August 29, Dubian Che had been wandering through the streets of Tokyo with Little Lian.
The long-absent restlessness and heat of Tokyo clung tightly to them, persisting even after they entered a building, resolutely lingering outside.
It was still the height of summer in Tokyo.
The morning of the 30th, Little Lian took the Shinkansen back to Iwate Prefecture.
When Dubian Che returned from the station, Xiaoquan Aonai, who had gone to school in the morning, was already back.
"Has Little Lian gone back?" Xiaoquan Aonai was still in her teacher's uniform.
"Aonai, could you hang this up for me?" Akiko took off her women's suit jacket, pleading like a child.
When Xiaoquan Aonai took her jacket, Akiko shuffled toward the couch like a zombie.
"Go change in the bedroom first, don't wrinkle your shirt," Xiaoquan Aonai reminded.
