The chapter opens with Soji, who has just finished his third year at prep school. He tells his teacher that he's been working very hard to pass the mock exam and get into the university. He says that he plans to enter his father's company as an employee. Soji asks his teacher if he has something he wants to do at his dad's firm. The teacher says that it's not something he'd really want to do, but that it would be nice to be appreciated for it. He asks Soji to write down his goal for the upcoming mock exam.