Chapter 11, 'The Proof in the Storehouse' Summary

Jiro wakes up the next morning and Kinshi is still gone. Mochida asks where he is and Jiro says that he went out for an early walk. Jiro worries about Kinshi's safety as he starts the fires. Wada comes to get him to tell him that Yoshida wants to talk to him.

Yoshida asks Jiro where Kinshi is but Jiro feigns ignorance. Yoshida is not pleased, but tells Jiro to prepare to work Akoya's feet in the performance. He gives Jiro a script to practice with, and Jiro runs off to the storehouse to get a puppet. He cannot face the looks the other boys will give him for taking Kinshi's role, so he decides to practice in the storehouse instead. He goes upstairs, where he knows no-one will look for him. As...