Mitsuko Nozawa is a young Tokyo girl evacuated to Fukuoka in 1945 following devastating bombing attacks that claimed loved ones and inflicted deep personal trauma. This loss forces her into premature maturity, resulting in a serious demeanor that contrasts sharply with the carefree attitudes of Fukuoka's local children.

Enrolling in a new school, Mitsuko gradually builds friendships with classmates, including boys who play war games. Her interactions reveal a perspective on war's harsh realities, directly shaped by her experiences in Tokyo. As a war evacuee bearing personal loss, she embodies the human cost of conflict.

Present in Fukuoka before the pivotal June 19 firebombing, Mitsuko's experiences foreshadow and contextualize the impending tragedy's impact on the community. Her arc centers on adapting to a new environment, forging bonds amidst adversity, and representing the displacement and psychological burden carried by child evacuees.