The following morning, Shiraishi was quiet, as usual, as she ate breakfast, but as soon as she finished she stood up, cleared her throat, and looked straight at Akiko. Akiko, still eating, quickly put her chopsticks down and waited. It was a few moments before Shiraishi actually began talking.

“I think you should make some contribution to your living expenses.â€

Akiko felt horribly embarrassed, realising that she should have offered sooner.

“Um, yes, of course. Sorry. Ah, how much?â€

“About 20,000 yen per week would be good.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t looking at Akiko as she said that.

“What?â€ Akiko reckoned that she could have kept living in the manga cafes for that sort of money; in any case, it was money she didn’t have.

“The shrine isn’t made of money, you know. Our most loyal supporter just hanged himself, and there are few other people coming here. If you’re going to live here, you need to contribute.â€

“I don’t have that sort of money! That’s the problem!â€

“Well, maybe you should try to get a job, then.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t shouting, but she was very definite. Akiko started her retort before she really realised what she was doing.

“What do you think I was doing? There aren’t exactly lots of jobs floating around at the moment.â€

<em>I’m arguing with the person who is offering me free accommodation,</em> she realised. <em>I have to stop this.</em>

“Well, look harder.â€ Shiraishi shot back. “I’ve put a roof over your head; you can hardly expect me to put food in your stomach as well.â€

“Fine.â€ Akiko stood up. “I’ll look for a job. <em>If</em> your kami will let me.â€

“Oh yes, blame Tamao. It must be his fault you got fired and can’t get another job. After all, you’ve been trying for <em>days.</em>â€ The sarcasm was heavy in Shiraishi’s tone, and the priest was looking at Akiko now. Akiko winced, because she couldn’t easily deny what Shiraishi was saying. But still, it seemed unfair; the kami <em>was</em> picking on her, she was sure.

“I thought you were going to believe me,â€ she said, as her parting shot, and stormed out of the room.

As she got changed, as quickly as possible, she started feeling horribly guilty. Shiraishi was doing her a large favour, and her request wasn’t basically unreasonable, even if the amount was rather more than Akiko could afford. Why on earth had she let herself start arguing? And how could she face Shiraishi?

Well, she had an answer to the second question: if she could show that she was seriously searching for a job, she should be able to talk to the priest, and maybe apologise. She checked the charge on her cell phone — charged on the shrine’s electricity, she realised — and grabbed her bag. She peered out into the corridor, but there was no sign of the priest. Seizing the moment, she darted out and hurried to the entrance, pulling on her coat and stepping into her shoes as she rushed out of the building and the shrine precincts. She managed to escape without being spotted.