“No, no, you haven’t done anything wrong,” I said to console her. “It’s that dreadful man. And he’s supposed to be an educator! . . . But it doesn’t matter what they say about me—you’re young and not yet married, so don’t let yourself be victimized by such spiteful people!” “I’m glad I had a chance to tell you the whole story. It’s taken a weight off my mind.” Then she smiled. “But if we meet again like this there’ll be more gossip, so maybe we’d better not.” “What a shame, now that we’ve finally become friends!” Somehow the thought really bothered me. “I do want to be your friend, if it’s all right with you,” Mitsuko said. “Next time, won’t you come to my house? I’m not a bit afraid of what people say.” “And I’m not afraid either. If the gossip gets too bad, I’ll just stop going to that miserable school.” “Listen, Kakiuchi-san, I have an idea. Wouldn’t you just love to make fun of everyone by showing them what good friends we are?
