Summary

“Dances of the Old Capital” begins, and Sayuri performs flawlessly. In the final week, they emerge to find Nobu waiting for them. He gives Sayuri a ruby the size of a peach pit, and a few days later, the bidding for her mizuage begins. Mameha has to leave for three days, but she assures Sayuri she will be fine. When Sayuri returns to the okiya, Pumpkin is frantic to find Hatsumomo. Mother is waiting for Sayuri, and soon a doctor arrives to assess whether or not Sayuri is still a virgin. With that confirmed, Mother announces that her status is about to change. The following week, she will formally adopt Sayuri and as the daughter of the okiya, she would trade rooms, taking the larger one from Pumpkin and Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo returns and asks if Mother has changed her mind about adopting Pumpkin...