The narrator and Mariko are sitting in Mariko's apartment, and the two chat about their love for each other. The narrator says that he's been waiting for Mariko for a long time, and that she's waiting for some other people to have children, but that she doesn't have them yet. He asks her if she has any kids, and she says that she hasn't had any, either. She's happy to hear that the narrator has won a literary prize for his work. She thanks him for the food, and he thanks her for the promotion. He's in his work mode now, because he loves to cook and eat. He says that even though he loves his job, he also loves his life. He compares his life to that of someone who is ten years younger than him, and says that his life is just like that person's. He wonders if he could have had a dream with Mariko, and wonders if they could have been together ten years ago.