hori had been given orders to handle some business, so Masuma was accompanied only by Nakata Chinosuke; yet after drinking a bit of sake, a peculiar mishap occurred.
The traditional restaurant built on the shore of Yosa’s Uchiumi had a floor that jutted out over the water.
It had a roof, a surrounding railing, and in one section, a ladder—perhaps for boarding boats.
Masuma went out there.
He was not much of a drinker—after about five cups he would get drunk—and just as Chinosuke began talking to the serving waitress, he went out alone to get some air.

The sun had just set, and the surface of Uchiumi—calm as if oil had been poured over it—was oppressively hazy all around. The shadows of returning fishing boats had grown faint, and Amanohashidate—stretching like a sash—appeared only as if blurred with diluted ink. Masuma was crouched at the edge of the floor, gazing absently at the water below. The water was shallow; the sandy bottom was visible, and a school of small, transparent fish—likely some kind of fry—darted about just beneath the surface.

At that moment, a girl stealthily approached from behind him. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slender oval face and tall stature—her chest and hips still as narrow as a boy’s. She seemed slightly drunk; the area around her moist eyes and flushed cheeks glowed red, and even her creeping movements carried an air of buoyant mischief. Masuma remained completely unaware of her approach, holding a folding fan in one hand while crouched and gazing at the water. Struggling to suppress her laughter, the girl drew close to his side before suddenly shouting “Wah!” and slapping his back. Though likely intending only to startle him, her unsteady footing made her strike harder than planned—she gasped “Agh!” too late to matter. As she tried to stop Masuma from pitching forward, they tangled together and tumbled into the water.

Masuma stood up immediately. The water only reached his waist, but having fallen in headfirst, he was soaked from head to toe. Before he could even process his shock—more bewildered than angry—the girl, now equally drenched, rose before his eyes. Then, wiping the water dripping down her face with both hands, she burst into laughter as if it were utterly hilarious.

“I messed that up,” she said with a laugh. “We almost ended up in a lovers’ suicide there!”

However, the girl’s eyes went round. She seemed to have mistaken her target; letting out an “Oh,” she opened her mouth. Masuma remained silent. The girl grew flustered, pouting as she reached out toward the drenched Masuma and stroked the sleeve of his hempen summer kimono.

“I’m sorry; please forgive me—it was a case of mistaken identity.”
“I’m truly sorry for getting you so soaked—I’ll pay the stain removal fee myself.”

Masuma started walking silently toward the ladder. The girl hurriedly called out to stop him. His half-opened folding fan was floating there. “Um, you left this behind.” And she showed him by opening the folding fan, but as she spread it open, the paper and ribs came apart piece by piece. The girl became completely flustered and, while holding out the scattered pieces, bowed. “It ended up like this.”

Masuma glanced at it only briefly and climbed onto the floor without even reaching for it. Chinosuke and the waitress—whose name was Otake—who had been deep in conversation, were startled at the sight of Masuma.
Masuma merely said he had fallen into the water.
Otake immediately stood to prepare a bath.

“They’re from Hachimanya’s group,”

When Otake left, Chinosuke said that and looked toward the detached guest room. Over there, guests had been making a commotion even before the two had arrived. With shamisen and drums added to the mix, they were making quite a showy commotion.

“It seems Mr. Toshima is the guest.”

Chinosuke added that. Having removed his soaked hempen summer kimono and drying his body, Masuma—whether he had heard Chinosuke’s words or not—suddenly let out a stifled chuckle in his throat. Chinosuke looked quizzically at Masuma.

“No—it’s nothing.”
Masuma shook his head. “Because you said something so foolish—no, never mind. It’s a different matter altogether.”

Chinosuke was looking at Masuma in bewilderment.

Masuma went out walking almost every day.
He usually went out accompanied by Hori or Nakata, though there were times he went alone. Since the two men had their own duties to attend to, he increasingly went out alone more often, and before long, negotiations with the merchants began.
The first person he became acquainted with was a man named Notoya Ihei, with whom he happened to be at a traditional restaurant called Kogetsu; through his introduction, he then came to know Sumiya Jin'emon, Sakuma Chūdayū, Watashimaya Rokuobei, and others.
They held banquets and boat outings, inviting Masuma both as a group of four and individually.
When that had continued for some time, this time the merchants who supplied the domain approached.

Prior to this, Toshima Matahachi had frequently visited Masuma. At times he came as often as twice a day, but Masuma consistently refused to meet him. Even when at home, he pretended to be out. Then one day—apparently orchestrated by Toshima—while drinking with Sumiya Jin'emon at Kogetsu, Masuma encountered him in the hallway and was forcibly led to his seat. There sat Hachimanya Mansuke and Aoki Jūemon, who remained by his side entertaining him until dusk fell. Toshima clearly acted as mediator, busily arranging seating positions until darkness descended, when he unilaterally ordered palanquins and relocated the gathering to a place called Hashidaterou. Having likely notified them beforehand, they found rice merchant Shimaya Shinbei waiting there to join the party, which noisily continued until around ten o'clock that night.

III

Hachimanya dealt in marine products; Aoki combined shipping and wholesale operations; together with Shimaya, they were official purveyors to the domain, each granted monopoly rights in their respective trades. Therefore, with their overwhelming interests and wealth, they dominated others; as for the traditional restaurants, Kyokusuitei was managed by Shimaya, Bōkoan by Aoki, and Hashidaterou by Hachimanya—each operated by their respective owners.

