What begins to lift Mikage's spirits once she establishes herself in the Tanabe household?

Mikage's spirits begin to rise as she spends more and more time with the Tanabe's. She is able to worry only about the basics - work, cleaning the house, and cooking. She also meets with Sotaro, and though the meeting is awkward and not exactly stress-relieving for Mikage, she is able to cope with everything much better when she has friends.