After October break people came back to their offices with great reluctance. Aya was in a cold and seemed to have difficulty breathing. "How was your break?" "Oh it was the worst," said Aya, "I broke up with my boyfriend." "Oh--" she began, but then switched to Japanese, "Are you okay?" "Yes, it's just the cold." She went over to hug Aya. "You'll be fine. We need to find you a new boyfriend." "Yes please!" Aya cried, "Do you know someone?" She was unprepared for this question. "You mean--uh--ya," switched back to English, "of course I do. Let me think. I have a bunch of friends from church, whom I think are available." "Are they Americans?" "Are you looking for Americans?" "That would be the best." "Yes, there're several." "Graduates?" "...perhaps not." She thought a little. "Oh yes, there is one!" She thought of Chris. Chris was an American, same age as she, and used to be a Japanese interpreter. She told Aya about this, and seeing Aya was interested, began to pull up Chris' page on Facebook. She found it, and there was nothing on the page indicating that he was in a relationship. "So he may be available," she said, "you want to know him?" All the while she wasn't clear why she was doing this. She was never interested in being a matchmaker. Bringing people together made her feel old. Only old people were enthusiastic about arranging relationships. But she couldn't help thinking that this might be a good match. One was looking for an American, and the other speaking Japanese like native. She even showed Aya the group page of her bible study fellowship, with photos of its recent fun events, giving it a good advertisement.

So it was decided that Aya would come to a church meeting to know that guy.