A little effort goes a long way-that's what Sachiko, Honda-san, and Gunji-sensei learn as they struggle to work together to make life easier for the Special Education children. With the help of gadgets and the support of more people in their environment than meets the eye, Hikaru and Miyu become able to communicate better with the world around them. But when Hikaru's teen idol classmate sends some mothers into a flashbulb frenzy that causes Hikaru to panic, other parents begin to question his presence alongside "normal" students in the classroom. Hikaru's first school trip also ends in disaster, when he gets separated from the group, and Sachiko begins to worry that Hikaru is losing his hard-fought place in society....

Born during the sunrise - an auspicious beginning - the Azumas' newborn son is named Hikaru, which means 'light'. But during one play date, his mother notices that her son is slightly different from the other children. In this bittersweet tale a young mother tried to cope with both the overwhelming discovery of her newborn son's autism and the trials of raising him whilst keeping her family together....

The charming but bittersweet tale of a family coming to terms with their son's autism continues in the second volume of this award-winning series....

Another school year might be over for Hikaru Azuma, but his mom has no time to rest. With both a new teacher and new classmates of different ages and varying disabilities ahead in fifth grade, Sachiko starts preparing for the difficulties that come with sudden changes to her autistic son's routine. Despite her best efforts, Sachiko meets with much opposition from the new teacher, and the Azumas have to cope with Hikaru acting out as a result of the stressful changes at school. Moreover, when the time comes for the family to decide on Hikaru's junior high, the local education administrators seem to think that a school for the disabled is the best fit for Hikaru, partly because of his recent behavior. But Sachiko, who has done her research, knows this to be false. Will she and Masato be able to convince the authorities and specialists that they know what is best for their son?...

When staffing changes at Masato's company get him transferred to a dead-end job in the middle of nowhere, more suffering and despair seem imminent for the Azuma family. However, Masato approaches the situation with aplomb and comes up with new ways to pave the way for Hikaru to become "a cheerful working adult" with surprising results. And with Hikaru now a 5th grader, Sachiko decides to foster independence in her son by allowing him to go to school on his own. Though the transition goes relatively smoothly, Sachiko and Masato are devastated when Hikaru encounters Oki-kun on his way home from school, only to learn that the boy is being abused in foster care....