[Goemon stood by in silence, gazing contemplatively into the distance while waiting for Lupin to tug the shoes onto his feet; only at “let’s go” did he smoothly turn on his heel and guide his partner back towards the lake house, his sandaled feet plunging into powdery snow.]

There is a house where Jigen and I have been staying. [He began, stepping over a felled tree partly hidden in snow without glancing at it. Frequenting the Eastern woods at least once a day over the course of several months, he was familiar enough with most of its geography to where stubbing his toes on rocks or tripping on uneven ground were very rare occurrences.]

Jigen is no longer here – [There was a pause, just a split second longer than intended.] - But, a few of the belongings he acquired have remained. The shoes are among them.

[He let that hang in the air, not acknowledging Lupin’s words of gratitude with more than a near-imperceptible tilt of his head. To state, ‘you are welcome’, would have been superfluous, he felt.]