Toshikazu doesn't tell me anything about the Competition. I could only assume it had something to do with a test of skill, against better-trained opponents, some time in the future. It must have something to do with learning, given Taneka's expertise in the study of literacy, as I recalled.

I asked if I could call him sensei since he was my teacher, even though he didn't acknowledge it. He said I shouldn't be so presumptuous, though I didn't know why such a simple request could be perceived as such. I simply did not know how to address him since he was no longer just my master in my eyes.

He was getting grumpy from old age and having to instruct me in the summer heat, with sweat forming at his brow although the activity of teaching me simple math (in his words) was hardly strenuous. His daily walks grew longer and, as what I chose to interpret as a sign of trust in my growing abilities, he left me to study some things on my own and discussed what I had learned in the evening over dinner.

Ikeda-san flat-out refused to let me see Satsu and Sanji again, at least not until my birthday had come and gone. It was for my own good, she had tried to make me see reason, that I was not distracted by family matters and focused on my work. Even on my half-day off, I couldn't take the train to visit them as the time needed for the journey was longer than my free day altogether. After several days of treating her more distantly than usual as I struggled through my worry and pain at the rejection, Ikeda-san and Toshikazu sat me down at the dining table after I had served the noon meal.

"I will give you three months of your salary in advance," he said solemnly. "You will arrange someone to send that money to your family to hire a servant of their own to look after your sister while your work continues here."

I would have liked to supervise the hiring process myself, but being granted three months of salary to use as support was an unexpected gift.

"I have also taken the opportunity to give you a raise," Toshikazu continued after Ikeda-san raised an eyebrow at him. "An increase of sixty yen per month, in recognition of your service for more than half a year. A little bit of pin money for you."

That meant I could send my own salary and still save some money afterwards. Where this sudden generosity with his purse came from I had no idea since Ikeda-san handled the household finances.

"You will be allowed to visit them in three months," Ikeda said, with all the formality of an empress decreeing her will. Though her skin was stretched thinner over her face, her white hair was thinning and the yukata she was wearing was close to swallowing her, her cat-like gaze was still sharp. "We will give you two weeks off."

I smiled at both of them, not caring that it was improper, and lowered my head to hide the tears gathering at the corner of my eyes. "Thank you. This is a great kindness."

The two elders did not speak as I left the room. There were some things that people in those days did not say out loud, such as Toshikazu not expressing his pity towards me and why Ikdea-san and Toshikazu, for all their class differences as master and servant, would come to this decision as one unit. In the end, actions spoke louder than words.

I confided in Hanako of this sudden fortune the next time I was sent to the village to run errands.

"I wish I had sixty yen to spend," she sighed, packing a sachet of brown rice into my basket. Hanako was recently drafted to work in the store along with her brother, the presumed heir, while their father made business deals in a village a few miles away. "I'd buy something nice."

"Like what?" I asked, humouring her.

"Hmmm," Hanako creased her brow in thought. "Maybe half of a new kimono for the summer festival. Actually, sixty yen isn't a lot of money."

I had to laugh at her sad expression. "And you were just envious of me."

"I'm envious that you're being compensated for your work," she said, taking the money I handed to her. "To my father, I'm a source of free labour.."

Turning thirteen had changed her spirit. Each time we met, I was struck by how much she had grown. In a few years, she might be promised to one of the better families in the area. Perhaps her father was off negotiating for an alliance right now.

"What's that look for?" Hanako asked suspiciously. I suspected that my expression had become too fond for her to ignore.

"Nothing," I replied sweetly. She sent a sharp look my way, not believing me.

"Hello, Chiyo," Hanako's older brother, Akira, piped up. He had returned from his last year of private schooling in town and the news was he had passed the difficult university entrance exams. This was the second time I encountered him. The first was when he personally delivered Ikeda-san's newspaper to her while the usual paper boy was brought down by a spring time cold. I didn't endear myself to him, as I had not spoken much when greeting him at the servant's entrance. I had left with a quiet thank you and thought nothing more of it.

I wondered how he knew my name and replied shyly. "Hello."

Hanako rolled her eyes, which was a habit she had not been trained out of by her mother. I liked it though, since it showed that she still had some familiar tells.

The three of us stood there in silence. Me clutching the basket tightly, Akira with a growing smile on his smooth face, and Hanako with her arms crossed.

"My sister told me you liked sweets," Akira was the first to break the silence.

Hanako turned her little scowl at him, not appreciating being named.

"Yes, I do," I hovered, unsure of how to extract myself from the situation.

"I've got something for you," Akira walked closer until he was standing in front of me. He was not particularly handsome, but his floppy hair and spectacles gave him a scholarly air. He was lean but not thin and that scholarly air would become more refined as time went on.

"I couldn't possibly accept a gift," I replied, taking half a step back.

Akira simply held out his hand and in his palm, there was a small tin box the colour of a blue sky. "I thought you would like these."

"Just take it," Hanako grumbled, seeing my hesitation.

"Thank you," I took it, careful not to brush my skin against his. He looked even more pleased after I accepted it.

