Yoko laughed. ‘That’s not going to happen. I would never buy a lottery ticket. It’s a waste of money. The probability of winning is too low.’

‘What if you saw a ticket lying on the street and picked it up, and it happened to be the winning numbers?’

She shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t pick it up.’

‘Let’s say that you did buy one, or you did pick it up. What would you spend it on? A round-the-world trip? Early retirement?’

Yoko put on the last stroke on her little toenail. ‘I’d do the same thing as I’ve been doing.’

‘Donate the money to charity?’

‘Yes.’ She closed the cap, took a newspaper, and used it to fan her nails. ‘I’m content with the way things are right now. I don’t think it’s necessary to make any drastic changes. The balance is nice, and introducing a new element would only upset the ratio and topple everything.’

‘Are you happy now?’

Yoko paused for a few seconds. ‘Yes, I’m happy. I’m happy now.’

But had she been lying back then? Had that been the reason for her slight hesitation?

•

‘Over here, sir,’ the shop assistant said, cutting short his thoughts.

Shoji followed her and made the payment. The cashier put the perfume inside a black plastic carrier bag and handed it to him. He went down to the arrivals hall, joining the queue for a taxi. Through the clear glass ceiling, Shoji saw dark clouds forming. Rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. When it was his turn to get into the taxi, the rain started to pour.

‘Where would you like to go, sir?’ the driver asked.

Shoji gave the name of his hotel as he buckled his seat belt.

The taxi left the airport and headed to the expressway. Purple bougainvillea bloomed by the roadside. The bright colour popped, blurred by rainwater. Shoji pressed his head against the cold glass window. He gazed at streams of cars and the endless number of overhead bridges.

Half an hour later, he arrived at his hotel. It was a business hotel recommended by Yoshioka. After Shoji checked in, a staff member helped him with his luggage and escorted him to his room.

‘Enjoy your stay, sir,’ the young man said.

Thanking him, Shoji slipped him some notes as a tip.

The room had a warm, earth-tone interior. A king-sized bed perched in the middle, plush and welcoming. Shoji went over to the window and opened the thick curtains. The rain had stopped. A stunning view of the sea and the city greeted him. It was the perfect time of day, just when the night was about to arrive. In the distance, white and grey buildings contrasted against colourful cargo ships in the water. The sea glistened and the shadows grew long.