The four including Notoya and Sumiya were a new faction opposing them, and to force open their monopoly rights, they had been secretly lobbying Edo’s senior officials. The three official purveyors were largely aware of this. Having been granted monopoly rights, they naturally developed deep financial connections with the domain, and their loans to it had grown to an enormous scale—nearly reaching its limit. This may have seemed to secure their position, but it was simultaneously an extremely precarious state. It went without saying—even the Edo shogunate had implemented the measure called “forced loans” multiple times. By suspending existing debts, there were even those who went bankrupt as a result.—In provincial domains like Miyazu, senior retainers and merchants shared personal bonds, so they likely could not be as ruthless as the shogunate; however, this too depended on the extent—if matters reached an irreparable point, the issue would be entirely different.

It was at this juncture that Masuma had arrived.
It went without saying what the opposing factions were thinking; from their respective positions, both sought to win over Masuma and uncover his reason for coming to Miyazu.
Masuma offered no resistance whatsoever.
Whoever it was, if he received an invitation, he would go, and no matter how extravagant the entertainment, he did not refuse.
He carried himself with the leisurely composure befitting someone of high birth, leaving everything to others as he enjoyed himself, and when presented with gifts, he accepted them without a word.

One day in July.
Accompanied by a clerk from Shimaya, he went to Bōkoan.

“It would be preferable if there were a designated person.”

Yayakichi, the clerk, having said that, called about six young women.
They were handpicked waitresses whom he had mostly grown familiar with, but one of them let out a startled cry upon seeing Masuma’s face and swiftly covered her own with her sleeve.

“Oh my, look at that!” exclaimed the other women in unison as they noticed. “How unusual—Ishi-san’s hiding her face!”

“There must be some reason for this.”

“We won’t let this go unpunished.”
A woman named O-Haru cleared her throat and said, “If you’re going to act like that in front of everyone—”

“Fine! Ishi will treat!”

The woman who had covered her face shouted this, dropped her sleeve, and turned toward the others.

“Today Ishi’s treating! Everyone order whatever you want—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

The women shrieked and clapped their hands. Masuma involuntarily gave a wry smile. For the first time he realized—this was that girl who had once accidentally pushed him into the water at Kyokusuitei.

“This is Ishi, the adopted daughter of Bōkoan,” said Yayakichi, the clerk. “Are you acquainted with her, Lord Honnobu?”

When Masuma gave a firm nod, the girl turned toward him and bowed, her face flushing red.

“Don’t get cocky,” Masuma said. “How can you offer to treat when there’s a guest present? That’s sheer presumption.”

Ishi looked at Masuma with startled eyes, said “Yes,” and nodded like a boy.

“I’m sorry—I’ll take it back. Please forgive me.”

Masuma blushed crimson.
He grew embarrassed at himself for saying such a trivial thing.
He was somewhat flustered as he offered his cup to Ishi.
His movements were awkward, and Ishi fumbled while receiving it—prompting the women to make another noisy uproar.

“I’ll tell your father!”

There were also those who said things like that.
Then Ishi lowered the corners of her eyes, let her lips hang slackly as she giggled “heh-heh-heh,” and looked askance at Masuma.

“Close your lips. What a slovenly face!”
Masuma said, “It’s like your ribbon’s come completely undone.”

“I’m sorry,” Ishi said, “but some people say this is just fine, you know.”

The women let out coquettish cries.
Masuma stared intently at Ishi, then slowly said.

“Is the stain removal fee coming out of your pocket?”

Ishi started, and no sooner had she flushed crimson than she hid her face in her sleeve again.
The women’s commotion intensified, and O-Haru struck Ishi’s shoulder.

“What’s this ‘stain removal fee’? Come now, we won’t have this! Hiding your face twice before everyone’s eyes—just what is this ‘stain removal fee’ business?”

“Shall I tell them?”

When Masuma said this, Ishi let out a shriek, clasped the hands she had pulled away from her face, and twisted her body.

“I’m sorry—it’s exactly like this! Please don’t mention that—truly, not that alone!”

She wore a pleading expression. Amidst the women’s clamorous voices, Masuma laughed and fell silent.

“Please really keep this a secret.”
Ishi whispered, “I’ll repay your kindness for the rest of my life.”

Masuma nodded.

Yayakichi’s proposal to assign one fixed attendant was left unresolved, but ever since then, Ishi had invariably been the one to serve at Masuma’s seat.
Since Bōkoan was managed by Aoki Shigeemon, if one spoke of an adopted daughter, she would be Shigeemon’s foster child.
The one managing the traditional restaurant was a plump woman around fifty named Okane, but Ishi was equally loved by her as well as by the other waitresses and employees.
Not only those at Bōkoan, but everyone who knew her seemed to love Ishi.
Ishi had a bright, straightforward, and deeply considerate nature.
Perhaps owing to her lack of financial hardship, she would often discreetly look after waitresses and employees facing difficulties.
Moreover, her methods were so skillful for her age that those she helped often remained unaware of her assistance until much later.

Difficult customers and those with poor drinking manners were always matters for Ishi to handle.
If they made her drink, she could hold her liquor quite well, and when slightly intoxicated, she would become a cheerful drunk,

“Alright, Ishi will treat.”

Saying “Ishi will treat” was her catchphrase.
She said it to Masuma about three times, but each time Masuma harshly rejected it.

“Oh, why not? I want to treat you, so why can’t you let me?”

Masuma said, “Don’t take me lightly,” and ignored her.

From July through August, he met with Ishi roughly once every three days.
When drinking with Notoya and Sumiya’s group at either the Kogetsu or Tagawaya restaurants, she would send letters through attendants—likely having heard from the waitresses serving drinks—that said things like, “Come see me later.”

