<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Kazumi, are you still here?â€ Shiraishi sounded surprised, and when she looked at the clock Akiko was surprised as well. She got up, careful of her kimono, and walked slowly to the other room. Noriko had said that they should get as much practice as they could, so she was wearing a kimono most of the time around the house.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi was also in a kimono, kneeling at a low table with her homework spread out on it. She looked up, and then looked at the clock. “Oh! Is that the time?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Not even Akiko was fooled.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Is it too late to go home?â€ Shiraishi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I think it is,â€ Kazumi replied. “I’ll just call…â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No. Kazumi, this is the third time this week.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“I just get absorbed in my work,â€ she protested, but Shiraishi was having none of it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You deliberately stretch things out so that you can stay. You can’t keep doing this,â€ she lectured.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi deflated, and Akiko thought she looked as though she might really cry.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But I like it here,â€ she protested. “I like the shrine. I like you. I like Tamao. And I’m working here. You have to admit that it would be more convenient if I was here normally.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi looked at her in silence for several moments. Even Akiko thought it felt like a long time. Finally, the priest spoke.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Akiko,â€ she said, still looking at Kazumi, “what do you think?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Me?â€ Akiko was surprised.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You live here as well.â€ As Shiraishi said that, Kazumi turned to look at Akiko, her eyes pleading.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Well…â€ Akiko began, “I don’t mind Kazumi being here. She does help with the rituals. It’s your decision, Revd Shiraishi, but I don’t mind if she stays.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hmm,â€ the priest said. “I need to talk to your mother, Ms Miura. Stay here.â€ She disappeared off to the office, and Akiko and Kazumi could hear the sounds of the conversation, but not make out any words. Kazumi was fidgeting with her kimono, her books, anything, and looking anywhere in the room but at Akiko, although her eyes kept going back to the door, looking towards the office. Akiko started to feel quite uncomfortable, but she couldn’t think of a tactful way to leave. She’d have to come back to hear the decision, in any case.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">They heard the office door open, and Kazumi almost jumped, turning to the door and fixing her eyes on it.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi slid it open, and then smiled at Kazumi.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your mother says you’re old enough to leave school, so you’re old enough to leave home if that’s what you want.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Yay!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“You aren’t leaving school, though. You can move in here, but you are going to finish high school. Clear?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€ Kazumi looked delighted, and Akiko felt excitement in sympathy.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Shiraishi suddenly snorted with laughter.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“What?â€ Kazumi asked.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Your mother said that I wasn’t to let you develop any bad habits. I suppose I should try to stamp out the ones you have.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Hey! I don’t have any bad habits!â€ Kazumi protested. “I stopped selling my body.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Are you wearing knickers under that kimono?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Noriko said they were optional!â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Not while you’re living here.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Kazumi managed to pout for a moment, but she was too happy to keep it up for long.</p>