The chapter opens with a flashback to the beginning of the previous chapter, in which Hirohito explains that he has fallen in love with Ruchiri and wishes that he could have one more kiss with her. He feels that he was right to say no to her, but that she turned him away. He realizes that some part of him scorned the men who made him their idol, believing that they were invincible. He also realizes that the demon general is still talking, and he wonders if he is still speaking. He wonders if the family practices the doctrine of mind-body dualism.