The chapter opens with a soliloquy by Hiroshige, in which he laments the fact that he has been left behind by his fiancee, Amiya, who has left him to fend for herself. He laments that the marriage is still in the planning stages, and he has not been able to dress like himself in order to impress Amiya. He has also been working on a plan to build a house in the area where they are to be married, but he is unable to complete the project because of Amiya's absence.