“Can’t you stop? You’re being shameless.”
Masuma always made a bitter face. “What do you think people will think when there’s no reason for it at all?”

“Oh, Ishi doesn’t mind one bit.”
“Would that make you look good?”

“Of course.”
“Ishi has credibility, you know,” she said, turning red.

Her eyes drooped at the corners, her lips slackened, forming an absurdly cloying sweet expression.
Then Masuma clicked his tongue and said bitterly,
“What a slovenly face! Tighten your strings.”
Masuma spoke harshly only to Ishi.
He spoke ill of her without reserve and sharply rebuked her.
When facing Ishi, he naturally ended up like that.
The fact that she had a lover with whom she had made a promise for the future was something everyone knew.
Even Ishi herself would occasionally misspeak, turn red, and loosen the strings of her face, but this boyishly innocent shyness gently delighted those around her.

One day in mid-August, around lamp-lighting time—Masuma, wearied by drink, had stepped out into the garden when Ishi followed him out and whispered softly.

"I beg you, please take me to Kikusuitei, won't you?"

Ishi had a different look in her eyes than usual.
Masuma nodded and slipped out through the side gate with Ishi.

“It feels like we’re eloping.”

Ishi whispered happily.

Four

Bōkoan was located halfway up Genmyōgaoka. To Monju, one could take back roads along the way. Perhaps autumn came early to Hokuriku? On the mountain path lined with pines and mixed groves, susuki grass had already begun sprouting plumes, and beneath the chestnut trees came the sound of ripe nuts cracking open and falling.

“Just like this...” Ishi said in a low voice, “If only we could go on and on like this forever...”

“Have you started wanting to run away?”

“I just want to be with you.”

“One case of mistaken identity is enough.”

“There you go again.”
As she started to say this, Ishi lowered her eyes. “But you’re right—Ishi has someone important too, and Lord Honnobu must return to Edo to wed the castellan’s daughter.”

Masuma laughed without making a sound.
“The castellan’s daughter can’t be married off, can she?”
“Oh,” Ishi widened her eyes. “You knew about that?”
Masuma instead asked back.

“Who is this ‘someone important’ of yours?”

Ishi faltered.

Masuma immediately withdrew the question.

“No, never mind. It’s fine—my tongue just slipped.” Then he quickened his pace. “Let’s hurry—it’ll be night soon.”

When they arrived at Kikusuitei, Ishi began her usual antics.
She had them prepare seats on that familiar raised floor from before, declared they'd come secretly today for a tryst to dismiss the attendants, then sat down to dine alone with him.

“It’s already been two months since then, hasn’t it?”

“A botched lovers’ suicide?”

“Back then, I was brought here by a customer and got carried away drinking, so I was completely drunk—otherwise I never would’ve made such a mistake.”
Ishi said this while gazing nostalgically at the edge of the floor. “That was the spot, wasn’t it? You were squatting like this, lost in thought.”

“I was watching the water—small fish were swimming in a line.”

“You were squatting like this.”
“And then,” Ishi continued, “I completely mistook you for someone else and tried to surprise you by sneaking up from behind quietly—but since I was drunk, I ended up…”

As she started to say this, Ishi burst out laughing on her own.

“I put too much force into it and ended up stumbling.”

As she said this, she hunched her body and burst out laughing.
Then suddenly, she threw herself onto Masuma’s lap, her laughter turning into sobs as she began to cry, her back trembling.
Masuma remained silent and stroked her back with one hand.
Ishi seemed to want to express something.
Masuma too had things he wished to say.
However, neither of them voiced a single word.
Her sobs gradually subsided, but she seemed to find such comfort in their position that Ishi remained leaning against his lap for a while longer, sniffling faintly all the while.

“With this, the wish has come true.”

Before long, Ishi sat up and, wiping her tears with her sleeve, smiled.

“I just wanted to cry my heart out once—there’s no real reason, but… now I feel cleansed.”
Then, with her usual bright expression, she looked at Masuma. “Don’t you think it’s bad for the body if people don’t cry sometimes, even when they’re not sad?”

Masuma remained silent and nodded wearily.

That night (though not only that night), after returning to his lodgings, Masuma worked on investigations with Nakata, Hori, and the others until past midnight.
The work they had divided between them had progressed remarkably over these sixty-odd days.
It was an investigation into the actual conditions of three official merchants headed by Hachimanya—detailing their transaction statuses, annual profits, and assets (with assistance from Notoya and four other merchants)—where comprehensive facts had been compiled.
Of course, the gifts to Masuma and entertainment expenses had also been meticulously calculated each instance; now, as he looked over the detailed statement, Masuma shook his head and smiled wryly.

“We’ll have to return all these amounts—good thing we’re not in Edo. If this were Edo, we’d go bankrupt.”

“I hear even here the wallet’s being emptied dry—isn’t that so?”
After saying this, Hori Kanbei suddenly raised his eyes. “That Ishi girl—you must be cautious.”

“—Is there something?”

“It’s Toshima Matahachi,” said Kanbei. “She’s Aoki Shigeuemon’s adopted daughter—originally the orphaned child of a Kaga Domain ronin—and has an engagement with Toshima... Is something troubling you?”

“No, never mind. Go on.”

“Behind this marriage arrangement lies a pact between the three merchants—Hachimanya, Shimaya, and Aoki. They aim to install Toshima as financial magistrate or, ideally, head elder to secure their own positions.”

“Toshima isn’t up to it.”

“After all, he’s just a puppet.”

