I really think this author has mastered the short story format. This collection has similar themes to Mushi to Uta with a more explicitly optimistic tone. The stories hold together well without sacrificing their individual charms, making for an engaging, thought-provoking collection. I feel that the order also suits this well, with the first story’s scientific fascination with the Other setting the stage for the later stories as well as the back half of its own. The plots focus largely around the relationships between characters and their finding roles within a larger world. The author regards the characters with an almost scientific distance, allowing themto reveal themselves as the story progresses. I think the diversity of characters is a strength of this manga, though the author certainly has some recurring types.

The blend of fantasy and realism works well with the simplistic art style. The art is nothing special but does a good job of playing up the themes. Some panels are difficult to parse, but it typically suits the story when that is the case. The “weirdness” also helps to set these stories apart from the basic short story, while still working within that format. None of these stories would work well in long form, because the ephemerality is the point they make. You encounter this new world, study it for a bit, discover what makes it special, and then it’s gone.