Chapter 12: The Dowry

The industry New Year reception filled the Kujaku Room with eight hundred people in dark suits.

Hotels, airlines, department stores, every sweets maker in Tokyo.

It was the same room, under the same chandeliers.

The round tables were gone, and long buffets and standing bars filled the floor.

Chiaki walked in on Kaname's arm.

Heads turned all the way across the room.

"Smile," Kaname said, not moving his lips.

"I am smiling."

"You're doing the face you do before you reject a counteroffer."

"That is my smile."

He looked down at her, and the corner of his mouth moved, and two women from an airline actually stopped talking to watch it.

Setsuko held court by the windows in a black kimono with a pine pattern.

Men twice her size bowed every time she tapped her cane.

When she saw Chiaki she lifted one finger, which Kaname said was the highest honour she gave anyone in public.

At seven-thirty the toasts began.

The hotel association went first, then an airline, then a department store.

Then Hanamori.

The managing director should have gone up. He didn't.

Ryota went up instead, in a new navy suit, and stood at the same microphone Chiaki had taken from the boy from General Affairs.

He looked thinner. He had been on every gossip site in Japan for four days.

He didn't look at her. He looked over everyone's heads, at the back wall.

"To the New Year," he said. "And to all of us who work hard and don't get photographed doing it."

A few people laughed uncertainly.

"Kanpai."

Eight hundred glasses went up.

Kaname didn't raise his. Neither did Setsuko.

Neither, Chiaki noticed, did Reina Hanamori, standing alone by the Hanamori stand in a long ivory dress, her left hand bare.

At five to eight Chiaki told Kaname she was going to the powder room.

"Do you want me outside?"