As I went on telling lies, I started to feel as though they were becoming the truth . . .

Blood and butter both hardened in no time – which was why she would be okay.

I didn’t ask for help, and that stopped other people around me from asking for it.’

‘Don’t you think that’s a disease of the contemporary age? It feels like these days our value is determined by how much effort we make on a daily basis. That matters even more than our results. After a while, the concept of effort starts to become mixed up with things feeling difficult, and then you reach the point where the person seen as the most

‘Treating yourself badly is a way of directing your anger at someone. I myself . . .’

‘It’s the lemon zest. It’s not “the taste of authentic home cooking” or anything – it’s just lemon zest. Your mum didn’t have the time, and that’s okay. Doing this takes time. It’s not about affection, I’ve realised – it’s just about time. You don’t realise that until you do it.’

‘I think not taking care of yourself properly is a form of violence.’

Kajii could pursue her desires so wholeheartedly precisely because she wasn’t tied to anybody.

‘I was trying to sumo wrestle all by myself. I was going round and round in circles, and ended up compromising both my workplace and my sense of belonging, and hurting the people around me.