<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko sat nervously at the table, glancing at Kazumi, who seemed equally nervous. The girl had moved all her stuff over from her mother’s that day, and Akiko had seen it piled in her room, waiting to be sorted out. Shiraishi had said that she wanted to talk to both of them, and had been both serious, and rather mysterious, refusing to tell them what it was about. Akiko took another deep breath, to calm herself, and glanced at the screen around the feather robe. Was it about that, she wondered.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi came in, with a tray of green tea and Japanese sweets, and carefully set them down in front of Akiko and Kazumi, before sitting down. She looked at the table for a while, and then at the ceiling, finally taking a deep breath.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“A lot has happened in the last few months,â€ she began, and Akiko realised that she was nodding in agreement without even thinking about it. She remembered the first time she had stumbled into the shrine; was it really only a few months ago? Kazumi was nodding, too. “I’m really not sure…â€ the priest broke off, considering again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Where do we go from here?â€ she asked, finally, looking at both of them. Akiko didn’t have an immediate answer, and Kazumi said nothing either. Shiraishi sighed. “I suppose hoping you would have an answer was a bit too optimistic,â€ she said, picking up her tea. After a sip, she started speaking again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Many of the ujiko have now seen Tamao. This has provoked a sudden increase in devotion, which is hardly surprising; he is very impressive. And obviously real.â€ She stopped, and shook her head. “Easy things first. The increase in devotion means that the shrine is financially secure. If you like, I can afford to employ you both properly, get you into the workers’ health and pension schemes. We’ll also be rebuilding, in some form.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi was about to say something, but Shiraishi held up a hand.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Just a moment, please. The shrine needs more staff now, so I would be happy to hire you both as formal miko. You are clearly qualified by now. But you do need to think about the future. Akiko is already, forgive me, old for a miko. Kazumi could do it for years without raising questions, but it’s not a long-term career.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, I want you both to think about the priesthood.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko couldn’t find anything to say through her shock. Kazumi found her tongue a little faster.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The priesthood? Us?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You’ve both been chosen and marked by the kami,â€ Shiraishi pointed out. “I could hardly refuse to recommend you.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What does that involve?â€ Akiko asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, more training. You have to learn to write norito, and more about the history of Shinto. You’ve actually learned most of the ritual movements already, so you have a bit of a headstart. Kokugakuin University, in Tokyo, runs intensive training courses, and I think that would be the best way for you to do it, Akiko. Kazumi, on the other hand, should actually attend Kokugakuin as a student if she wants to go that way.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Wouldn’t I be a priest sooner if I took the intensive course,â€ she asked, and Shiraishi nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You would, but I think a bit more maturity would be appropriate in a priest.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You sound like my mother,â€ Kazumi protested, and Shiraishi just nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s my job. You aren’t an adult yet.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmph.â€ Kazumi subsided, and Shiraishi looked between the two of them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You don’t have to decide immediately, of course. Kazumi still has a year and a half of high school left.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ll do it,â€ Kazumi suddenly burst out.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Really?â€ Shiraishi sounded as though she didn’t quite believe it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes.â€ Kazumi took a deep breath, and then broke out smiling again. “Yes. That’s exactly what I want to do. How can I do anything away from the shrine, now that I’ve seen Tamao? How can I neglect the kami for anything else? And it’s something I can do. I don’t need supernatural powers, like Akiko.â€ She smiled again, nodding firmly. “I’ll go to the university, and study to be a priest.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi was smiling as well.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’m very glad you feel that way, Kazumi. In fact…â€ She paused. “No, never mind. That’s not important right now. Let’s get you to the university first.â€ She turned to Akiko. “Akiko, what about you?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was feeling envious of Kazumi, because she still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know,â€ she replied. “This wasn’t something I asked for; it just happened to me.â€ Shiraishi nodded sympathetically, and Akiko went on. “While there was a crisis, I really had to stay here, and fight the kegare. But there isn’t a crisis any more.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But you’ve seen Tamao!â€ Kazumi protested. Akiko nodded, and paused to gather her thoughts.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I’ve seen him. He is glorious. But do I have to organise my whole life around him? It’s great that you want to, Kazumi, but I…â€ She fell silent again, and could feel herself blushing. “I have the chance of a normal life, with Akira,â€ she said, at last. “It’s what I always wanted.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“So, you don’t want to train?â€ Shiraishi sounded disappointed, and Akiko quickly shook her head.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I wanted a normal life before I saw Tamao. I still want it now, but…â€ She searched for the right words, and finally gave up. “Things are more <em>complicated</em> now,â€ was the best she could manage. She looked at Kazumi and Shiraishi, and was relieved to see understanding on the priest’s face, at least. “I just don’t know what I should do with my life.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe Tamao still has plans for you,â€ Kazumi suggested. Akiko glanced at the screen, and the robe beyond, and nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe he does. Maybe I don’t want to go along with his plans, though.â€ Kazumi looked shocked, but Shiraishi just laughed.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I promise to do my best to keep him under control if you do decide to live a normal life,â€ she said. “But, for now, do you want the formal miko job?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked at the priest, thinking, and was surprised to see Shiraishi slowly blush. Did she think she was being too pushy? Akiko had to think about the question, but in the end she nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you. I don’t know where I’m going, but I can’t leave here yet.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“There is still too much I don’t understand.â€</p>