Miss Toshiko is a young Japanese girl who serves as a central figure in the story. She lives with her uncle in the Japanese countryside during the final years of World War II and the immediate postwar period. Having witnessed something terrifying in China during the war, she has become selectively mute and is unable to speak. Her silence reflects the deep psychological trauma she carries, isolating her from those around her. Despite this, she retains a gentle and curious nature. One day, while wandering in the forest, she hears a Chinese lullaby that her mother used to sing to her. The singer is a Chinese laborer named Wang Yingren, who has escaped from a forced labor camp in a Hokkaido coal mine and is hiding in the wilderness, unaware that the war has ended. Drawn by the familiar melody, Miss Toshiko cautiously approaches him, and the two form a quiet bond. Through their shared connection to the lullaby and her growing trust in him, she begins to find the courage to speak again. Her recovery of speech is a key emotional turning point in the narrative. She plays a crucial role as the bridge between the isolated Chinese fugitive and the local community, and her character embodies the themes of trauma, healing, and the power of human connection in the face of war. No special abilities are depicted; her strength lies in her resilience and capacity for empathy. Her relationship with Wang Yingren is the most significant in the story, bringing about her personal growth and offering him a rare moment of solace.