<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko ran across the shrine grounds, her underwear tightly bunched and, she hoped, properly hidden, in one hand. She made it to the gate to the house gardens before anyone was close enough to require acknowledgement, and sighed with relief as she hurried back to her room. Shiraishi had just pushed the door open.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, there you are,â€ she said. “Get dressed quickly; there are a lot of people here.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I saw,â€ Akiko said, as she climbed in through the window. Shiraishi’s eyes dropped to her hand, and the priest blushed. “I was checking the kami forest…â€ Akiko felt the need to explain herself.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ Shiraishi was still blushing, but she nodded. “How is it?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Fine. No, better than that.â€ She dropped her underwear and started unfastening her belt; Shiraishi quickly skid the door shut, with a brief grunt of acknowledgement.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko was putting her hakui on when the door slid open a fraction, and Kazumi, in her school uniform, slipped into the room, carrying her vestments.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Sorry, Akiko. Revd Shiraishi said I should change in here; there are too many people to leave the other room closed.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah… OK.â€ It took Akiko a moment to catch up; Kazumi had already shed her blouse and was unfastening her skirt. “Too many people?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Dozens. All dressed up, too.â€ The girl was already picking up her hakui, and Akiko pulled herself out of her reverie, tying her belt and adjusting the collar before reaching for her hakama.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Despite her head-start, Akiko was only ready a few moments before Kazumi, as the younger girl finished tying her hair back.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ready?â€ she asked, and Kazumi nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Do you think we’ll see him?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko didn’t need to ask who “heâ€ was.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I have no idea.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I hope we do,â€ Kazumi said, and Akiko paused with her hand on the door.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I don’t know… Come on.â€ She slid the door open as Kazumi looked at her quizzically, and then followed her into the corridor.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">There really were dozens of people there, and they were all dressed formally.  All the older women were wearing kimono, as were a handful of the younger ones, and all the men were wearing suits. They were also waiting very quietly and respectfully. Akiko took a deep breath to calm herself, and bowed to them, aware of Kazumi following suit next to them, before walking calmly to the office.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked up as they entered.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, good. Just the tables, today. We don’t have anything close to enough chairs for everyone, so it’s probably best if we all stand.â€ She glanced out of the window, and moved towards the door. Akiko looked to see Noriko approaching, with another ujiko she recognised behind her. “Let’s give people a couple more minutes to arrive, and then we’ll start,â€ the priest said, as she left the room.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“See,â€ Kazumi said. “Dozens of people.â€ Akiko nodded as she picked up one of the tables, while Kazumi grabbed the second. “Do you think it will be like this every day?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko didn’t answer. She had just seen Akira enter the shrine grounds.</p>