This was then borne into the presence of the Marquis and Marquise. Since Satoko was aware of this procedure, she had taken the precaution of entrusting her note to Tadeshina, who, in turn, was to give it to Iinuma. So it was that Iinuma, in the middle of studying for his final examinations, took the time first to meet Tadeshina and then to hand over Satoko’s love letter to Kiyoaki. Though the morning after that snowstorm was clear and bright, I just couldn’t help thinking about what had happened the day before. In my heart it seemed as if the snow had not stopped, but was falling still. And the snowflakes seemed to merge into the form of Kiyo’s face. How I wished that I could live somewhere where the snow fell every day of the year so that I would never stop thinking of you, Kiyo. If we were living in Heian times, you would have composed a poem for me, wouldn’t you? And I would have had to offer one of my own in reply.
