"Is everything all right?" Mari asked.
Out of her thoughts, Hana looked up at the slightly older woman. It had been several minutes since they had sat down at the table, and the young woman had not said a word, which had made Mari a little worried.
"Um, yes," she replied. "It's okay..."
She hadn't really followed what had happened since they had left the company, nor what her colleagues had said in the meantime. She had been too consumed by her own memories to really pay attention to the present moment, and had found herself being led by others in a mechanical way; like a vehicle on autopilot following a well-defined route. It wasn't until they were settled in the restaurant, and Mari's voice was heard, that Hana had really come to.
"You seemed to be lost in thought..." Said Mari. "Does it bother you that much that there are rumors about you?"
