The chapter opens with a conversation between the two young men, who are discussing the latest work by Tsuda. The young man, who is named Arba, is a fan of the young man's work, and he asks if the two of them would like to go drink with him after the performance. The teacher, who has just finished his second year teaching in a small town in northeastern Japan, is surprised to learn that Arba is a student of his. He asks if he has a partner, and the teacher replies that he does not, but that he would like a younger man to accompany him. The two men are interrupted by the arrival of a young man named Taiga, who introduces himself as a friend of Arba's. Arba asks the teacher if he is tired from work, but the teacher says that he has been working late all day. He tells Arba that he is taking on the Earth Science Club, and that he loves the subject matter of the club. He says that his personal life is going to hell when he is busy, because he has to take care of his work and personal life at the same time