f fiction toget;

    quot;Yeas a different t;

    quot;Any; takatsuki said ;Four of us. Four. Is t O.K.?quot;

    Junpei learned just before Salas second birt takatsuki and Sayoko ic suki ime of Sayokos pregnancy, and he hardly ever came home anymore, she explained.

    Junpei couldnt seem to grasp er ails Sayoko o give akatsuki ed anoto be test  t Sala . Besides,  Sala. quot;I mean, Im over at your ime, eating dinner ? But I never sensed a tself—t family.quot;

    quot;Its true,quot; Sayoko said. quot;e  lying to you or putting on an act. But quite separately from t  o  up. Dont let it botoo muc better no of different ;

    Sayoko and takatsuki er. t  test problem: no recriminations, no disputed claims. takatsuki  to live o visit Sala once a  Junpei ry to be present at times. quot;It ; Sayoko told Junpei.  as if  turned ty-three.

    togetakatsuki ive self, and Sayokos bely natural, as tural t s alked about the old days.

    quot;ell me,quot; takatsuki said, one January nige in t;Do you o marry?quot;

    quot;Not at t,quot; Junpei said.

    quot;No girlfriend?quot;

    quot;Nope.quot;

    quot; do you say you and Sayoko get toget;

    Junpei squinted at takatsuki as if at some too brig. quot;; he asked.

    quot; do you mean,  to be a fato Sala.quot;

    quot;Is t t;

    takatsuki sighick arm around Junpeis shoulders.

    quot;s tter? Dont you like t t of stepping in after me?quot;

    quot;t doesnt bot s a question of de