On the surface, it seemed impossible—but in reality, it was entirely possible. They could be said to hold the real power over finances. The domain itself was struggling with debt, and the retainers—with some exceptions—also had debts to a greater or lesser extent. If they were to acknowledge that opening monopolies or shifting policies might be realized, they would surely take countermeasures. For that purpose, installing Toshima in a key position was hardly a difficult task for them.

The era entered a stage where financial power drove politics.

“That girl has been instructed by Toshima to uncover the true purpose of your mission.”

“I doubt it.”
Masuma turned aside. “But they must already know.”

“That’s not the case. They seem utterly unable to discern your true intentions—you accept gifts and bribes, attend banquets without hesitation, and now there’s even this scandalous rumor about you and that girl.”

“Don’t say such foolish things.”

“Of course, we’re aware.”
When Hori laughed, Nakata laughed too.
Hori continued, “If you were the auditor, I don’t think you’d be this passive—or rather, in fact, a clerk from Hachimanya said exactly that.”

“Kikutei-tei’s Ms. Take, I suppose?”

“She also told us about Toshima and Ishi—Toshima’s a nasty fellow, you see. There’s only an engagement between them, but he’s already acting like they’re lovers, pestering her nonstop for pocket money and such. She said if they marry, he’ll surely make her miserable.”

“Isn’t Toshima being funded by Hachimanya and the others?”

“It’s insufficient—this town drains wallets dry.” Hori scowled. “They say he’s been reckless with women since he arrived.”

Masuma looked at Kanbei’s face.

“Can Ms. Take be trusted?”

“I don’t spread scandalous rumors.”

“So in other words, he’s shrewd.”
Masuma said this while surveying the investigation records. “—We’ve gathered quite a lot. It’s about time we start cross-checking with the government office.”

“It’s better we do this before anyone notices.”

“What a detestable duty.”
Masuma furrowed his brow. “Someone has to do it.”
“I know it can’t be helped since it concerns the clan’s survival—but this work is truly unbearable. I want to finish it quickly and go home.”

Hori and Nakata said nothing.

That night was a sleepless one for Masuma.
The following several days were also spent in a gloomy mood.
The relationship between Ishi and Toshima Matahachi was a wound deeper than he had ever anticipated.
Kanbei’s advice had to be accepted as fact—Toshima had likely ordered Ishi to investigate Masuma’s mission, for in the beginning, Toshima had persistently tried to approach Masuma himself.
That he had a special relationship with the clan’s official merchants was something Masuma had known before coming to Miyazu.

Masuma had thought—He came to investigate—but once he began going out for leisure, Toshima soon stopped appearing, and negotiations with Ishi commenced instead.
In other words, it could be said he’d had her take over.

I don’t want to think that.

Masuma wanted to deny it.
But he could no longer deny it.
And then, realizing just how strongly he was drawn to Ishi, he grimaced fiercely.

V

Until his work was complete, he couldn’t change his behavior. Masuma visited the traditional restaurant as he always had and met with Ishi. Though he believed himself composed, Ishi seemed to detect some shift—she would occasionally stare intently at him.

“What are you staring at like that?”

“Because you’ve seemed rather down lately,” Ishi said. “You haven’t shown any of your usual habits at all lately, and even when you come, you leave right away.”

“What’s this ‘usual habit’?”

“You make this kind of face.”

Ishi pursed her lips and twisted them upward.
Masuma gave a slight start.
He hadn’t noticed that he wasn’t making that expression himself.

“When you put on that solemn face, it’s intimidating,”
Ishi said in a coquettish tone, “but when you make this kind of face… it looks so gentle I could burst with happiness.”

“Does Ishi’s good man do that too?”

“I don’t want to! Why must you bring up such things?”

“Because you’re the one hiding everything.”

Masuma looked at Ishi’s face.

“You never talk about your good man at all, do you?”
“Because it’s something that doesn’t concern you.”

“It does concern me.”

Whether it was the thorns in Masuma’s voice or her own heart reproaching her, Ishi looked at Masuma with startled eyes.
That struck Masuma inversely—there was no fault in Ishi; Ishi was simply bearing an unjust role.
Masuma forced a laugh, but even he himself realized it was a distorted smile.

“I love Ishi,” he said. “I’ve always wished for Ishi to be happier than anyone else—I truly wish that. That’s why I want to know whether that person can make Ishi happy.”

Ishi also smiled, but hers lacked the strength of Masuma’s. Hers was nearly akin to a pout.

“That person is a good man.” Ishi said defensively, “He may make all sorts of mistakes and have an unsavory reputation in society, but deep down he’s timid—not the kind of person who could do anything truly wicked. Besides, any gentleman can’t help himself when he’s young, don’t you think?”

“In what way?”

“In every way possible.”
Ishi lowered her eyes. “Someone as timid as him, who keeps making mistakes… I can’t help feeling sorry for him. When I think what would happen if I weren’t by his side, it truly becomes unbearable.”

Masuma turned aside.

“Are you aware that I’m an orphan?”
“My father was a ronin serving Lord Kaga,” Ishi continued, “and I became an orphan at five. When I was fifteen, I was taken in by my adoptive father Aoki, but until then… I endured so much hardship. When I was thirteen—” Her voice tightened. “I couldn’t bear it anymore—I ran away from a second-floor window at midnight. I tied my obi sash to lower myself down and stepped onto a roof covered in frost.”

“That’s enough. I’ve heard enough.”

Masuma brusquely interrupted.
Ishi fell silent as if startled; Masuma remained quiet for a moment, then spoke in a low voice.

“I don’t want to hear about any unhappiness you may have had. You’ve been happy until now, and I want you to stay happy from now on.”

“Yes, of course. As you can see, Ishi is happy.”

