Bad things happened to bad people; and she was exactly that—a bad person.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: Cecily's response to her son Abel's disappearance introduces the novel's explorations of guilt and the past. Cecily blames herself for her son's fate because she is convinced that her informant work with General Fujiwara has led to her family's troubles. As a result of her internal upset, her memories of her time with Fujiwara surface on the page, revealing the correlation between Cecily's past and present circumstances.

But kindness did not excuse mass violence, kindness did not bring Abel back, kindness wouldn't keep her safe.
-- Narrator (chapter 4)

Importance: Jujube is reluctant to trust her new friend Mr. Takahashi because the war has changed how she sees others. She is thankful for Mr. Takahashi's kindness, but her wartime circumstances have taught her that such kindness is fleeting and unreliable. The way she engages with Mr. Takahashi over time reveals her...