AWLL2 — Book 7 — Sakurako¶

Last updated through AWLL2.7 ch 75.

Book summary¶

AWLL2.7 Sakurako runs August 1993–September 1994. Matthew's kart injury; Michelle leaves the monastery and re-enters household life; Sakurako Hisakawa and a month in Oguni, Japan with Sensei Hiro redefine lagom and Eastern submission for Steve. Indian Room as spiritual center; Jessica's MD path, Kara's department rise; babies and nanny transitions; Abbie/Jason wedding; Land of the Rising Sun training sequence; Miyu, Marcia, Will's Japan return. Prologue (March 2006): Mamma Mia! anniversary with Samantha. Closes with Jamie harassment crisis and Mikela waiver — bridge to NIKA expansion.

Chapter summaries¶

Prologue — March 5, 2006, Chicago, Illinois — March 2006 frame — Samantha tempts Steve to Mamma Mia! fifth anniversary with Björn and Benny backstage passes; still like a daughter at thirty-one.
Chapter 1 — August 18, 1993, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania — Ellwood City monastery — Michelle asks to come home; Steve must navigate Kara's response and no-touch novice rules.
Chapter 2 — August 18, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle leaves monastery; kids reunite; Elyse drives Steve to office.
Chapter 3 — August 21, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Michelle and Samantha drive to Lansing; Mary Rogers first intimacy; Dustin already dead (cremated; diary/Carla DNA thread).
Chapter 4 — September 4, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Surprising revelation — empty third-slot feeling only four months after Jessica left.
Chapter 5 — September 12, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — New friend Birgit lunch boundaries; married-man memory test.
Chapter 6 — September 12, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Two steps forward — Michelle church programming vs third-slot; Joyce history.
Chapter 7 — September 18, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Which way forward — Steve fears losing Jessica forever; calls Samantha.
Chapter 8 — September 25, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Forcing the issue — Lena scholarship; Samantha date with Brian; hospital board push.
Chapter 9 — October 9, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Battery of tests — Kara/Michelle bedroom conversation; mayo medical running gag.
Chapter 10 — October 16, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Hold the Mayo? — Jorge asked about Kara's proposal; Michelle door knock.
Chapter 11 — October 30, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Wake up call — kids adorable; Jesse/Birgit tension; Roosevelt/Racine crash dateline.
Chapter 12 — November 8, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — House calls — syncope history with Doctor Ross; Al Barton in room.
Chapter 13 — November 10, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Just like starting over — Indian room prepared for Jessica return talk.
Chapter 14 — November 12, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Healing — Jessica reconciliation visits; Melanie kiss restraint; Memory eternal for losses.
Chapter 15 — November 20, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Learn to be happy — recovery routines; Michelle integration.
Chapter 16 — November 27, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Slow recovery — Al Barton keeps Steve off work; Alex lunch.
Chapter 17 — December 13, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Bedside manner — Jessica hospital arc; Seven Storey Mountain thread.
Chapter 18 — December 14, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Love Isn't Easy — ABBA frame; Jessica/Kara holiday intimacy.
Chapter 19 — December 17, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Ten years later frame — Birgit memorial prayer; sixteen years since first Birgit death.
Chapter 20 — December 20, 1993, Los Angeles, California — Celebrations — Los Angeles trip; Submarine film.
Chapter 21 — December 24, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Christmas 1993 — tree, ornaments, Cirque du Steve traditions.
Chapter 22 — December 26, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — Relative calm — post-Christmas household rhythm.
Chapter 23 — December 31, 1993, Chicago, Illinois — New Year's — You're the Inspiration dance; resolutions.
Chapter 24 — January 5, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Confrontation — Bethany departs after family fight; Jesse/Birgit scuffle.
Chapter 25 — January 7, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — NOT a shotgun wedding — Abbie/Jason wedding; Sound of Music farewell song; Devil Went Down to Georgia first dance.
Chapter 26 — January 9, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Becoming Doctor Jessica — residency and title shift.
Chapter 27 — January 19, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Beginnings and endings — quote on risk; household transitions.
Chapter 28 — January 25, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — New nanny Amanda starts; Jesse breakfast routine.
Chapter 29 — January 29, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — If it's not one thing… — compounding household crises.
Chapter 30 — January 31, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Third time enemy action — pattern of repeated blows.
Chapter 31 — February 5, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Babies! — birth announcements and nursery logistics.