And this time, she succeeded in laughing brightly.
But to Masuma, it still looked nothing but pitiable.
It was a rare moment when they were alone together, and from the room at Bōkoan overlooking the Kirito area, over the now completely darkened sea, a single fishing boat’s light moved slowly.

Before long, the clerks from Shimaya and Hachimanya arrived, and once the usual waitresses had all gathered, Ishi began in a slightly drunken tone,

“What became of Lord Honnobu’s marriage proposal?” she began. “Has it been settled yet, or is it still…”

“Doesn’t look like it’s going to work.”
Masuma answered curtly, “They must’ve run out of patience with all my foolish antics. I was invited once, but they wouldn’t even show their face—and after that, never asked me to come again.”

“It seems there’s some illness involved.”

The clerk from Shimaya said, “I heard it was something like spinal tuberculosis—hasn’t she been resting for quite some time now?”
Masuma feigned ignorance.

“Well then,” Ishi said, “you’ll be returning to Edo, won’t you?”

“Why?”

“But if that’s how things stand with the marriage arrangement…”

“That’s not all there might be to it, don’t you think?”

Masuma saw swift shifts in expression cross Ishi’s face and those of the two clerks—each reacting differently. He laughed with a dry rasp.

“For instance—an ambition like seducing Oishi,” he said with deliberate malice, “It’d be absurd to come all this way from Edo only to return empty-handed. Don’t you agree, Oishi?”

“There are women present here too,” interjected Shimaya’s clerk.
The waitresses lined along the wall raised a boisterous chorus: “It needn’t be just Oishi-san! Flirting with us occasionally wouldn’t incur divine wrath!”

“How dull—just because no punishment comes?”

“What a wicked tongue you’ve developed,” said O-Haru, who was always at Ishi’s side. “You were such a gentleman at first, but now you’ve turned downright mean. Should I give you a smack?”

“There shouldn’t be any divine punishment for that, right?”

Amidst the lively jeers, Masuma twisted his face bitterly.

His attraction to Ishi only intensified.
Though he couldn't forget that Ishi had been ordered by Toshima to approach him, compared to how their hearts had progressed since falling into the water together, such machinations seemed to have no place—it all felt utterly natural.
What's more, whenever he considered how Ishi's ties to Toshima weighed upon her and would surely bring her misery, Masuma's fondness deepened all the more.

If things go on like this, it'll be dangerous—if things go on like this.
He seriously began to think so.
If we don't do something now, things could turn absurd!

Nakata and Hori were progressing with their work.
When September arrived, a sealed secret letter bearing ink markings from Edo reached the Chief Elder, through which the ledgers of various offices were audited in strict secrecy.
By cross-referencing these with what they had investigated thus far and listing discrepancies between both sets of records along with doctored sections, they were astonished at how unexpectedly deep and extensive the connections between clan merchants and senior retainers proved to be.

“This has turned into something dreadful.”

“It seems the same in every domain.”
Masuma said with a wry smile, “Since even the shogunate itself is at its limit, I suppose we can’t keep going on with samurai politics anymore.”
“But can we manage to keep this under wraps?”

“It’s a difficult spot.”

Masuma sighed deeply.
All their efforts until now had been aimed at achieving a smooth financial transition.
Even when uncovering fraudulent acts, they would wield them as leverage rather than expose them outright—striving always for amicable resolutions.
It had been the express wish of both the domain lord and Edo’s senior officials that no casualties result from these reforms.

“What?”

When he glanced up at the sound of Nakata Chinosuke’s voice, a servant stood in the front garden holding flowers.

“I have just delivered this, sir.”

It was an exquisite white hibiscus flower.
Chinosuke rose and went to receive it.

“She left immediately, but she was a young, beautiful girl.”

“I know.”
Chinosuke returned and placed it on Masuma’s desk. “A summons to come, I presume.”

Masuma silently gazed at the flower.

Six

Since then, flowers were delivered precisely every other day.
Of course, they must have been from Ishi—there were large chrysanthemums, susuki grass, patrinia flowers, kudzu vines, and other wildflowers from the mountains and fields.
There were no letters or messages—only flowers delivered—but that very approach seemed to convey Ishi’s feelings more effectively, seeping deeply into Masuma’s heart.

Masuma had been unable to leave for nearly half a month; during that time, the preparations had mostly been completed, and all that remained was to await word from Edo.
The official auditor was coming from Edo—this had been planned from the start—but before he arrived in Miyazu, Masuma was to meet with the merchants.
In other words, it was a plan for laying the preparatory groundwork of financial reform—by presenting the prepared investigation records to them when necessary to keep them from refusing.

The true reason for Masuma’s arrival had been obscured for this purpose.
It was known that Lord Kawase Tonomo’s daughter was bedridden and unfit for marriage, but before reaching Miyazu, a marriage proposal letter (from his father in Edo) had been arranged to arrive.
The rumor that he might be the Auditor had also, in fact, been deliberately propagated.

It seemed we had managed to pull it off without incident.

Masuma, Hori, and Nakata all felt as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

If I can just navigate this meeting successfully...

He had thought so, but in reality, that was not the case.
Since Masuma began secluding himself in his lodgings, the clan merchants had caught wind of it.
They weren’t sitting idly by; they kept a watchful eye on their movements without fail.
Just when they thought they could let their guard down, the merchants had uncovered the whole affair and shifted tactics to counter it.

On the afternoon of October 5th, a letter arrived from Ishi to Masuma.

“I have something I wish to return, and there’s something I must discuss...”

The letter repeated this plea-like message urging him to come immediately.

“You won’t have to see our faces,” Hori said with a grin. “You should express gratitude for the flowers anyway. Go ahead and do so properly.”

