Mr. Hokama lived alone in this courtyard house. Even though the size was considerably small compared to the others, it was more than enough for the middle-aged man.
The decorations of the place were mostly bamboo motifs. The touch of nature livened up the atmosphere inside the courtyard house.
Mr. Hokama directly brought them to the dining room. Instead of having a dining table with chairs, the man opted to have a long low-wooden table placed on the tatami mat. Several plates of dishes had been served there.
Mr. Saeki, Heisuke and Hisaki took their seats on the same side while Mr. Hokama was on the opposite. On the other side of the room, a huge circle window was showing the view of the yard.
"We shall eat before the dishes turn cold," Mr. Hokama opened the pot containing boiled rice. He took the bowls and began putting scoops of rice into them, "It's best to eat more when it's cold. Our bodies need more energy to retain the heat."
