It was an intriguing combination of nostalgia and eeriness. The occasional flashes of wrongness that break up the really sweet return to early-xxxHolic-style stories made for a much greater sense of momentum than the previous volume. There was a lot of emphasis on the series' primary theme of the consequences of one's choices, which provided a satisfying continuation to the stunted ending of the original series. It was especially vindicating that Watanuki's decision to cloister himself in the shop to wait for Yuko was implied to be stagnation and uncertainty rather than a real choice.

I particularly liked the three coins story. It was classic xxxHolic: humans unwittingly manifesting curses/supernatural forces through the strength of their own desires and expectations.

One of the long-standing messages of xxxHolic is that destiny's whims will tie your fate to those of others and thereafter, how you decide to live your life may cause great distress to those who care about you, but it is still your right to choose that path. It was acutely painful to see how Yuko, Doumeki and Himawari acted as Watanuki's guardians, wanting desperately for him to move on and return to the world of the living, but nevertheless accepting whatever choice he makes and protecting him as he carries out those choices.