There were still people gathered near the entrance to the shrine, and Akiko wondered whether they would have trouble getting in. In the event, however, it was easy, with nothing more than a few hostile looks. The shrine precincts were cold, and Akiko shivered a little in her vestments; she remembered Shiraishi saying something about miko wearing long thermal underwear in winter, and understood why.

She had just finished changing into her normal clothes when the doorbell rang. Akiko arrived in the entrance hall just as Shiraishi was opening the door. Mr Wakabayashi was waiting outside. Akiko stiffened, even as he smiled and bowed.  What did he want <em>this</em> time?

“Revd Shiraishi, could I come in and speak to you?â€

“You can speak to me here. I will not sell you the shrine.â€

Mr Wakabayashi just smiled, and Akiko felt herself go cold. She didn’t like that smile, not in the slightest.

“You borrowed a large sum of money recently, secured on the land, did you not?â€

“None of your business.â€ Shiraishi was clearly trying to keep her annoyance in check. Akiko stayed in the background, not sure what she should do, but sure that it was better for her to be there.

“Oh, but I am afraid it is. The company from which you borrowed the money was having cash flow problems, and was willing to sell the debt to me.â€

Akiko didn’t quite manage to suppress a gasp, and she took a step forward before catching herself.

“I don’t believe you.â€ Shiraishi’s response was flat, but Akiko could not tell whether it was sincere. Wakabayashi shrugged and reached into his bag.

“This is why I suggested that you let me in. If you would look at these papers, you will see that it is quite in order.â€

Shiraishi almost snatched the offered papers from him, looking through them, her body becoming visibly tense and her face reddening as she did so. Finally, she looked up, her lips pressed firmly together.

“All right,â€ she said, after a pause. “It looks like you now own our debt. We have been making the repayments, and we will continue to do so. You only get the land if we default.â€

“That is true, of course. I am, however, willing to cancel the loan and pay you one billion yen for the land. You must admit that that is a good deal.â€

In purely financial terms, it did sound like a good deal to Akiko. In fact, it sounded like he would lose money on the deal, no matter what he built on the plot. City regulations wouldn’t let him build enough flats to recoup that sort of money. But if he wasn’t just a greedy developer, what was he?

“I have told you over and over again that I will not sell.â€ Shiraishi wasn’t quite shouting, but Akiko imagined that the self-control must be hard for her.

“In that case, can I ask you to take another look at the loan agreement you signed? Particularly clause 32.â€

He held out a sheaf of paper, which Shiraishi almost snatched from him, leafing through it. Akiko moved up to read it over Shiraishi’s shoulder. Clause 32 gave conditions under which the contract could be ended. Akiko read it over, and then read the last one again, as the blood drained from her face. Shiraishi’s grip tightened on the paper as she read it as well.

“In accordance with that clause,â€ Wakabayashi said, “I hereby give you formal notice that you have one week to repay 80% of the initial loan.â€