“Shall I prepare a horse for you?” Nakata added teasingly.

“Do that at once,” Masuma replied while rolling up the letter and standing. “Having been cooped up so long, this horseback ride was my idea—make it happen.”

“From a joke to a horse—what a hassle.”

Nakata pursed his lips and gave a wry smile.
It was a clear afternoon, and the wind kept blowing in from the sea.
Masuma rode briskly through the wind.
On the mountain path leading up to Bōko-an, fallen leaves were dancing like rain.
Ishi wore uncharacteristically heavy makeup, dressed in a crepe kimono with a purple base dyed in a blurred thousand-herb pattern, and a light brown twilled obi bearing chrysanthemum motifs.
Perhaps due to the thick white powder, her face appeared stiff, and her rouged lips seemed oddly somber.

“You look like you’re off to get married or something.”
Masuma averted his eyes as if dazzled. “You look like a completely different person.”

“Does it not please you?”

Masuma smiled and nodded in a manner that said, “It’s fine.”
Ishi shrugged her shoulders happily.

“Today, I have a request—a once-in-a-lifetime request.”
In the middle of the corridor, Ishi bowed to Masuma and said, “Just this once—please let Ishi treat you.”

“What will you do?”

“I want us to be alone together. Today, everyone’s gone out. Please—I’m begging you—say yes.”

Masuma agreed.
Ishi guided Masuma to her own room.
It was a retirement cottage-style building, separate from the main house and its other wings.
The sea was not visible, but the east and south lay open.
The garden connected to a pine forest leading to the back mountain, and water drawn through a bamboo pipe fell into the basin at the veranda’s edge with a quiet sound.
The people of Bōko-an had gone as advance pilgrims with offerings to Kono Shrine on the opposite shore of the inland sea for an overnight stay, leaving behind only Ishi, an elderly manservant, and O-Ume, a maid.

In the six-tatami room, with the shoji screens left open, the two sat before the prepared meal.

“It feels somehow different and strange, doesn’t it?”

“Didn’t you do this yourself?”

“That may be true, but...” Ishi shyly picked up the sake bottle, “Please don’t stare so much.”

As Ishi had said, there was a somewhat formal air, and the conversation didn’t immediately take off.
Awkward exchanges about what had happened during their time apart and expressions of gratitude for the flowers continued for some time.

“What did you mean by having something to return?”

When the sake flask was changed, Masuma asked.

“After you’ve had a bit more to drink.”
Ishi laughed with her eyes. “Otherwise, I can’t bring it out.”

While pouring sake for Masuma, Ishi kept drinking herself.
As if building momentum, she drank boldly while uttering trivial things.
Soon appearing abruptly intoxicated, her moistened eyes glimmered as she faced Masuma squarely and began to speak.

“I want to tell the truth today, but is that all right?”

“Must it be said?”

“Otherwise, it hurts too much.”
Ishi’s hand holding the sake cup trembled. “It hurts too much—I can’t hold it in anymore.”

Masuma poured sake for Ishi.
Ishi drank it in one gulp, then let her head drop limply.

“But maybe I can’t say it after all.”

“You don’t have to say it. I know.”

“But I want to say it.”

Masuma remained silent.
Ishi set down her cup. Seemingly unable to find words, she took rough breaths while wringing her intertwined fingers.

“At first, it didn’t mean anything.”
Ishi began speaking in a low voice, “Because there was the matter at Kiksuitei, I felt free to be unreserved. But each time I met you, I came to like you more and more—even though I shouldn’t have—until finally I ended up thinking about you all day long.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised even if I heard that.”

“Yes—”
Ishi nodded. “I knew that too—that Lord Masuma also liked me—and I thought believing this wasn’t just vanity… That’s why it hurt even more. You cared for me too, and I loved you enough to die… Yes, that’s right—I love Lord Masuma enough to die. But here in my chest, right here—”
Ishi pressed her chest.

“There was already someone else who entered my heart first—they’re still here even now. They won’t leave, and my chest is so small, so… Lord Masuma—” Ishi burst out as if her restraint had snapped, “Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

As the sun sank, the garden brightened starkly for a moment.
Probably because the land was elevated, the wind blew quite strongly, rustling the pine branches noisily.

Ishi wiped tears from eyes and cheeks and stood up to go replace the sake bottle.

7

Ishi, who had returned, was holding two sake bottles.
Placing one beside herself, she poured Masuma a drink with the other,

“You remember this, don’t you?”

With that, she took out a fan from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Though its frame and paper were peeling—momentarily puzzling him—he recognized it at once.

“You kept this thing?”

“I meant to keep it my whole life.”

“So this is what you meant by returning it.”

“Because keeping it would leave lingering feelings.”

Masuma stared fixedly into Ishi’s eyes.

“Why are you returning it today?”

Ishi took the sake bottle she had placed beside her, poured it into her cup, and tried to answer while looking back at Masuma.
At that moment, O-Mei came hurrying over.

“The guest’s attendant has arrived.”
O-Mei remained standing as she spoke. “He says it’s urgent business.”

“Tell him I’m not here,” Ishi interjected. “Even if you went out with me.”

Masuma stood up.
Ishi stretched out her hand and tried to grab his sleeve.
“Lord Masuma, I beg you.”

He quickly stepped out into the corridor.
He had felt an ominous premonition at the words "urgent business."
Nakata and Hori were waiting at the entrance.
They must have run here; they were still panting, and both were drenched in sweat.
Masuma knew his premonition had come true.

“They’ve sniffed us out,” Hori Kanbei said. “Notoya informed us—they say they’re planning to attack the residence.”

