CHARACTERS

Haru Mori is an on-call electronics repair and IT technician who works primarily within her hometown, providing maintenance and troubleshooting for personal devices, home systems, and small business equipment. Her work often involves assisting elderly residents, many of whom rely on her familiarity and patience as much as her technical skill. She is reliable without being rigid, preferring practical solutions over perfection.

She has an easygoing and socially open personality, and she tends to form casual but genuine relationships with the people she helps. Haru is emotionally honest and perceptive, often noticing when others are frustrated or overwhelmed. While she is capable and confident, she does not approach her work competitively and avoids defining herself through productivity alone.

Haru’s appearance reflects her hands-on lifestyle. She wears her naturally brown, wavy hair up out of habit and convenience, often leaving it slightly messy. Her clothing is functional and layered, favoring comfort and movement. She is naturally tanned and physically strong from outdoor work and carrying equipment.

She lives with her girlfriend, Kahna, and values the steady routine they have built together. Haru maintains fond memories of her father and remains emotionally distant from her mother. Her relationship with her older sister, Nao, is strained; although she has attempted reconciliation in the past, she is now cautiously trying to understand what caused the fracture between them.

Haru has grown more expressive and relaxed over time, becoming someone others find approachable and dependable. She has a habit of fixing things even when no one asks, often leaving tools or parts around mid-project. This tendency reflects her underlying desire to stay useful and connected to the people around her.

Nao Mori works as a logistics and internal documentation officer at A.K. Agricultural Exchange. Her responsibilities include managing schedules, maintaining internal systems, formatting documents, and overseeing editorial consistency. Her work is detail-oriented and largely invisible, but critical to the organization’s function.

Nao is reserved and emotionally guarded. She is polite and professional but avoids unnecessary interaction, preferring clear boundaries between herself and others. She communicates concisely and occasionally uses understated sarcasm. Chronic fatigue is evident in her demeanor, though she does not comment on it or seek accommodation.

Her appearance is neat and subdued, favoring muted colors and long sleeves. She maintains a consistent, restrained style that prioritizes order and minimal attention. At home, she allows herself to relax slightly, tying her hair up and maintaining a controlled but quieter environment.

Nao is estranged from her younger sister, Haru, and limits contact to infrequent messages. She keeps in occasional contact with her father and remains distant from her mother. Although she resembles her mother in work habits and emotional reserve, she lacks her mother’s confidence and ambition, instead operating from obligation and endurance.

She collects stationery but rarely uses it, keeping most items untouched. This reflects a broader pattern of restraint and deferral. Her history with Suzu Kaho remains unresolved, shaped by misinterpretation and avoidance rather than overt conflict.

Kahna Noma works as a pet groomer and part-time assistant in child education. Her professional roles center on care, patience, and attentiveness. She is well-regarded for her calm presence and ability to make both animals and children feel secure.

Kahna is emotionally intelligent and nurturing, though she occasionally misses subtle social cues. She communicates gently and thoughtfully, often choosing affirming language. Her speech sometimes carries the tone she uses with children or pets into adult conversations, which she notices and finds mildly embarrassing.

She dresses in soft, practical clothing, favoring neutral and pastel colors. Her appearance is warm and understated, and she adjusts her clothing for ease of movement when working. Her manner is unhurried, contributing to her calming presence.

Kahna lives with Haru and provides a steady emotional anchor within their shared home. She is aware of Haru’s family history but avoids prying, offering support when it is welcomed. She values emotional stability and routine, shaped by helping raise her younger brother after their mother’s death.

She maintains small, consistent social habits, such as calling her brother weekly and sharing tea with her landlady. Kahna is observant and conversational, preferring depth over volume in her interactions.

Suzu Kaho works in client communications and final review at A.K. Agricultural Exchange. Her role involves coordinating with clients, ensuring clarity in correspondence, and maintaining a smooth handoff between departments. She is dependable and attentive, often stepping in to resolve minor issues before they escalate.

Suzu is outgoing and friendly, with a natural tendency toward mediation. She pays close attention to the emotional state of those around her while respecting boundaries. Her communication style is clear and warm, even in formal contexts.

She presents herself neatly, with a consistent and modest office style that includes skirts, cardigans, and collared blouses. Small personal touches, such as simple accessories or desk plants, reflect her attentiveness to atmosphere.

Suzu makes an effort to include quieter coworkers, particularly Nao, without pressuring her. She remembers birthdays, brings extra coffee, and checks in when someone seems unwell. These gestures are habitual rather than performative.

She and Nao attended the same school and shared a period of interaction that Suzu remembers as unremarkable. She is unaware of the significance this time holds for Nao, creating an imbalance in their current dynamic.

Tomoko Mori is a nuclear engineer, author, and public speaker with a long-standing professional reputation. Her career involves frequent travel, research, and public engagement. She communicates efficiently and maintains a tightly structured schedule.

Her personality is rational and reserved. She speaks quietly but with authority, particularly when lecturing or presenting. Outside professional settings, she keeps conversation brief and focused, avoiding emotional topics.

Tomoko’s appearance reflects her utilitarian approach. She wears business formal clothing exclusively, favoring trousers, turtlenecks, and long coats. Jewelry and makeup are minimal and consistent. Her private habits remain similarly functional.

As a parent, Tomoko was administratively present but emotionally distant. She handled school-related logistics and homework but did not engage deeply in her daughters’ personal lives. She remains distant from both Haru and Nao and does not consciously prioritize family relationships.

She met her husband in college during a sketching class and remains married, though they live largely independent lives. Her identity is closely tied to her work, and she rarely reflects on her role within the family.

Hiro Mori is a retired artist who lives alone on the outskirts of the village, near the base of one of the surrounding mountains. His daily life is quiet and self-directed, structured around observation, routine, and maintenance rather than external demands.

He spends much of his time drawing birds in greyscale, arranging studies into small grids that emphasize form and variation. His red–green colorblindness influenced this focus early on, leading him to prioritize contrast and structure. He works in a separate shed used exclusively for sketching.

Hiro dresses simply and for comfort, favoring flannel shirts, t-shirts, and athletic pants. He always wears an analog watch inherited from his grandfather. He is soft-spoken, slow to speak, and rarely interrupts, often listening more than responding.

As a father, Hiro was more emotionally present than his wife but avoided confrontation and authority. He handled daily routines and companionship but struggled to intervene when family tensions escalated. He remains in contact with both daughters and wants to be involved, though personal limitations affect his consistency.

He met Tomoko in a college sketching class, where their shared interest in art initially connected them. Over time, their priorities diverged. Hiro’s life now is defined by small, sustained habits rather than ambition or change.