This book was so cute. And that is extremely weird, considering that its main concern is how people can get over the deaths of people they love. There is just something about Asian culture, in this case Japanese, that grants a halo of light around every little thing, turning every dirty bug into a firefly floating slowly and graciously. It's cliche to say that it reads like an anime, but in a way it does. 
 It is short (I read it on my way to and from Edinburgh, so I'd say not much longer than one hour and a half), minimalist and endearing. There is no better way to explain the book. It's a study on loneliness, and the potentialities of transforming a state of alienation into a shared experience with cathartic potential. 
 I liked 'Kitchen' much better than 'Moonlight Shadow'. While the latter slightly embraces fantasy, I found it more predictable. 'Kitchen', on the other hand, was such an unusual little story! There was no paranormal activity whatsoever, and yet it felt all the more eerie and intriguing. Besides, Eriko was a terrific character. 
 Finally, anyone who writes under the pen name 'Banana' has my undivided and relentless respect.