Akiko stared unexpectedly hard at Jack. ‘Why are you defending her?’

‘And why are you attacking her?’ replied Jack. ‘This isn’t like you. Can’t you be more friendly?’

‘Well, she’s certainly being friendly with you.’

Jack sighed. ‘Akiko, there’s no need to be jealous, I –’

‘Jealous? Of her?’ Akiko shot him an affronted look and crossed her arms. ‘Jack, you do what you want. This is your country. I’m only a guest. If you prefer a rose to a sakura blossom, that’s your choice. I’m just trying to protect you, that’s all. Goodnight.’

With that, she turned on her heel and strode off towards her chamber, leaving Jack alone on the gallery. He gazed up in bewilderment at the stars, wondering what he’d said to upset her. He imagined she was just tired from the journey.

But as he stood in the darkness, listening to the whinny of the horses in the stables, Jack thought again about what Akiko had said. Was she right about not trusting Rose? It was true that his only acquaintance with Rose before last week consisted of a childhood kiss under Moorgate. But it was Rose who had led them to Mrs Winters, and suggested seeking out the miniaturist, and was now guiding them through a country he was no longer familiar with.

Rose was a godsend … wasn’t she?

20: Target Practice

The next morning, by the time they’d polished off a breakfast of buttered bread and sage, the ostler had their horses saddled and ready to ride. Jack tipped the man, then set off out of town with his friends. Along the highway a mist hung over the fields, the dew glistening in the early-morning sunlight. Rose led the way, followed by Jack and Yori, with Akiko trailing a little behind. Besides a polite ‘Good morning’, Akiko had not said much.

‘I think she’s homesick,’ Yori whispered to Jack, noticing him look back several times to check on her.

‘You think so?’ said Jack. He hadn’t mentioned the previous night’s quarrel to his friend, but maybe that explained why Akiko was being so distant with him.

Yori nodded and offered him a weary smile. ‘I’m starting to appreciate how you must have felt, arriving in Japan. Everything is so different, so alien … the food, the beds, the people … it takes time to grow accustomed to it …’ He gazed longingly at the rolling meadows with the mist beginning to lift from them.

‘Do you want to go home too?’ asked Jack, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

‘We haven’t found your sister yet!’ Yori replied heartily.

Jack noticed that his friend hadn’t directly answered his question, and he thought this was telling in itself. Jack realized Yori was homesick, but doing his best to hide his true feelings from him.