“Damn it, that’s bad—really bad.”

Masuma tried to compose himself.

“But is it certain?”

“It seems certain—we even know the time.”
“Of course I assumed their target was the investigation records,” Chinosuke said. “So I brought them here regardless.”

He tapped the large bundle he was holding.

“What sort of men are coming to attack?”

“I hear Toshima is leading them, with about fifteen or sixteen rōnin and ruffians.”

“Toshima—”
“Then it’s certain,” Masuma groaned. “Since he’s backed into a corner—but what time is it?”

“They said four o’clock, so they might already be breaking in. I told those who stayed behind to flee only after seeing them approach.”

By doing so, they would undoubtedly buy more time before being pursued.
Masuma nodded while rapidly formulating plans.
Before they could make their next move, we had to strike first.
Moreover, to minimize the commotion, everything needed to be executed with utmost speed.
Masuma hardened his resolve.

“Hori, go to the chief elder’s residence now.”
“What should I do?”
“Since Lord Kawase has already given his written approval, he should understand. Explain the situation and have him provide men to escort Hachimanya, Aoki, and Shimaya to the castle grounds.”
“You can hand these over to the town magistrate. Then deploy some of the men to key intersections and have them keep watch.”
“Aren’t we overstepping?”

“I’ll take responsibility,” Masuma said. “There’s a horse I rode here—use that one. Once you’ve made those arrangements, come back here. Nakata will stay with me.”

Hori immediately rushed out.

When he returned with Chinosuke, Ishi was still drinking alone.
And when the two entered, she smiled faintly, still holding her sake cup.
She seemed to have acknowledged Chinosuke with a nod, but the moment Masuma saw that faint smile, his heart lurched.

―Toshima... O-Ishi.

The two names connected.

"O-Ishi," Masuma said. "You knew."

Ishi’s lips parted, revealing her teeth.

"You knew what would happen at four today—that’s why you called me here. Isn’t it?"

“That person... that...”
Ishi’s tongue tangled.
Drool dripped from the corners of her lips as both pupils rolled upward.
Masuma shouted, ran over, and caught Ishi’s collapsing body.
“Ishi—what’s happening?”

In that moment, Chinosuke took the cup from Ishi’s hand and sniffed its contents.
Then he smelled the sake flask beside her—and let out a low cry.

“This is bad—it seems to be poisoned sake!”

Masuma’s face paled.
Ishi doubled over.

“Please… just like this…”

Her tongue was so tangled that her words were nearly unintelligible. Masuma lifted Ishi’s body and headed toward the veranda, saying, “Get water.”
Chinosuke ran off.
Masuma laid Ishi face down, pressed his knee against her solar plexus, and shouted while patting her back.

“Vomit. Get it all out.”

Ishi writhed and shook her head violently.
Masuma forced his fingers into Ishi’s mouth; her clenched teeth held tremendous force.
Masuma grabbed Ishi’s hair and forced her onto her back with enough force to snap her neck.
Then her jaw slackened, and his fingers slipped inside.
Masuma roughly forced his fingers deeper and pressed down on her tongue with all his strength.

“Water here,” said Chinosuke as he returned. “Did you get her to swallow anything?”

Ishi's body convulsed, and vomiting began immediately.
An indescribably foul smell—likely poison—spread through the air, and Ishi moaned as if in mortal agony.

“Oh right—I forgot the egg white!”
“I’ll bring the egg whites. Should I call a doctor as well?”

“We’ll handle that later. There’s Toshima to deal with.”

Chinosuke ran off.
Masuma tilted Ishi’s head to the side and fed her water mouth-to-mouth.
Ishi drank—whether she had given up or her strength had failed, she drank all that Masuma made her drink.

“Now vomit!” Masuma shouted, “Vomit it all out—everything in your chest too. Get rid of every last bit! Every last drop! Do you understand, Ishi?”

Ishi seemed to nod.
And she vomited again.
Tears spilled from Masuma’s eyes. As he patted Ishi’s back, he spoke in a choked voice.

“What a fool you are! Dying means losing your life—don’t you know if you die here, you’re dead for good? That’s even a line from plays—haven’t you heard it, Ishi?” He tried to laugh—though no laughter came—“Right—vomit more! Get it all out of your chest! Once you do, you’ll feel clean. I’ll even give you a reward myself.”

Chinosuke returned.
After placing two large bowls there, he immediately turned back to fetch more water.
Masuma continued to make her drink egg whites and then forcefully made her vomit.

“Please… from your mouth…”

Ishi said in a broken voice.
To Masuma, it sounded as though she had indeed said those words.
When he fed her mouth-to-mouth, Ishi’s lips clung fiercely to Masuma’s. In the darkening garden, among the pine trees, some bird began shrieking.

VIII

Hori Kanbei returned around seven o'clock.

Ishi was sleeping.
Inside the bedding encircled by a small screen, she lay on her back, gripping Masuma’s hand tightly with one hand.
The lamp’s light didn’t reach there, so her face appeared startlingly haggard.
She seemed to be in deep sleep, but would occasionally open her eyes and look anxiously at Masuma.
And the fingers gripping his hand would periodically twitch violently, tightening around his fingers.

Kanbei’s task had gone well.
Toshima and sixteen rioters attacked the lodgings, but the servants who had been left behind skillfully escaped.
When Matahachi realized he had failed, he set fire to the lodgings and fled.
Five of the rioters were captured, but the whereabouts of the remaining eleven and Toshima remained unknown.—Hachimanya Mansuke, Shimaya Shinbei, and Aoki Shigeemon were moved to the castle along with their respective clerks and detained under suspicion of colluding with the rioters.

