Chapter 29The accountant’s office was a long walk from Akasaka station. The buildings got older and squatter the farther Hiroshi walked. Walking time from the nearest station—noted in minutes—was a basic part of directions—and of rents—in Tokyo. This was more of a taxi ride away, Hiroshi realized too late. By the time he got to the lime-green building on a backstreet, Hiroshi’s shirt felt as wet and sticky as a washrag.
The accountant’s building had a front bed for plants with nothing growing in it. Tiles were missing from the walls and the lobby was just wide enough for a person to turn around. Unlike the other businesses on the half-empty directory, Sono Accountancy was written in both English and Japanese.
The elevator arrived with a long creak ending in a dull thunk. Hiroshi checked
