Haru is 15 years old when her father, Osamu, recently widowed and acting in accordance with his wife Kumiko's last wishes, sends his daughter to a dojo to learn archery. The teachings of the dojo masters affect their disciple's physical preparation, but also address her humanistic and philosophical learning. Haru protests because she doesn't want to leave her home, but finally goes to the dojo. There she meets her classmates and Masters and begins a long journey, always with a heavy heart because she misses home. Haru grows up, and the reader follows her on her life journey. At this point in the story, the reader's empathy already shares the protagonist's heartbeat in all her actions and thoughts. Haru learns, experiences, and makes mistakes, does things and stumbles. She stops and thinks, gets lost and returns. It is at that moment that the reader realizes that Haru is a journey, a story, and a conversation all at once: fable, philosophy, dialogue, and verse.