She glanced at the list. Most of the items were coffee-based, but she wasn’t a coffee drinker.

‘I’m going to order hot chocolate,’ he said, seemingly reading her mind. ‘Would you like the same?’

She nodded, and he went to the counter.

Professor Goda was exactly how she had imagined him — friendly and considerate. He might not have been particularly good-looking, but he was warm. He returned to their table, balancing two mugs of hot chocolate in one hand, and a platter of mini sandwiches in another.

‘Small bites for sharing.’ He put everything on the table. ‘Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like.’

She shook her head. ‘This is fine.’

He took a seat in front of her.

‘You finally returned to Japan,’ she said.

He nodded. ‘Yes, my son and I.’

Mizuki tried not to flinch. For someone his age with a respectable job, it was only natural he was a family man.

‘I like it here,’ he continued. ‘I don’t need to wake up early to prepare breakfast. Around my house, there are lots of supermarkets and convenience stores I can buy cooked food from. In the past, I always did the cooking. I never got used to American food. I guess I’m a Japanese man through and through.’

‘What about your wife?’ Mizuki asked in a small voice. ‘Doesn’t she cook?’

‘Ah, my wife …’ He paused. ‘She’s no longer around.’

Mizuki averted her eyes. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

‘I mean, she’s still alive. We got divorced and she remarried.’ Professor Goda reached for his drink and took a sip. ‘The hot chocolate in this café is good. They use real chocolate. Drink it before it gets cold.’

Mizuki did as he said.

‘Did you find a job in Tokyo?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’ She decided to push her luck. ‘But I’ve been thinking of quitting. The hours are too long.’ That was only partly true. Even though Mizuki worked until late every day, it was never an issue. She didn’t have anything to do at home and liked the extra income.

•

‘And the gamble paid off,’ Shoji commented.

‘His secretary was expecting, so he needed maternity cover,’ Mizuki said. ‘He warned me it wouldn’t be a permanent position, but I agreed to take it. As luck would have it, once the baby was born, my predecessor decided she no longer wanted to work. I took over her position.’

‘Everything worked out in your favour.’

‘You could say that.’ She sipped her drink. ‘But if you think that we’re together, then you’re mistaken. I support him professionally as his secretary, and personally as his friend. There is no romantic relationship between us.’

He found it hard to believe. ‘Aren’t you in love with him?’

‘Yes, but there is only one woman in his life — his ex-wife,’ she said with a rueful smile. ‘What about you, Shoji?’