<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The festival was less than a week away, and the protesters were not letting up on the pressure. The posters had drawn attention, and Shiraishi had organised a scheme for people and businesses to sponsor lanterns. Akiko was astonished at how many people had, especially when Shiraishi pointed out that the festival was already in the black. She’d even started talking about saving up for proper mikoshi, although apparently a proper mikoshi would cost almost as much as a new building for the shrine.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Noriko and Kazumi were still coming every day, Kazumi quite openly complaining that she felt lousy when she wasn’t at the shrine. Noriko was less vocal about it, but when Akiko asked her, she admitted that she hadn’t been feeling well lately, and did feel better at the shrine. The pall of kegare over the city meant that Akiko was not that surprised.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The kegare was also reaching into the edge of the shrine grounds. She and Shiraishi had had to start purifying the grounds twice a day, morning and evening, and they were even thinking about whether a noon purification would be wise. The problem with that, however, was that they were constantly being called out to purify the homes of the ujiko and their friends. So far, all the purifications inside houses had been successful, but Akiko was sure that the kegare was getting heavier.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">She found herself praying that the festival would work. Which didn’t really make much sense.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Noriko normally arrived just after the morning purification, but that day she arrived before it, with Mr Fujimura. He greeted Shiraishi politely, and asked to attend the purification before discussing things with her. Akiko could easily guess what he wanted to talk about, and quickly shifted to look at his kegare. He had more than usual, but it looked superficial, insects and mould that had fallen off the polluted things around him. Really, he was as clean as ever.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">After the purification, Shiraishi asked him what he wanted.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Can we talk privately?â€ he asked</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“If it’s about the festival, I’d rather talk here.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mr Fujimura looked at her for a moment, apparently thinking, and then nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Very well.â€ He paused, looking around the shrine as if gathering his thoughts. “The festivals at a shrine play a vital role in setting its character, and in determining the example it sets to the local community. I’m sure you agree.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes, of course.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, can you not also see that this festival would set entirely the wrong sort of example? Men and women running around virtually naked! Is that likely to promote respect for the kami?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I would say that “virtually nakedâ€ is overstating the case, Mr Fujimura. They will be wearing happi and loincloths.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“People are calling it a naked festival,â€ he pointed out.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s beyond my control,â€ Shiraishi said.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But my point is that it matters what people think of the shrine, what impression it gives. This festival is creating the wrong impression.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi frowned, apparently thinking.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That is true.â€ Mr Fujimura began to smile, but the priest continued. “However, the relationship between the shrine and the kami is more important. The kami has asked for this festival. Whatever people think, we are going to hold it.â€</p>