<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">The morning ceremonies were still busy, and Akira hadn’t missed one since he and Akiko had started going out. Akiko looked forward to seeing him, and getting a bit of time together every day, so she was disappointed when he turned up with an older woman, dressed in a kimono. It didn’t take long to work out that this must be his mother, and she hurried over to greet them.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah, there you are,â€ Akira said. “Mother, this is Akiko Tanahata. Akiko, this is my mother.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Pleased to meet you,â€ Akiko said, bowing.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“The pleasure is mine,â€ Mrs Takenaka replied, also bowing. “I’m afraid that my son is very thoughtless, but I hope that he isn’t causing you too much trouble.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No, not at all,â€ Akiko replied, suddenly realising that she had been nervous. The conventional apology, however, reassured her that Akira’s mother approved. “I hope that I can live up to his expectations.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Mrs Takenaka smiled at her, then.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Oh, I don’t think there’s much doubt about that.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">Akiko felt herself blushing, and for a moment didn’t know what to say.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Shall I show you to your seats?â€ she asked, taking refuge in the ceremony, and both Akira and his mother nodded.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">During the ceremony Akiko faced up to the loss of a chance to be alone with Akira, telling herself that it was good to have a chance to talk to his mother. She couldn’t quite master her own disappointment, however, even though they did both wait to speak to her as everyone else dispersed. Kazumi hurried inside to change for school, and Shiraishi spoke briefly to Mrs Takenaka before going to the office.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ms Tanahata,â€ Mrs Takenaka said as she approached, “Akira tells me that my husband is enshrined within the precincts.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Ah.â€ For a moment Akiko couldn’t think how to answer. “Er, yes.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you for your efforts on his behalf,â€ Mrs Takenaka said, bowing deeply. Akiko wondered how much Akira had told her about the curse; not too much, she hoped. “Would it be possible for me to pay my respects there?â€ Mrs Takenaka continued.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Of course. Please come this way.â€ Akiko led her to the small shrine, and then, when Akira beckoned her, left her alone there.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Mother really wanted to talk to father,â€ Akira said, apologetically. “She talks to the Buddhist shrine at home, but…â€ He looked back in the direction of the shrine, obviously slightly nervous.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“But that never replies,â€ Akiko supplied. “Are you sure this is a good idea?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“No,â€ he said, “but not telling her seemed even worse. How can I keep that sort of secret from her?â€ Akiko nodded in agreement. “We should wait for her,â€ he continued, putting his arm around Akiko’s shoulders, “but I imagine she will be there for some time.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">In the end, it was at least half an hour before Mrs Takenaka reappeared, her face showing that she had cried, and tried to hide the evidence. She bowed again as she approached.</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Would it be possible to have an o-fuda from my husband’s shrine to take home?â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Er, I suppose so. I’d better ask Revd Shiraishi,â€ Akiko replied. “Please come with me.â€</p>
<p style="margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 28.0px; font: 13.0px Optima;">“Thank you,â€ Mrs Takenaka replied. “I really appreciate it.â€</p>