Kitchen

Kitchen is a short novel about a young woman named Mikage who experiences deep loss when her grandmother dies, leaving her with no living family. Grieving and alone, Mikage accepts a living offer from Yuichi Tanabe, a classmate, and his mother, Eriko, a transgender woman. Mikage finds comfort in the Tanabes' kitchen, using the acts of cooking and eating to cope with her change in life.

The narrative explores how an unconventional family unit forms in the face of sorrow. Mikage, Yuichi, and Eriko connect through shared sadness, finding peace and a type of home with each other. The book suggests that love and family exist outside of standard blood relations.