<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko found Akira a constant distraction during the ceremony. It wasn’t that he was doing anything; he was just there. She was sure he glanced her way rather more often than was strictly necessary, and she had to really concentrate when she was required to do something. Fortunately, she got through the whole thing without making any mistakes, and without any manifestation of the kami. Kazumi was visibly disappointed at the end, as were a number of the attendees, particularly those who had not been at the previous day’s festival. No-one said anything, however, simply handing over their offering envelopes to Shiraishi with thanks for the ceremony.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">With the ceremony over, Akiko found herself wondering what to do about Akira. <em>The kegare is defeated,</em> she reminded herself. <em>There’s no problem now.</em> She glanced his way again, and quickly looked away when she realised that he was looking at her. Not before she had seen him look away, though, and she was almost sure he had blushed a little.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira was dawdling at the back of the group, and after handing over his envelope he slipped away into the shrine. <em>Gone to pay his respects to his father,</em> Akiko thought, looking in that direction.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko!â€ Shiraishi called. Akiko looked round to see the priest glancing at Kazumi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, sorry, nothing. Kazumi will do it.â€ Kazumi was nodding vigorously. “You have some free time,â€ the priest finished, a little awkwardly, before hurrying inside. Kazumi followed, but looked back to grin at Akiko and give her a thumbs-up.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>What on earth?</em> Akiko wondered, before it hit her. <em>They think I want time alone with Akira.</em> That realisation was quickly followed by another. <em>That’s not a bad idea.</em></p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She waited a little longer, and then started walking slowly towards the small shrine. She could see Akira there, and saw him finish paying his respects. He remained standing in front of the shrine, and gave no sign that he had noticed her as she came up to stand behind him.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akira…â€ she said, quietly. He visibly jumped, and then, a moment later, turned to face her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko. It’s a very nice morning.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It is,â€ she replied, really not wanting to talk about the weather.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, I mean <em>really</em> nice. Outside the shrine. Things feel much better than they have for, well, it feels like months, but I suppose it’s really only weeks.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really? Well, I suppose it should, after the purification.â€ <em>Good to have some confirmation, but I really ought to check,</em> she thought. This still wasn’t what she wanted to talk about, though.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, that was really quite spectacular. The fire and all that.â€ Akira was blushing, suddenly, and Akiko felt herself doing the same as she remembered what she had been wearing. And what Akira had been wearing. He was in pretty good shape, she thought.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The silence stretched on a bit, as Akiko searched for something to say.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?â€ she asked, suddenly.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akira was visibly shocked, and Akiko hoped that she was hiding her nervousness better. That got harder as he didn’t reply.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Then, at last.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes. Yes, that would be very nice. I’ll come and pick you up at six. Is that OK?â€ His face relaxed, and he smiled at her.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s fine,â€ Akiko smiled back.</p>