After listening in on Patrick and Miyuki, Hiroshi left the rest to Takamatsu, Sugamo, and Osaki, and hurried back to his office. His cellphone was full of messages from Ayana, each with a rising sense of urgency. She sent him a copy of her speech five times. The last message told him to just show up.
It was six-thirty. The wedding banquet started at seven. He could maybe make it in time to hear her deliver her speech, but he was dressed like a slob. He’d have to risk it. He could at least sneak in and stand at the back, then escape and call her from outside.
He caught a taxi outside the station, told the driver the address, and asked him to hurry.
The driver looked in the rearview mirror. “Not your wedding, is it?”
Hiroshi looked up, startled. “My girlfriend’s giving a speech. I was su
