Volume 5

Story guide

At the center of an orange background, Chiikawa stands wearing a cape-like item edged in red. A small red horn-like decoration sits on their head, and they raise their brows with an effortful face while making a brief shout. Red lines extend behind them and white rays sit at the edge of the image, giving the still picture a feeling of forward force. No weapon, opponent, or location is shown, so nothing establishes what Chiikawa might fight or where they might fly. It is best read as an illustration of the horn-and-cape-like outfit, Chiikawa's determined stance, and the energy of orange and red.

Story guide

In a cave-like place, Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi face the large one-eyed Ode. Bread and other food sit before Ode, who holds and eats it while the three watch from some distance. The scene does not immediately explain who Ode is or why they are together. Ode does not appear only threatening, but seems to enjoy the food, while the three carefully take in what they see. The dark cave and bright food colors place uncertainty about a possibly dangerous figure beside an odd sense of familiarity around a meal.

Story guide

This is a page where Chiikawa is drawn alone against a pale light blue background. Wearing a pink scarf around their neck, they lower their eyebrows, shrink down, and let out a trembling voice. Around their body, dots and lines indicating fine trembling are scattered, and a single brown leaf is fluttering down in the lower left. No conversation partner or scene transitions are drawn, capturing a single moment of Chiikawa shivering in the cold.

Story guide

Hachiware finds an old book and learns from its pages that it contains instructions for a course meal. Drawn to the pleasure of serving dishes in sequence, they begin to think they might be able to do it too. No food has been completed yet; the post follows the moment the idea takes shape. As Hachiware reads the photographs and explanations, their ordinary life as someone who eats becomes the starting point for preparing one dish at a time for someone else.

Story guide

Hachiware is preparing their bed in the rain when water falling from the roof reaches inside and soaks the bedding. Looking at what should have been a fluffy bed, they wonder whether the rainwater will drain away and are left at a loss. The small mishap is that a place meant for sheltering from the rain has instead collected moisture. It ends on Hachiware's expression before the wet bedding, leaving the inconvenience of the rainy day unresolved.

Story guide

In an empty arcade, Usagi, Chiikawa, and Hachiware find an old slot machine. They cannot tell whether the row of machines is operating, and Usagi steps forward to check. Because a place that should be bright and playful is completely quiet, the three feel curiosity and caution at once. Looking over the display and coin slot, they are less concerned with playing than with learning what the machine left in this place can do.

Story guide

Against a white background, Hachiware stands alone, speaking words that suggest the end of the year while looking at something that catches their attention. Nothing around them explains an event, and what they are looking at is not shown clearly. The feeling of marking the year's end sits beside a small question that has arisen in front of them. Without turning grandly sentimental, the post lightly shows everyday uncertainty continuing even at a turn in the calendar.

Story guide

Near an unfamiliar plant, Chiikawa and Hachiware find small fruit growing on a branch. Thinking it looks sweet, Hachiware tries the taste, while Chiikawa considers saving some for lunch the next day. Their simple discussion of whether to eat a found item right away or keep some for later gives the scene a sense of everyday life. At this point the strange plant is not treated as a threat, but as the joy of finding something edible and sharing a little anticipation for tomorrow.

Story guide

Chiikawa and Hachiware open and close a small blue device, watching the shapes that appear inside. Something like paper or a diagram can also be seen, giving the impression that the device may not be just a toy. They think about what it might be useful for without immediately understanding how to use it. As they watch the changes in front of them, they try to connect them with the unease they have felt so far. Because readers are not given enough information either, the scene centers on the two checking clues one by one.