He thought of Yoko. Memories he had tried so hard to bury started to resurface. ‘You know my girlfriend disappeared, don’t you? Your late husband hunted us down.’ His happiness at finding Mizuki began to dissipate as he remembered how he had failed Yoko.

‘Her name is Sasaki, isn’t it?’ Mizuki’s voice was gentle.

‘That’s right.’ He didn’t think he had ever told her Yoko’s name.

‘I heard what happened, but I couldn’t do anything. I blamed myself for it, especially since everything you did was to help me. I’m sorry for dragging you and her into my mess.’

He hadn’t expected her to say that. ‘Please don’t. It wasn’t your fault. I should be the one apologising. What I did was my decision, so the blame is all mine.’

Mizuki bit her lip. ‘You make me feel worse, saying that.’

‘That wasn’t my intention.’

‘But when it comes to Miss Sasaki, I might have an idea of what happened.’

Shoji tensed. How could that be possible? As far as he knew, the two of them were strangers.

Mizuki looked into his eyes. ‘You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?’

He returned her stare. ‘Do you know where she is?’

‘Not exactly, but what I found might be of interest,’ she said. ‘Unfortunately, I don’t have it here. Will you be able to come again tomorrow? Say, ten in the morning?’

•

That night, Shoji couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about what Mizuki had told him. She knew something about Yoko. Could it be that Yoko was unwell? The image of her motionless body lying in a white hospital bed sent shivers down his spine. Or what if she had been left somewhere to die?

These thoughts continued to run wild in his mind until the sunlight seeped through the white curtains. When had it become morning? Shoji hadn’t had any sleep. He got up and went to shower.

Mizuki probably noticed the dark rings under his eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Perhaps she was being polite. Escorting Shoji into the same office, she asked, ‘What do you want to drink?’

‘Coffee, please.’ He needed his caffeine fix.

She went into another room. He heard the sound of a coffee grinder. The office was fancy for an academic. Resting his back on the sofa, Shoji closed his eyes in an attempt to catch some rest. A rich, nutty aroma wafted into the room, awakening his senses. It reminded him of something, but he couldn’t remember what.

In the distance, the chatter of passers-by grew louder. Sunlight shone into the room, warming him up.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’ Mizuki put a cup of coffee and a glass of water on the table. ‘Is the sun too bright? Should I close the blinds?’

‘I’m fine.’