Even while listening to this report, Masuma couldn’t leave Ishi’s side.
Whenever he shifted even slightly, Ishi’s hand would entangle his with violent force, her eyes snapping open in fearful alertness to look at him.

“It’s okay—I won’t go anywhere.”

Masuma brought his face closer to calm her.

“I’ll stay right here, so sleep. There’s nothing left to worry about now.”

Kanbei reported in a whisper and left the room immediately after finishing.
A short while later, Ishi uttered delirious words quite clearly.

“Alright… Ishi will treat…”

Her voice was low and hoarse, but the words came through clearly.
Masuma smiled softly and nodded in reply.—Around midnight, Ishi’s eyes suddenly opened, and she said her throat was dry and she wanted water.
When he gave her some, she drank deeply with evident relish.

“How do you feel? Any pain?”

“You... stayed with me... all this time.”

“See?”
Masuma shook the hand clutching his. “I’m not letting go—not ever.”

Ishi smiled with lips.
Masuma gently pointed to Ishi’s chest and said.

“Is there still anything left here?”

Ishi looked at Masuma suspiciously. Then she slowly shook her head and, in a hoarse, low voice, said while staring intently at Masuma.

“Everything’s out.”

“There’s nothing left inside?”

“Yes… completely… empty.”

Masuma nodded demonstratively.
Then strength surged into Ishi’s hand as she clenched his fingers painfully tight.
Tears spilled from Ishi’s eyes.

Toshima might come.

Having thought this, he ordered Hori and Nakata to remain vigilant.
No matter where Toshima fled, he would certainly come to Ishi’s place at least once.
He was certain he would come.
Yet that night passed uneventfully, quietly coming to an end.

When morning came, they learned about Toshima.
He had fled by seizing a ship called the Ebisu Maru along with three rōnin.
It was a ship owned by Hachimanya, but Toshima and three others reportedly drew their swords, threatened the boatman, and fled out to sea.
It was said that one of the boatmen had skillfully jumped into the sea midway to escape, swam back, and told the story.

Then it was safe—he would never come to Ishi’s place again.

Masuma began his work with relief.

Days of busyness continued.
Masuma dispatched an urgent envoy to Edo to press for matters and met with high-ranking officials.
He interrogated the rioters held by the town magistrate and frequently conversed with three official merchants.
It was learned that the attack on the lodgings had been Toshima’s own decision.
He had repeatedly committed misconduct between the merchants and the government office to an unmanageable extent.
Even if they had managed to seize the investigation records from Masuma’s hands, that alone would no longer have been enough to absolve them of guilt.
The meetings with the official merchants went well.
Their relationship with Toshima had been too deep-rooted, so it seemed the reckless act had become quite a burden for them.
At the same time, they also understood the reality that financial reform would eventually become unavoidable.
They were merchants; there was no reason they wouldn’t have had the wisdom to choose loss over ruin.

Toshima’s actions had backfired.

This would settle things peacefully.
Masuma became certain of this.

Indeed, that was exactly how it turned out—the auditor from Edo arrived in the latter part of that month, and the reform proposal he brought passed smoothly.
There were very few revisions, but the main components of the original proposal were accepted without a hitch.

Masuma successfully accomplished his duty.

“Alright, it’s done. Today, let’s have a drink—just the three of us.”

On a certain day in early November, Masuma said this and went to Kikutei-tei accompanied by Hori and Nakata. Drinking with his own money felt satisfying. As they grew drunk and both men began singing, he summoned all their regular waitresses. Of course, those from Boukoan came too, and Ishi appeared.

“This is a striped wallet,” Kanbei said, looking at Masuma with a flushed face. “Please don’t let it go empty.”

“At least cover the travel expenses,” Chinosuke added with some trivial remark.

The shamisen joined in, the drums followed, and the gathering erupted into a ridiculously lively commotion.
Then, Ishi, who had apparently been reserved until then,

“May I sit beside you?”

With that, she came to Masuma’s side and sat down.
However, no one seemed to notice.
Masuma signaled Ishi with his eyes and quietly slipped out of the tatami room.

“It must be too cold there,” Masuma said. “You won’t catch a cold, will you?”

“I won’t catch any cold—I’m fine.”

“Here, put this on.”

Masuma took off his haori and put it on Ishi.
The two stepped out from the corridor onto the veranda.

It wasn’t as cold as they’d expected, but the chill was sharp.
Because the sky was cloudy, the sea lay dark and no fishing boat lights were visible.
Masuma’s hand embraced Ishi’s shoulder.
Ishi’s hand was wrapped around Masuma’s torso.
The cold was so severe that their body heat felt all the warmer against each other.

“In four or five days, we’ll return to Edo,” Masuma said. “You’ve heard about it, haven’t you?”

Ishi nodded slightly.
As her body began trembling violently, Masuma pulled her close.

“But I... I just can’t...”

“Are you saying you don’t want to?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “I just can’t believe it’s real—even now, it doesn’t feel real at all. It’s like I’m living in a dream.”

“That’s fine—we can make it a dream that never fades for a lifetime.”

Ishi pressed the body close.
She tightened her grip on the arm wrapped around him, burying her face into Masuma’s chest.

“Please return that fan to me.”

“I’ll return it.”

“We can really go to Edo… can’t we?”

“Of course we can.”

Ishi choked back a sob.

“Then I’ll save quite a lot, won’t I?” she said between sobs. “—I won’t have to pay stain removal fees anymore, right? That’s how it is, isn’t it?”

Masuma remained silent and tightened his embrace.
Ishi leaned completely against him and began to cry softly.