I set the basket on the floor and opened it in front of them. Inside were about a dozen tiny candies wrapped in gold and silver foil, sitting on a sheet of thin blue paper.

"Chocolate caramels, specially imported from the West," Akira said, puffing out his chest. I glanced down at the tin, noting the foreign lettering on the cover for the first time. I had only tried chocolate once in my life, and didn't know the meaning of the foreign word- caramel- he used. "They taste divine."

Hanako sounded more than a little put out, even a little hurt, when she spoke. "You said you couldn't find them for me."

Oh no, I thought, was this gift meant for her instead? Were these her favourite sweets? I instantly changed my impression of Akira.

Akira looked surprised, as though he had forgotten that his little sister was only standing a few feet behind us. He turned to face her stiffly, "I'll get them for you next time."

Hanako didn't say a word, standing as still as a statue.

"I am truly glad that you thought of me," I said, as diplomatically as I could, while feeling incredibly out of place. "But I cannot accept a gift that would be better appreciated by another."

"Chiyo-" Akira started, and then, seeing my face, stopped.

I closed the lid of the tin and placed it atop the counter with my gaze lowered to the floor. "Do excuse me."

I later recounted this strange story to Ikeda and Toshikazu over dinner and pleaded for advice on how to handle Akira the next time I saw him. Toshikazu only squinted at my face, in the light of two candle-lit lamps, and made a coughing noise. Not for the first time, I wished I could see myself in another person's eyes and understand why they stared at me so.

Ikeda-san stepped in. "He wanted to earn your affection."

I didn't want to give him that. It would make him no different from the other boys and men in the village who coveted my attention, though he was the boldest one yet. "What should I do?"

She was quiet for a long time, appraising me. "I've known Akira-kun since he was a baby in Watanabe-san's arms. This is a rare slip up for him. He would likely not react badly if you turn him down gently when you see him again."

While Akira was nowhere to be seen the next time I was sent to buy groceries, Hanako was unavoidable.

"I saved three chocolates for you," she whispered with her head bowed. I saw the shadowy form of her mother lurking behind the curtain that led to the private family rooms at the back of the store. "I'll put it in your basket."

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I had thought she was angry at me. "Thank you for your generosity. I hope Akira-kun does not come between us."

"I told my mother about what happened," she answered with her nose turned up and her eyes bright with mischief. "She was furious at him. He might not speak to you ever again."

"It is the rare moment when your mother's prejudices do not work against me," I said quietly and smiled softly. "And I do hope your brother, being so clever, would be able to find another girl to dote on. One better than I."

Hanako didn't hide her snort of derision. I glanced behind her but her mother, Keiko, had disappeared. "Don't think he's clever because he passed some exams. I could do that too if I were given the chance. It only means he can read books and think about them in a way that pleases the examiner, but he has no brains when it comes to girls."

I laughed at her boldness, unable to hold it in. She grinned at me, and continued. "Just admit it. His moves were very poorly done."

It seemed like she harboured no jealousy or hatred towards me. "Hanako-chan is not wrong."

"I'm often correct," she said firmly. Another customer entered but she ignored him, though she kept a watchful eye as the person browsed the small selection of canned goods and dried herbs. I did not turn to look. "And Chiyo-chan is too modest. You are far superior than my brother in temperament. He would've been lucky to catch your eye."

I chose to think of this praise as Hanako confirming that she and I could still call each other friends, even if I was a few years her senior. If I were braver, I might ask Toshikazu whether he would allow her to go up to his house to take lessons (perhaps she would pick up the mysteries of numbers quicker than I), but I predicted he would snark that he wasn't running a schoolhouse.

"The man is looking at you," Hanako muttered under her breath, knocking me out of my thoughts.

I tilted my head at her. She looked a little nervous so I twisted my head to see the other customer.

He wore a well-tailored Western suit in grey pinstripe and sported a hat, which immediately made him stand out from the rest of the villagers, who wore only traditional peasant clothing. The face was unmistakable. As was the slight air of impatience like the world was moving slower than he liked, compounded by the sleepy village setting. It was Nobu.

I bowed deeply at the waist. Hanako, after a moment of hesitation, followed.

"Good afternoon, Chiyo-chan," his voice was warm and amused. It felt as though he was bigger than the entire store- his presence took up all the remaining space. "It's good to see you again."

I inhaled sharply and straightened my back.

"Hello, Nobu-san," I said, acting demure by looking at him through my lashes. "What are you doing here?"

0*0*0

Author's note: Thanks for reading and reviewing! I thought I would use this note to expand on my story idea for this (without giving too much away). I was really inspired by My Fair Lady and the grumpy x sunshine romance novel trope (trope-fication is not always good but this is really just my guilty pleasure fic). Toshikazu is teaching Chiyo for a reason! Maybe there is a bet... who knows. My next stage in the Nobu/Sayuri agenda is to get her to go to the summer festival in Kyoto with him (but maybe she'll be recognised? more thinking is needed). Please drop a review if you have any ideas or questions! I read reviews but I feel too shy to reply ahhhh (but your responses do help me figure out what I'm doing). See you in the next chapter!