The layer of dust on top of the TV, the dirty dishes piled in the sink, the stickers all over the cupboard doors, the wood of the post where we had carved our heights. I saw these things every day, but now they gleamed, as if sprinkled with magic dust.
-- Natsuko (chapter 1)

Importance: In this scene Natsuko describes from her childhood, she explains how the atmosphere of the apartment where she lived with her family seemed to change after her father left. Her description of how everyday objects appeared to suddenly be imbued with an otherworldly quality speaks to how she felt invigorated by her father’s absence. The exhilarated mood reflected in this passage shows the positive attitude Natsuko brings to her unusual family structure in general. While she and her sister Makiko experienced tragedy at a young age with the death of their mother and grandmother, they maintain a close bond...