Prologue Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The Prologue is a single, intimate letter from Shiori to Takkan, written as she prepares to leave for the dragon realm. Shiori opens by confessing her lifelong dislike of writing letters, blaming her poor handwriting—which she compares to a goose's scrawl—and admitting that this is no excuse for never having replied to Takkan's many letters. She reveals that she has finally read all of them and found deep comfort in his stories, imagining that they grew up together.

She then recalls their first meeting as children at the Summer Festival, when she lost his kite. That memory sparks a reflection on the kite itself: she imagines it flying endlessly with nowhere to land, and confesses that she sometimes dreams she is that kite—adrift, belonging nowhere. This thought leads her to wonder whether her stepmother felt the same way, and she expresses sorrow that she will never get to ask her.

Shiori then tells Takkan that by the time he finds the letter, she will already be in the dragon realm. She does not know how long she will be gone—days, weeks, or months—but she hopes it will not be years. She asks him to think of her when snow falls and whenever he eats radishes, and she signs the letter as “your favorite soup cook.”

Key Events

Shiori writes her first letter to Takkan, apologizing for never having written before.
She reveals that she has read all of his letters and found comfort in them.
She recalls their childhood meeting at the Summer Festival and losing his kite.
She reflects on the kite as a symbol of being lost and adrift, and connects it to her own feelings of displacement.
She wonders about her stepmother's inner life and regrets not asking her about it.
She announces her imminent departure to the dragon realm and expresses uncertainty about the duration of her absence.
She gives Takkan specific sensory reminders (snow, radishes) to remember her by.

Character Development

Shiori emerges as more vulnerable and introspective than her usual spirited self. She admits her flaws—her handwriting, her failure to write—and shows genuine regret for lost opportunities. Her reflection on the kite reveals a deep sense of not belonging, a feeling she extends to her stepmother, indicating a growing empathy and a desire to understand those she has lost. The letter also demonstrates her care for Takkan: she has read his letters, she remembers their first meeting, and she gives him personal ways to think of her. This is a Shiori who is preparing for an uncertain journey and reaching out to anchor herself to someone she trusts.

Takkan is not physically present, but his character is developed through Shiori's words. He is portrayed as a faithful correspondent, someone who has written many letters and shared stories, and as a person Shiori wishes she had known better. The letter implies a deep bond between them, one that Shiori is only now beginning to fully appreciate.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Letters as Connection: The letter itself is a bridge between Shiori and Takkan, and Shiori's reading of his letters becomes a way for her to feel close to him. The act of writing is both a confession and a gift.
Regret over Unspoken Words: Shiori wishes she had asked Takkan's name at their first meeting, and she laments never asking her stepmother about her feelings. The letter is an attempt to break that pattern.
The Kite as a Symbol of Being Adrift: The kite with no landing place mirrors Shiori's own sense of displacement. It recurs in her dreams, suggesting a deep-seated fear of being untethered.
Displacement and Not Belonging: Shiori explicitly says she feels she belongs nowhere anymore, and she wonders if her stepmother felt the same. This theme ties to her upcoming journey to the dragon realm, a place where she will be an outsider.
Grief for Stepmother: Shiori's thoughts about her stepmother are tinged with pain and unresolved questions, showing that grief is still present.
Seasonal Imagery and Food as Comfort: Snow and radishes are concrete, sensory reminders that Shiori gives Takkan. They ground her memory in everyday experiences, making her absence more tangible.
Uncertainty of Return: Shiori's admission that she doesn't know how long she'll be gone—and her hope it won't be years—creates a sense of precariousness and sets the stakes for the story.

Why This Chapter Matters

The Prologue serves as a crucial emotional foundation for the novel. It establishes Shiori's voice as reflective and vulnerable, contrasting with her earlier, more impulsive self. It deepens her relationship with Takkan by showing her investment in their connection, and it introduces the central conflict of her journey to the dragon realm. The letter also plants key symbols—the kite, snow, radishes—that will likely resonate throughout the story. Most importantly, it humanizes Shiori's grief for her stepmother and her own sense of displacement, giving readers a lens through which to understand her motivations as she faces the challenges ahead.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Shiori compare her handwriting to a goose's, and what does this reveal about her character?

Shiori says her handwriting looks like a goose's rather than a princess's, which shows her self-deprecating humor and her awareness of her own shortcomings. It also reveals that she feels inadequate in traditional princessly skills, but she doesn't let that stop her from writing this letter—indicating that her desire to connect with Takkan outweighs her embarrassment.

2. How does the kite metaphor reflect Shiori's emotional state at the time of writing?

The kite, flying with nowhere to land, mirrors Shiori's feeling of being adrift and belonging nowhere. She dreams she is the kite, with no end to her string, which suggests a fear of being untethered and lost. This metaphor also connects to her stepmother, as Shiori wonders if she felt the same way, deepening the sense of shared displacement.

3. What is the significance of Shiori asking Takkan to think of her when snow falls and when he eats radishes?

These specific, sensory reminders ground Shiori's memory in everyday experiences. Snow and radishes are likely tied to shared memories or inside jokes (radishes being a food she cooks), making them personal and intimate. By giving Takkan these prompts, Shiori ensures that he will remember her in small, tangible ways, even if she is gone for a long time. It also shows her thoughtfulness and her desire to remain present in his life.