Mikoto Mashita: Packed to the Brim

Subtitle: Oh, how nice, you look so happy.
'It might be impossible now'—feelings like that
Mikoto Mashita scoops up, draws close, and embraces.

I am reading them in reverse, starting from 'You Don't Speak Ill of Others'.
This work, 'Packed to the Brim', was published about a year ago and is woven with events from the 'COVID-19 pandemic'.
My impression after finishing it was'Is this the same author?'
To borrow Mr. Mashita's words, it is a distinction between 'fast words' and 'slow words', and this work uses 'fast words', making it a much lighter style compared to 'You Don't Speak Ill of Others'.

For the same author to change their style with age, or for there to be differences between novels and essays, is one thing, but writing in different styles during the same period is a feat that cannot be accomplished without intentional word choice.
(Needless to say, this is a compliment.)

Also, the five stories are written so that their living spheres overlap, a structure recently seen in 'Naruse Takes Over the World' (by Mina Miyajima).

Unless you set the character profiles in great detail at the 'plot' stage before creating the novel, contradictions will emerge once you start writing.
(Even if the sequel to 'Packed to the Brim' were 'Even When the Basket is Empty', it should be possible to write it.)

I really like this kind of thing...

A clever touch

Kanji that one would learn in high school have 'ruby' added to them.
That is, the 'reading' written in small characters next to the kanji.

Is it so that even high school students can read it?
Some adults might want to say, 'Are you treating me like an idiot?', but there are surprisingly many times when I have remembered a reading incorrectly,
and I have felt relieved several times, thinking, 'I'm glad I didn't say that out loud.'

I really like this kind of thing...