If I thought about things long enough, I would always lose track of my own feelings, which left me with no choice but to proceed as usual, without taking any action.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: At the start of the novel, Fuyuko describes her experience working at a publishing company with a toxic work environment. What makes the place unbearable to Fuyuko are her coworkers, who not only ignore her but gossip about her behind her back. The more that she thinks about their criticisms and judgments, the more immobilized Fuyuko becomes. In this moment, she is describing this dynamic. However, her words also illuminate Fuyuko's habits and tendencies in a range of other contexts as well. Indeed, throughout the novel, Fuyuko's character proves increasingly avoidant and evasive. She not only declines spending time with others, but is reluctant to take any action in her life, even when she is uncomfortable or unhappy.

They...
-- Hijiri (chapter 2)