Gillsing: Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you find Akiko plausible; that's really quite important to the story.

I suspect I know what you mean about the speed of unfolding. I'm not sure that would have worked with this bit of the story, because I don't think Akiko could have coped, but maybe in the continuation, where she'll have rather more resources.

But yes, pacing is hard, and, I suspect, even harder in a serial like this than in a novel. I'll keep working on it.