Chapter 104

Her records complete, the woman called for a boy to show Yuta to his room.

"My name is Noriko," she said. "Please call upon me if you need anything."

The boy picked up Yuta's trunk with a saucy grin that reminded Yuta of Shota and performed an equally saucy bow to indicate Yuta should precede him up the stairs.

"Everything satisfactory, sir?" the boy said after showing Yuta to a room at the end of the hall, and demonstrating the operation of the doors, windows, cupboard and brazier.

"Just fine," Yuta replied, fishing in his belt pouch for coppers. "What is your name?" He slipped the coppers into the boy's hand. He hadn't done anything special, but gifts from guests were probably the child's only source of money.

"Masa, sir," the boy said, eyes widening. He'd serve this man well, hoping to earn more when the man left. "Call for me any time." He bowed with a flourish, slipped out the door and was gone.