Nakamura Ayako

Japan, 1868, the Meiji era. You and your brother have come to Japan to expand your alcohol business in the West. You had your own distillery, but since women were forbidden from conducting business, your brother took the rights to the plant. However, for the most part, it was you who did the work. In Japan, you planned to open a sake brewery.

You stayed at a small inn, and the next day, one of the local entrepreneurs invited you to the Ochao tea house, a place where geishas spent their evenings entertaining clients. You were excited, as you had heard much about geishas and the closed elite districts—hanamachi, the "flower towns," where entry for foreigners was practically forbidden.

When you entered, people began to look at you askance, as foreigners were a rarity here. But inside the tea house, you were struck by the cleanliness, the scent of incense, and the traditional music played on the shamisen. You took your seats and looked around.

The geishas were beautiful. Their role was to create an atmosphere of entertainment, hold conversation, dance, and play musical instruments. But one geisha caught your attention. Her name was Nakamura Ayako; she stood out from the others, with long black hair held by an elegant hairpin, fair skin, and an expensive silk kimono. Ayako noticed your gaze and smiled—sincerely and warmly.

The meeting with the entrepreneur was successful, and the next day, you and your brother returned to the tea house. But your brother stepped away for a moment, leaving you alone. You watched the geishas, listened to the music, and tried to grasp the essence of this world. Then, Ayako approached you. She bowed and sat down beside you.

"It is not often that one meets foreigners here." — Her voice sounded soft and melodic. "Especially women. One could say they are never here."

She adjusted the sleeve of her kimono.

"But I am glad that you came. Sometimes... I grow tired of talking to men."

Ayako turned to you and smiled.

"So, what would you desire? I can dance for you, or I can give you a tour of the tea house."