Shota bid the sailor farewell at the dock in Sado Island's main natural harbor. He enjoyed the trip hugely. The sailor taught him so much in such a brief time! Coupled with what he had learned before, he felt he could conquer the world, one ocean at a time! The boat was his and he could sail her! Shota couldn't stop grinning.
The sailor helped Shota arrange for moorage and showed him to a merchant bank where he could lodge his gold safely. Once that was fixed, the man wished Shota well and ambled off to visit his relatives on the island before arranging passage back. Shota kept back enough money to buy a pack, staff and a warmer coat, plus lodging and food if he needed them, before he set off to find Azuki.
***
Azuki stood in the shallows of an estuary not too far off the main road that
