Year of the Boar, Ninth Month, Day 27.

I was drawn to my koto again today. I played a while and although I ached for Hishinuma, I felt that I had at least done him justice as I played his concerto. When I looked up from the strings, I saw that Seira was kneeling in the corner. I had not noticed her come in and I supposed that she must have been listening.  The strings were still vibrating when she spoke.

"You used to play that when we were little... I recognise it..."

I stared at her blankly for a few seconds. 

"You played it when we were all supposed to be in bed but we all used to sneak around to spy on your mother's parties..."

I gaped for a moment as if I were one of the carp in my lake. Seira looked embarrassed as if she had been caught doing something she should not have been which in a sense, she had. That single sentence was enough to prove to me that she is who she says she is. I felt as though the icy barrier between us which had been causing my distrust, had melted. Seira asked me to play the concerto again; I begged her indulgence because my wrists ached and played something less strenuous for her.  When I had finished, I saw her wiping away a tear and then we talked for a long time. 

It seems that there is a lot going on around the Kingdom to which I have been oblivious. I find myself sympathetic to her reasons for leaving home and since she has asked if she may stay with me, I have agreed.