Akiko didn’t see Shiraishi again until breakfast the following day. She had been in no mood to talk to the priest, or anyone, for that matter, when she got back from the interview, going straight to her room and closing the door. She woke up with a bit of a headache, but resigned to explaining the situation.

As normal, Shiraishi was silent throughout breakfast, and Akiko decided to wait until she had finished before raising the issue. Akiko found that she didn’t have much appetite herself, and she ate little more than a few mouthfuls of rice. Finally, Shiraishi was finished, and Akiko cleared her throat.

“Er, Revd Shiraishi?â€

“Yes?â€

“I’ve been going to job interviews, you know.â€

“Mm. I noticed. Thank you.â€

“Yes, well. I… I don’t think Tamao wants me to get a job.â€

“I’m sorry?â€

“I think Tamao is actively trying to stop me getting a job.â€

“Why would you think that?â€ Akiko took a deep breath, and began telling the stories of her attempts to find a job. Shiraishi made occasional comments.

“They were trying to film you? You should tell the police.â€

“That was a mugging, Akiko. You really should tell the police.â€

“I’m sorry, why did the spilled coffee mean that you couldn’t work there? It isn’t like you spilled it.â€ Akiko blushed, as she realised that she had been avoiding telling that part of the story. She explained, keeping the details to a minimum, and found Shiraishi still apparently sceptical.

“If the coffee was that hot, I don’t think you could have got your clothes off in time. You should have been badly scalded.â€

“It was definitely that hot; the woman almost burned herself on the cup,â€ Akiko protested, defensively.

“Mm. And how quickly can you normally undress?â€

“Er, well, um.â€ Now Shiraishi was blushing as well.

“I’m sorry, that’s a rather odd question. Still, I hope you understand what I’m saying.â€

“You don’t believe me?â€

“Er, no. I <em>do</em> believe you. And I think Tamao must have been involved, or you would have been badly injured.â€

“So he was just trying to humiliate me?â€

Shiraishi laughed, rather awkwardly.

“I don’t know. This is all very new for me as well, you know.â€

“So, do you agree that Tamao is trying to stop me finding a job?â€ The priest sighed, and looked down at her hands, folded on the table.

“I think I do,â€ she said, without looking up. “I…â€ She paused again, and did look up. “I don’t understand what is going on, but something, quite likely Tamao, does seem to be willing to do almost anything to stop you getting a job.â€

Akiko nodded, and rested her head in her hands; the headache had been getting worse as she told her story.

“Given that,â€ the priest continued, “I don’t suppose I can ask you to contribute much money for the moment.â€ She laughed, briefly, but it wasn’t a terribly happy sound. “I guess that, if Tamao is causing the problems, it’s only fair for him to pay for the result.â€

Akiko nodded again, and stood up, her head swimming as she did so, forcing her to clutch the back of the chair for support.

“I’ll go and clean the precincts a bit, then. I should at least do something.â€