The scene opens with Tachibana's deathbed speech, in which he laments his inability to complete the story. He blames himself for his failure to finish the story, and asks his friend, Motomachi, to help him finish the project. Thackeray's speech is interrupted by the arrival of Hirokazu, who has just returned from a visit with his uncle. Hiroki has been away from home for a long time, and he has not spoken to his uncle in a long while. As he is leaving, Hiroki asks him to come back and talk to him about the story he has been working on. The two men agree to meet again the following day.