<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko, tell me honestly. What do you think about the wild festival?â€ Shiraishi was pacing again, but not from anger this time.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er…â€ Akiko wasn’t sure how to answer. “Well, we have to hold it.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But is it appropriate?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“It’s very appropriate to Tamao’s Aramitama. Carrying the kami around in a mad race? Yes, that seems to fit perfectly.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“And the nudity?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ Akiko could feel herself blushing. “I’m sure we could do something about that. I don’t know. Have everyone wear coats or something.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Happi coats?â€ Shiraishi asked. Akiko pictured the short coats that people often wore at festivals.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well, we’d have to tie them closed, at least for the women.â€ She paused, looking at the priest and thinking about her reactions. “Revd Shiraishi, weren’t you more dubious about the festival?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That was before people started criticising the tradition of my shrine! Inappropriate, indeed.â€ She sighed. “Even if the happi coats would work, we can’t afford the mikoshi. And I really don’t think we can do the festival without them.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Remembering the visions, and the images in the record book, Akiko had to agree. The mikoshi had looked spectacular, and very, very expensive. Before she could make any suggestions, however, the doorbell rang again.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Who is it this time?â€ Shiraishi sounded exasperated, but went to the door anyway, Akiko tagging along in case it was important.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, Akira. Nice to see you.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Nice to see you, too.â€ He paused for a moment, looking at them. “Is everything all right? There were no protesters, but you don’t look happy.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Quickly, they filled him in on the problems, first the fight, and then the problems with the wild festival.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You are sure you have to hold this festival?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yes,â€ Akiko said, quickly, and Shiraishi was also nodding. “The kami told us to.â€ Akira looked surprised, and a bit sceptical, looking between them as if waiting to be let in on the joke. Slowly, his expression changed, becoming more fearful.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The kami…â€ he began, and then shook his head. “In that case, you really do have to hold it. Let me know if I can help.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Have you got a spare twenty million yen or so for the mikoshi?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, sorry…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I was teasing, Akira. Thank you for the offer, we will need all the help we can get. Anyway, what can we do for you?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah. Yes. Er… I came to talk to Akiko, actually.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh.â€ The priest seemed nonplussed for a moment, but then she got to her feet, nodding. “Well, then, I’ll just, er, go and, mm, check on the shrine grounds.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko looked up, a bit puzzled, but Shiraishi had already hurried out of the room.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, Akiko,â€ Akira began, and Akiko looked back at him. “I was wondering whether you’d like to have dinner again this week.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“That’s very kind, but I don’t think I can. There’s too much going on at the shrine. And probably outside…â€ Akiko fell silent as she realised just how stricken Akira looked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>I’m an idiot,</em> she thought. <em>How could I not have noticed until now? And what do I do?</em></p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Maybe when things have settled down a bit?â€ she ventured. Akira still didn’t look happy, but he nodded, and, after a few stilted pleasantries, excused himself.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;"><em>Well, that’s an additional complication I didn’t need,</em> Akiko thought, as she cleared the table.</p>