Summary

That night, Sayuri writes to Mother and a week later, Auntie is at the door with gifts for the Arashinos. Sayuri leaves with her the next day. When the okiya is cleaned out, Sayuri begins her rounds of Gion by calling on Mameha. A week later, once again dressed as a geisha, Sayuri entertains Nobu and Deputy Minister Sato. After the Minister drinks himself unconscious, Nobu suggest that he invite Mameha. When Sayuri sees her later than evening, she recommends that Sayuri invite Pumkin as well. Pumpkin is less than receptive, even when Sayuri tells her she hopes that they can be friends. Finally, she tells her that they will be at the Ichiriki Teahouse the following Saturday, and hope that she will join them.

When Sayuri arrives at the teahouse, she finds the Chairman sitting by himself. Soon after Mameha and Pumpkin...