“I’m sorry we can’t spend the evening together, Akiko, but I’ve got to go for drinks with the boss.â€

“Oh, that’s all right, Naoyuki. I understand.â€ Akiko wasn’t on the career track and was female, and so could get out of going for drinks most of the time; things were very different for Naoyuki. She was a bit disappointed, but not surprised. “How was Niigata?â€ She took a piece of sushi off the leaf as she asked, dipping it briskly in the soy sauce before eating it.

“Well, it’s a provincial city, isn’t it. No comparison with Tokyo, and only a few of them even realise it.â€ He reached for his own sushi, calling out to order another two. Akiko, realising that Naoyuki would, of course, be paying for lunch, did the same, before asking her boyfriend another question.

“And the meetings? How did they go?â€

“There didn’t seem to be any problems. Everything is moving forward.â€ His smile was much broader than his words seemed to warrant, and Akiko smiled in reply.

“Well done! So, when do they promote you?â€

“Oh, well…â€ Naoyuki didn’t respond directly, but Akiko could tell that he was pleased. It seemed like a good opportunity to broach the subject weighing on her mind.

“Er, it’s a change of subject, but…â€ She realised that she didn’t really know how to start talking about the shrine. <em>I’m hallucinating a giant snake</em> was definitely not a good opening gambit.

“No problem. What is it?â€ Naoyuki didn’t seem to have noticed her discomposure. Akiko decided to start from the most neutral point.

“I’ve been to my local shrine a couple of times in the last week.â€

“Oh?â€ Naoyuki didn’t really sound very interested, but then it wasn’t a very interesting opening.

“The first time was just to shelter from that big storm, but I went back over the weekend, in better weather.â€

“Really?â€

Akiko’s frustration started to build, as Naoyuki wasn’t giving her any openings to tell him what was really bothering her. She decided to try again.

“Apparently it’s a very old shrine.â€

“Well, I’m sure that’s very interesting, for old people. It doesn’t really have much to do with people like us, though, does it?â€

Akiko managed to suppress her sigh; it was obvious that she wasn’t going to be able to talk about it to Naoyuki.

“No, I suppose not.â€

“Was that the most interesting thing that happened to you while I was away?â€

“Of course.â€ Akiko injected some cheer into her voice. “You were away, so there was nothing interesting for me to do.â€

“Oh, you’re only saying that.â€ Naoyuki smiled as he said it, though, and Akiko could tell that he was pleased.

“It’s a real shame we can’t see each other tonight,â€ Akiko said, hoping that Naoyuki would forget she’d ever mentioned the shrine.

“It is. But I should be able to get away tomorrow, or at least the day after.â€

Akiko smiled, and nodded, deciding that raising the subject with Naoyuki had been a mistake.