They returned from the bank in a good mood. Wakabayashi had been noticeably sour as he accepted the money, and acknowledged that the loan had been cleared. Even the protesters gathered at the foot of the steps couldn’t dampen their mood.

“I hope you’re ready for the long haul,â€ Shiraishi said to them, as they passed.

“What are you talking about? You’ll be out in a week.â€

“Not any more. The shrine isn’t going anywhere. <em>You</em> might as well give up. Excuse me.â€ The priest hurried up the steps before the protesters could say any more, but she was grinning when they reached the top.

“Oh, that felt good. To actually have something to say to them!â€ Akiko smiled back. A victory was good, even one like this. The empty space in the shrine grounds reminded Akiko that they no longer had the money to rebuild, and they certainly won’t going to borrow again.

Back inside the house, Akiko suddenly remembered the other part of Hideo Takenaka’s message. They had acted on the message about the shrine; it was time for her to pass on his message to Akira.

She sat with the phone in her hand for at least ten minutes before she got up the nerve to call, and even then she only managed to ask him to come to the shrine. <em>Better to do it face-to-face,</em> she told herself.

It was no better when Akira arrived at the shrine, however.

“What did you want to talk to me about?â€ Akiko wasn’t at all sure how to answer that question.

“Let’s go to see your father’s shrine.â€ It seemed like an appropriate place for the conversation, and it bought Akiko a bit more time. Not that she really had any use for it, she realised. She had spent hours trying to think of a good way to start the conversation, without any luck, and she was hardly likely to get inspiration in the couple of minutes it took to walk to the small shrine. Akira paid his respects, giving her another few seconds, but then she couldn’t put it off any longer. Akira was looking at her, a question clear on his face, although he said nothing.

“Ah, Mr Takenaka, you know that I sometimes see the kami.â€

“I… well, you saw my father during the fever. Yes.â€ He looked nervous now, almost as nervous as Akiko felt.

“Yes. Yes, well. I… I saw him again. Yesterday.â€

“Oh?â€ Akiko had no idea how to read Akira’s tone at that point, so she just pressed on.

“He said to give you two messages.â€

“Two? Well?â€

“One was the password for the encrypted directory. It’s “obviouslyâ€, in English.â€

“The encrypted… Oh. Oh, I see.â€

“There is an encrypted directory, then?â€

Akira nodded, apparently lost in thought for a moment.

“Yes, there is, on his personal computer. I’ve been wondering what was in it.â€ He shook his head, and looked back at Akiko. “You said there were two messages?â€

“Yes.â€ The second one was even more awkward, now that she came to say it. “He said… He said to tell you…â€ She took a deep breath. How could she say this in an appropriate way? She had to just say it.

“He said he was proud of you for continuing the company.â€

“Re… really?â€ Akira sounded like he couldn’t quite believe it. “He said he was proud of me?â€ Akiko nodded, and Akira looked away, staring at the shrine.

It was a few moments before she realised he was crying.