Chapter 114

Noriko went to get the wine while Yuta put on his fresh yukata kimono. He tried to brush out his clothes but had just about concluded Hanako would have to see to them when he returned home when Noriko returned. Noriko had changed to her own yukata. She'd washed her face and hands and combed out her hair, which was now tied with a ribbon at the nape of her neck. She set the tray down on the table and rolled the futon back, which mussed it up.

"Sit down," she said. "Will you pour for us? I want to check your clothes. Mine are soaking in a laundry tub with all of today's yukatas and towels and a few other things. We often put our personal laundry in there. This is wool," she said, fingering the fabric of the jacket. "That has to be specially cleaned."

"Should I have Renko-san fetch it?" Yuta shocked himself by speaking all too freely, but he'd have to tell Noriko something, and soon.