Chapter 32 — February 12, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Transition plans — Dave/Julia NIKA roles; K&R book reference.
Chapter 33 — February 18, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — «Joie de vivre» — TNG frame; morale at house.
Chapter 34 — February 24, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Dangerous vibes — LA Confidential redux trip setup.
Chapter 35 — March 6, 1994, Admiral's Club, Chicago O'Hare International Airport — LA Confidential redux — Admiral's Club to Los Angeles.
Chapter 36 — March 9, 1994, LAX, Los Angeles, California — Intimacy — LAX/Enterprise travel sex boundaries.
Chapter 37 — March 13, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Geisha — roleplay and Eastern aesthetic at home.
Chapter 38 — March 15, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Aikidō — new martial thread; Myst/7th Guest gaming while kids nap.
Chapter 39 — March 18, 1994, Apple Orchard Bed-and-Breakfast near Montpelier, Vermont — Twenty-eight — Apple Orchard birthday; Days of Our Lives.
Chapter 40 — March 30, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — A wedge — Marcia stocking tease deal broken.
Chapter 41 — April 10, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — 'Me Time' — solo recharge before Japan.
Chapter 42 — April 17, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Talkin' About My Generation — Peanuts generational parenting debate.
Chapter 43 — April 17, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Participation trophies? — Pittsburgh trip; Maddie Harris intern hire.
Chapter 44 — April 24, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Maturity — D2: Mighty Ducks; Jessica birthday breakfast.
Chapter 45 — May 3, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Overcoming limits — Happy Birthday Jessica at Italian Village.
Chapter 46 — May 10, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Japanese wisdom — pre-departure counsel.
Chapter 47 — May 15, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Japanese pleasure — anticipation before flight.
Chapter 48 — May 16, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — True enemy — BLS smoking gun Steve refused to discuss; Theo business.
Chapter 49 — May 18, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Best of plotters — The Firm corporate intrigue.
Chapter 50 — May 22, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Lesson learned — household applies Japan-prep lessons.
Chapter 51 — June 3, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Time to talk and act — NIKA leadership decisions.
Chapter 52 — June 5, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Inao Mitsuko — new Japanese contact; Star Trek: TNG.
Chapter 53 — June 9, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Just a Song Before I Go — Crosby, Stills & Nash dance; Birgit memorial incense.
Chapter 54 — June 15, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Westward bound — Trib press; flight east.
Chapter 55 — June 15/16, 1994, Aboard a 747 bound for Japan — Land of Rising Sun Part I — 747 to Narita.
Chapter 56 — June 17, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part II — culture shock layers.
Chapter 57 — June 23, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part III — Oguni mountain town arrival.
Chapter 58 — July 3, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part IV — Bohemian Rhapsody mind-frame; training intensity.
Chapter 59 — July 6, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part V — Sensei Hiro household rules.
Chapter 60 — July 9, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part VI — daily Oguni rhythm.
Chapter 61 — July 10, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part VII — Sakurako teaching submission and balance.
Chapter 62 — July 10, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part VIII — immersion deepens.
Chapter 63 — July 11, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part IX — spiritual breakthrough.
Chapter 64 — July 19, 1994, Oguni, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan — Part X — first sauna since injury.
Chapter 65 — July 22, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — New perspective — return mindset shift.
Chapter 66 — July 22, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Fawn and Georg — Foundation friends in Japan frame.
Chapter 67 — July 23, 1994, Naperville, Illinois — Close call — travel or health scare.
Chapter 68 — July 27, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Equilibrium — lagom named and felt.
Chapter 69 — August 2, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Reunion — homecoming to Chicago.
Chapter 70 — August 12, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Acid test — honesty trial with wives.
Chapter 71 — August 22, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Penny for your thoughts? — Penny arc check-in.
Chapter 72 — August 25, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Lie of omission? — Sakurako disclosure risk; October dinner plan.
Chapter 73 — August 28, 1994, Chicago, Illinois — Another fine mess — complication stack.
Chapter 74 — August 31, 1994, Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois — Unexpected favor — ally assists.
Chapter 75 — September 2, 1994, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota — Perfect mess — Jamie lists every NIKA employee Steve slept with; Mikela waiver Thursday; ban on hiring lovers; Brandon Littleton threat.