Watching the series again, and I'm struck by how much I love, here, and in other Ikuhara things, when the focus changes "in camera" so background becomes clear and foreground blurs almost away.

And, just how good the foley is. This goes to ridiculous levels with the movie, but the little sound fx for gestures, muting conversations to make them seem more overheard, the use of murmuring, breaths, chairs moving, or what would be, in live action, diegetic nature sounds. Masaki Kajishima said that the best tv anime could be heard as a radio drama, by someone across the room, and have them still be affected and able and eager to follow along. I think SKU hits that strongly. Good soundscape.