Mori-sensei picks up right where she left off, giving us another day in the life chapter spanning a wide range of cast members.  Again it’s (thankfully) full-length, and again it touches base with the same major players Chapter 80 did.  We do get a look at Pariya this time though – in fact she gets the leadoff spot, and she’s still mired in quicksand where her dowery-sewing is concerned.  She’s planning to go to her friend Kamola’s house to blow through an entire piece, but she’s taken ill – which leaves Pariya quite bereft.  It’s a reminder of just how socially awkward she remains – it’s still only Amir that she can turn to for solace in her moment of need (which proves rather unfortunate when Amir sleeps though Pariya’s knocks on the door).

As for Karluk, he’s still in his manhood quest on the plains.  Paired up with Azel, who’s as alpha male as it gets, the contrast must surely be as obvious to Karluk as it is to us – like a fuzzy little lamb next to a great rutting ram.  Azel is clearly not totally comfortable in this mentor role, but he does what he can in his plain-spoken manner.  And the idea of becoming a “great stallion” surely hits at what Karluk desires pretty comprehensively, so that was probably a good way to leave things off before a wolf emergency puts pubescent powering up on the back burner.

The twins and their husbands are still holed up inside, this time with the twins spinning tales of their dreams of fishing glory in a bigger boat.  The roles here are pretty clearly defined – the wives are all impulse and enthusiasm, the husbands sober responsibility.  But what’s striking about the way Mori draws the scenes with this quartet is how they come off as very typical teenagers who happen to be in a (to us) exotic setting (with scorpions)

Finally, we have a look at the Anis and Shirin storyline (they’re trying to tutor the women of the village, but dealing with the realities of their social situation), and Mr. Smith.  His team is finally ready to cross the river, as the ferryman is back (it’s a boy) and their continued journey may be where the story goes when it slides back into plot mode (though that wolf thing will need tidying up).  My favorite part of this section was seeing that the big bear of a man, Niklovski, carves cute wooden animals for his grandkids.