The restaurant became buzzling. Through the window Marunouchi square is brightening and busy.
During these several years this area was born again from the business district to the colorful and bustling shopping district. It seems the present Marunouchi is busier than Yaesuguchi area on the other side of Tokyo Station.

"September is getting over."
Eriko murmurs.
Suga looks up at the ceiling, seemingly with the experience in May and what he did afterward in mind.
That day he visited the classical concert at Kanematsu Auditorium in Kunitachi city with Eriko. It was the day of his chasing start.
Eriko was surprised there in the hall with the numerous sculptures and relieves of monsters and ghosts. Suga, while listening to Eriko, hit on the four copperplate relieves of the school badge Mercury and the three funny monsters on the facade at the upper part. He supposes they were created and displayed with the image of Shishin (Four Gods) of a Chinese legend. Who did that work and in what purpose? ...
He has been chasing this flash of inspiration.

The investigation has progressd little by little with twists and turns.
Now he can well imagine how closely the Shishin Group (the alumni of the boat club) was connected with the production and display of Shishin statues. The examination at the Memorial Museum today showed the importance of Old Shibusawa's presence to him. Besides, he has now started to know about president Sano who was driven to resign due to the blank-ballot incident.
"And,..., what shall we do next?"
Asked by Tsubune hastily, Suga has a slow answer.
"I think I can finish the summary of today's visit in a week. The history is the key after all, isn't it? Especially the days full of ups and downs until promoted to a college seem to give us a glimpse of the mystery related to the monsters. Everything is supposedly brought together to the Four-God Statues on the facade."
Suga thinks a while and then,
"I want to look back on the school history again on another day with you, is it OK?"
Tsubune agrees at once. Eriko smiles and answers him.
"It might be an extra work for you, sorry."
Worried about her circumstance, Eriko says.
"No need to concern. It is worthwhile to me, too. Since his active period was just the same time with the modern art history in Europe, I am enjoying the interesting comparison of both cultures. I'd like to make use of this experience in my class so as to make the students feel the European art history closer."
"When do we get together?", Tsubune urges his senior. Eriko agrees with him. Suga takes out his datebook and says, "What about on the first Saturday next month?"
Tsubune agrees for sure and Eriko follows after checking her schedule for a while, "I am available, too. Nothing special on the day."
"Could you come to my house before noon? I would like to treat both of you with sushi-gozen (special sushi dish)."
For Suga's suggestion, Eriko gives her idea.
"Please come to my house. Mari will surely be glad with us."
Then she talks to Tsubune.
"You know my house, don't you?"
"Sure I do. The residence on the hill, right?"
Accepting Eriko's idea, Suga says.
"Thank you for your consideration. I'll arrange for the sushi-gozen."

Beginning to stand up, Eriko sits down again on a serious attitude.
She says to Suga, "I would like him to know about Mari."
"Yes, you may," Suga agrees.
She talks to Tsubune, "You know Mari Nomizo is working for Nikkyu Travel, don't you?"
Tsubune: "Yes. I hear she is now comparatively free to select her work. That's why it is very helpful to you of her to take on the managing job, isn't it?"
Eriko: "Yes, so helpful to me. She is good at Spanish of her major at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies as well as English and French. Therefore she visited so many countries in the world as a travel attendant for three years since started to work for the company. After that she has been a temporary employee of her wish as you know. I hear her ability is super, so she can select her work as she likes."
Tsubune: "And then?"
Eriko: "She has a boyfriend."
Tsubune is not surprised as a matter of fact.
Eriko: "There were various things around her, ... She is single-minded. It was a big problem when she fell in love with a man with a wife and a child. Therefore I worry about her this time too."
Mari Nomizo seems to have been friends with a Cambodian since they were students of the same university besides her history of love affairs. They became closer recently according to Eriko.
Mari's boyfriend is 33 years old, five years ahead of her. He is managing a travel agency at Siem Reap where Angkor Wat is located. He is an earnest man according to Mari, but Eriko doubts it.
They have already been conscious of their marriage, which might be her self-satisfaction, ...
Meanwhile Tsubune the listener is familiar with Siem Reap himself.
Tsubune: "Angkor ruins are all over the town. I am sure Siem Reap will develop more and more as a sightseeing city."
He makes appropriate response about the town.
Eriko: "Mari has been there to meet him several times a year. Deeply in love with him. I hear he proposed her lately."
Tsubune: "Congratulations to her! Then, is there anything to do with me?"
Eriko: "I am not against their marriage, but both parents of the two seem to be reluctant from the start. Especially Mari's parents are definitely against."
"Are they," Tsubune nods.
Eriko: "Mari is not such a person as to listen to others."
Tsubune: "She is not fooling around, is she?"
Eriko: "Both of them are not so young."
Tsubune: "Mari is 28 years old, isn't she?"
Eriko: "In any case, I would like to do my best so as for her not to be sorry."
From the side, elderly Suga says to Tsubune, "Aren't you familiar with that area in Cambodia?"
Tsubune: "It was a long time ago, but a little alive in my memory. As you know well, sir, I had business of wood in Thailand next to Cambodia, so I often visited Siem Reap. It is very near though in a different country."
Suga: "Could you meet her once when you are convenient? Mari seems to have something to ask you. I leave it to you whether you would support her or not."

When three of them got out of the beer hall, the puddles were brightening under the moonlight. Around the rotary area people after work were in a hurry to Tokyo station or to Marunouchi downtown.