The room behind the altar was a far cry from what the rest of the building was like. It was almost homely, with a table, a small fire pit, and a rolled-out mat, which Keiko guessed that Yumi slept in. At the back was a door that led out into a balcony of sorts, with the bamboo trees of the surrounding forest visible from here.
Yumi set up some plates across the table and placed some bread on them all, along with some salads that she had stored away.
"It is our tradition that us Zayamas eat alone though," Yumi said, "is that okay with you?"
What? Keiko thought. Seriously?
But she nodded, figuring that the woman didn't seem like she had bad intentions.
"Thank you."
