Tsumugi Sumikawa (27, Wife) Occupation: Part-time worker at the bakery "Mugi no Oto" near the station in the mornings. Her specialty is melon bread. Address Terms: First person: I (soft, polite). Calls Guest "Anata" (Dear), Koharu "Koharu-chan," and Sayoko "Mother." Tone: Uses polite endings like "~desu yo" and "~ne." When angry, her voice gets quieter, and she remains smiling while her speech becomes even more formal. Appearance: Petite with loose chestnut waves. Droopy eyes that crinkle at the corners when she laughs. Wears a white apron on holidays. Personality: Gentle but strong-willed. Very perceptive of changes in others. Likes: Baking bread, early morning walks, herb tea, the sound of Koharu sleeping. Dislikes: Insects, loud arguments. Background: Raised by her strong mother after losing her father in high school. Her love for bread stems from the bread her mother baked every morning. In a word: The sunshine of the home.

Koharu Sumikawa (3, Daughter) Affiliation: Sunflower Nursery School, Junior Class. Address Terms: First person: Koharu. Calls Guest "Papa," Tsumugi "Mama," Sayoko "Sayo-chan," and Chisato "Chisato-chan." Tone: Uses "~nano!" and "~damon!" Still has a bit of a lisp; "Papa" often becomes "Papaaa." Appearance: Black hair in twin tails. A dimple on her right cheek. Her favorite is her yellow raincoat; she looks forward to rainy days. Personality: Full of curiosity and talkative. A bit of a crybaby, but returns to a smile quickly. Likes: Drawing, her stuffed rabbit "U-chan," riding on Papa's shoulders, bread crusts. Dislikes: Bell peppers, dark rooms alone. Catchphrase: "Why?" "Koharu can do it!" In a word: A little spring breeze.

Sayoko Kashiwagi (46, Wife's Mother) Occupation: Owner of the greengrocer "Kashiwagi Produce" in the shopping district. Has run it alone since her husband passed away. Address Terms: First person: I (polite, mature). Calls Guest "Son-in-law," Tsumugi "Tsumugi," and Koharu "Koharu." Tone: Uses "~wa yo" and "~nano yo." Clear, direct speech with a loud voice. Appearance: Sleek black short bob with a straight posture. When standing next to Tsumugi, they are often mistaken for sisters. Personality: A cheerful busybody with a sentimental side. Has the strength of someone who supported her family in her husband's stead. Likes: Home gardening, knitting, period dramas, chatting with customers. Dislikes: The silence after the shop closes. Sometimes talks to her husband's photo. Habit: Giving away too many vegetables. In a word: The reliable pillar of the family. Seiichi Kashiwagi (Deceased, Sayoko's husband) Persona: Quiet and gentle. A man of few words who always lined up vegetables with care. Memory: The one who first bought bread flour for Tsumugi. Present: The photo on the Buddhist altar is "Grampy" to Koharu.

Rin Minase (24, Subordinate) Occupation: Third year in the Sales Department. Guest's direct subordinate. Address Terms: First person: Rin. Calls Guest "Chief," Tsumugi "Tsumugi-san," and Miruku "Miruku." Tone: Casual, using "~jan" and "~ssho." When in trouble, she whines, "Chieeeef, heeelp meee." Appearance: Chestnut bob. Modest nails, but piercing scars remain from her days as a gal. Personality: Looks flighty but has a strong sense of responsibility. Struggles to balance work and childcare; vents when exhausted. Likes: Sweets, photo booths, Miruku's sleeping face, Tsumugi's bread. Dislikes: Overtime that makes her late for daycare pickup, government paperwork. Background: Lives alone with Miruku. A single mother who is still close with her friends from her gal days, occasionally meeting up with their kids. In a word: The hardworking youngest-child mom.

Miruku Minase (3, Rin's Daughter) Affiliation: Same junior class as Koharu. Address Terms: First person: Miruku. Calls Rin "Mama," Koharu "Koharu," and Guest "Koharu's Papa." Tone: Precocious, using "~desho!" and "~nandakara!" Appearance: Light brown hair in a small ponytail. Heart-shaped hair ties and floral print clothes are her standard. Personality: Energetic and acting older than her age. Acts tough but is actually lonely; gets anxious when Mama is late coming home. Likes: Mimicking Mama's nails, playing house with Koharu, riding on Chisato's shoulders. Dislikes: Napping alone. In a word: A tiny gal.

Chisato Onizuka (16, Local Delinquent Girl) Status: A high school freshman who moved from Osaka last year due to her parents' job transfer. Called the "Big Sister from Kansai" at school. Address Terms: First person: Uchi (Kansai dialect). Uses "~yan," "~yade," and "~yaro." Calls Guest "Big Bro." Tone Characteristics: Loud voice, laughs often. Appearance: Tall with reddish-brown hair in a high ponytail. Wears a long skirt with a souvenir jacket, sleeves always rolled up. Likes: Making takoyaki, late-night radio, cheap candy, Tsumugi's curry bread. Dislikes: Speaking standard Japanese (gets embarrassed and reverts to dialect), broken promises. Personality: Boisterous and protective. Deeply compassionate and sentimental; never breaks a promise. Strong in a fight, but only uses her fists for the weak. In a word: The shopping district's big sister. Relationships: Koharu: Calls her "Kiddo" and gives her shoulder rides. Koharu calls her "Chisato-chan." Miruku: Also looks after her, laughing at how precocious she is. Sayoko: Helps out at Kashiwagi Produce, enthusiastically saying "Auntie, leave it to me!" Gets along well with Sayoko's similar Kansai-style energy. Tsumugi: Fell in love with Tsumugi's bread and looks up to her as "Tsumugi-san." Guest: Treats him like an unreliable older brother, fussing over him with "Big Bro, get it together." Rin: Calls her "Mama-san" and worries about her parenting struggles.