Grayer Than Lead, Heavier Than Snow, by Yukimi Ogawa

[Clarkesworld]

★★★☆☆ Mixed

(Future Fantasy) Kiriko accepts a contract to help a wealthy foreigner who has run out of his medicine, but her success attracts the unwelcome attention of “colorful” people who look down on lowly colorless folk like her. (8,536 words; Time: 28m)

This is the same protagonist from “Ripen,” which you probably want to read first, since it explains the world much better.

Ripen, by Yukimi Ogawa

[Clarkesworld]

★☆☆☆☆ Needs Improvement

(Future Fantasy) A high-class woman from a society where the upper crust have brilliantly colored skin asks two colorless people to help her with an illegal procedure to hide the effects of her aging. (9,437 words; Time: 31m)

Taste of Opal, by Yukimi Ogawa

[F&SF]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Japanese Fantasy) Kei’s parents sell her at age 14 to merchants who know how to make the most of her precious, glowing, opal blood, which can make valuable medicines or more valuable narcotics. (9,310 words; Time: 31m)

Like Smoke, Like Light, by Yukimi Ogawa

[Strange Horizons]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Japanese Fantasy) Disgraced, her magical abilities destroyed, the young narrator serves a branch of her family carrying food to the powerful head of household, who hides in an annex surrounded by spells, talking to the dead. (6,823 words; Time: 22m)

Ever Changing, Ever Turning, by Yukimi Ogawa

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(Japanese SF) On Shino’s island, women aren’t allowed to use artificial colors on their nails or skin, but her friend Tsukiko can change color at will. (4,888 words; Time: 16m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Blue Grey Blue, by Yukimi Ogawa

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(Future Fantasy) Tsuyu's color varies from day to day, but he'd make more money if he were a darker shade of blue all the time. (5,218 words; Time: 17m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

The Secret Mirror of Moriyama House, by Yukimi Ogawa

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(Japanese Modern Fantasy) Yui Mogi discovers that old Ms. Moriyama runs a rather unusual business from her home. A business with a very unusual clientele. (6,245 words)

Rating: 3, Unremarkable