Flowing Page #8

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Stop that, Someka.

There's no need to apologise

Mistress...

...will you let me come back?

lt feels so good coming back here

and seeing the new trainees...

...l think l'm going to cry

l intend to make a completely fresh start.

l hope we can work something out

Mistress...

...that Nanako is awful, isn't she?

She's working at Tsutaji's now

As she wishes

- Where's Katsuyo?

- She's upstairs sewing

ls she really? Katsuyo?

How nice!

l love that noise the machines make.

l'll go up and see her

This is for you...

Oh, you shouldn't have

l'll let Otsuta keep

the house for a while...

...but l may move her out and open

a branch of my restaurant there instead

At the house?

And what will become of the girls there?

lf they want to continue as geisha...

...then they can all go across the river

and find work there

Still, l've seen their new trainees

and none of them has any potential

Otsuta's been a geisha many years

but she's still no judge of character

They'll all turn out just like Namie

One has to put in years of hard work

to become a geisha

l'd like you to consider this...

...you're a woman

with many fine qualities...

...and l think you're wasting

your talents as a mere maid

What do you think?

l don't require an immediate answer...

...but l'll give you a month or so

to make up your mind

l was also considering Katsuyo...

...but on reflection

l don't think she'd fit in at all

lf you say no, l have plenty of others

to choose from

And the mistress knows all about this?

Of course not

So?

Well...

...l don't think l can accept your offer,

madame

l'm terribly sorry

Really?

Very well, then

Don't breathe a word of this

to Otsuta or anyone, will you?

No...

Well, then, if you'll excuse me...

- Good

- Fujiko's coming on, isn't she?

- You think so?

- Oh, very promising

l have a new geisha to present to you!

Oh, l say!

- May l present Takiko to you

- lt's a honour to meet you

- How wonderful she looks!

- Congratulations

l see that you've fully recovered,

Madame Otsuta. l'm so pleased

Thank you so much

We're starting up our business again

with some new faces

l wish you all the best

Please excuse us

- She must've cost her 300,000 yen

- You reckon that much?

That sash she was wearing

was nothing special

And her hair wasn't arranged properly

at all, was it?

But they don't care about

those things nowadays

That's true

Mistress, l bought these for everyone

as they looked so tasty

lt's my treat

Oharu, you're such a kind person

lsn't she? l don't know what l'd do

without her help

Not at all. l'll bring the tea through

in a moment

Oharu, get the girls

to give you some help

- Kiyo!

- Yes?

- What is it you're making?

- l'm no good

l'm not sure l'll be able to make anything!

l'm just practising

You're very diligent, Katsuyo

No, not really

l just know that

l have to find some kind of work

l can't do what my mother does

l have to find some means

to support us both when she gets old

You're right

You know, l'm so glad

that you're here, Oharu

l can always talk to you

and ask your advice

Of course, l'd be happy

to offer you help and advice anytime

Yes...l know that

And l realise that

you may not be here forever...

Well, l'd like to take a short trip

to my late husband's hometown

- ln the provinces?

- Yes

l have to visit the graves

of my husband and child

After that, who knows?

My husband's relatives are very strict

l left home so l could be free

from their constraints...

...but now l feel it's selfish of me

to stay away

l see...

Please try one of these sweet buns,

they're delicious

The End

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