“Yes, one moment.” Lieko searches for Cybelle’s key in her purse. “Sorry, I just had them in my hand. I don’t know what made me put them away …”

“Sheesh, big enough purse huh, Yosh?” The man elbows Yoshino. “What does she carry around in there, her first-born child?!” He laughs so hard it rings down the hall and makes her cringe. She turns away to hide the pained look on her face. Good luck, Yoshino wishes the young man’s new neighbours. She pretends to admire her surroundings and the heavy metallic doors to the adjacent apartments. Not much difference between now and the last time she was here two weeks prior. She remembers Cybelle saying other than Halloween and other holidays, there are no decorations on the walls to show that anyone lives behind those doors.

Lieko fishes the key out of her massive purse and unlocks the door to the apartment. “Please, Andrew-sensei, after you. Ah, ah! Wait! Here, Andrew-sensei. We must take off our shoes before we go in.”

“I don’t care, you can come in with your shoes on. You don’t have to be so uptight. It’s my place.” Andrew trudges on inside. Lieko and Yoshino grimace, but remove their shoes regardless. “Holy shit, this is tiny.”

Now it’s Lieko’s turn to cringe. “Actually, it’s much bigger than many apartments in Japan. Cybelle liked its size. Anyway, you have television, kotatsu, which I will show you how to turn on later, the kitchen is here —”

“You call this a kitchen?!”

“Yes, I’m sorry it is small, but it has everything: sink, toaster oven, fridge, and cupboards. And over this way, here is the washroom. See? Toilet room is here —”

“Geez, things just get smaller and smaller around here, don’t they?”

“— and, uh,” Lieko laughs nervously. “Here is sink to wash hands and brush teeth, and all cleaning supplies are in this cupboard underneath, and across is your washing machine. And this room is your shower. There are many buttons in Japanese, so I will show you —”

“Well, I know a bit of Japanese. And Cybelle emailed me all the instructions already.”

“Ah, I see. But …” Lieko folds her arms. “This apartment will not have internet until you get your bank account and cellphone. It takes a very long time to —”

“Isn’t there a Starbucks nearby? I can just use Wi-Fi. Or the one at the school.”

“Eeto … well, the nearest Starbucks was at the station, and Zozo does not have Wi-Fi, so you would have to —”

“What? Are you kidding me?” Andrew swears. “Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll figure them out. You know, aside from everything being way too small, it’s not bad. I thought Cybelle lived here for years. This place looks brand new.”

“Yes! As you can see, Cybelle cleaned very hard, so please, maybe next time, you take off your shoes?”