The House of Hungry Ghosts is a two-story machiya with slate-grey roof tiles and a shoji. Chiyo squints, trying to look past the latticed wood and thin paper. Nothing.

Natsu shuffles beside her. “This is it? The place that will take us in?”

“If what the doctor told me is right, yes. They should look after you until you give birth.” Chiyo sniffs. “I’m going to make money in the meantime. Once we’ve overstayed our welcome, I want to have enough to rent a room for us—something with a stove. Your baby deserves warmth in the winter, after all.”