Chapter 108

Kojiro stood on the cleared area at the top of the ridge overlooking the house and the village. Tsuruko and Azuki had taken to flying together in the mornings. He had come to accept it unless he actively thought about the oddity of it. He avoided that, kept to a relentless normalcy and worked on acceptance. Staying here while Sensei was gone was good for them, he admitted to himself. If he and Tsuruko were going to build a life together, there were things they both must learn. Particularly him.

He liked all three youngsters, the bird-children and the European girl, too. Every day Kojiro and Shota helped the farmhand take care of the horses. Many afternoons, he studied with Shota under the guidance of young Rev. Mifune. He was amazed at how much he had learned and the doors literacy opened for him, even as a fisherman and small-time farmer.