Summary

Nobu and the Minister come as much as twice a week all winter and into spring. One day in February, Pumpkin was sick and the Chairman had yet to arrive so in a desperate attempt to entertain the Minister, Sayuri and Mameha took turns playing the shamisen and dancing. During March, Nobu only brings the Minister twice and in the first week of June, Sayuri’s presence is requested at the teahouse. She is surprised that only Nobu and the Minister are there and Nobu is clearly agitated. He admits that the Minister had tried to become her danna, and approved Iwamura Electric for reopening based on the assumption it could be arranged. When it couldn’t, he requested Sayuri for one night, and Nobu asks her point blank what she would have said. When she finally tells him that she would not...