The memory of the dream remained vivid after Akiko woke up, even when she had got out of bed. In the toilet, she remembered squatting in the shrine, right in front of Naoyuki and Megumi, and was horribly embarrassed even as she lectured herself that it was just a dream, and a particularly weird one at that.

The sound of the rain on the window reminded her of the polluted rain at the end of the dream, which they had ignored.

She opened the rice cooker, and for a moment the grains of rice were the maggots that had attacked the giant snake; she could almost see them writhing, and had to close the lid again for a moment to recover her composure. <em>Bizarre dream, nothing more,</em> she told herself.

“What’s the matter?â€ Naoyuki’s voice came from over by the door, and she looked over. “Not that I disapprove, of course.â€ He smiled at her, sliding into a leer, and she suddenly realised that she was only wearing her pants. How on earth could she have forgotten to pull a robe on? “Will you be eating breakfast like that?â€ Akiko could tell Naoyuki liked the idea, and a part of her wanted to, even if the embarrassed part of her was trying to shout it down. Then the cold part made her shiver, and she shook her head, dashing for the bedroom.

“On reflection, no. Maybe in summer.â€

“I’ll look forward to summer, then!â€ Naoyuki patted her behind as she ran past, and then grabbed her for a kiss as she was trying to get the gown on. “Do you have to do it up? It’ll still keep you warm.â€

“It’ll get in the food. Now let me get breakfast.â€ Naoyuki slipped his hands inside the robe, running them over her skin and then pushing down on her pants.

“You can close the robe if you take these off.â€

“Naoyuki! You’ll be late for work!â€ Akiko twisted away, pulling the robe shut and hurrying into the kitchen to cover her embarrassment.

“True, alas. I’d better shower.â€

Naoyuki disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Akiko to set the table. Laying out the breakfast things reminded her of the dream, of putting the picnic food onto the ground sheet, before the whole area was devastated by their litter.

Shaking her head, she realised that she had become distracted again. <em>This is no good,</em> she told herself.<em> I have to concentrate, at least when I get to work. Why am I dreaming silly environmental allegories anyway? It’s not like it has anything to do with my situation.</em>

Still, the dream kept coming back to her, all three of them laughing and joking amid the devastation, completely oblivious to it even though she could remember every detail with perfect clarity. There seemed to be some significance to the dream, something that Akiko couldn’t quite place.

She suddenly realised that she was standing stock still in the centre of the room, thinking about a dream with that stupid snake in. She had to stop herself thinking about it.

When Naoyuki came in to eat, already smartly dressed in his suit, Akiko’s pants were neatly folded in front of his plate, and she was sitting quietly in her robe, blushing bright pink, and staring at the table.

He didn’t bother asking why she seemed a little distracted.