The chapter opens with a flashback to the early days of the novel, when Hiroyuki's parents were rude to their son. Hiroyuki, who is now a junior high school student, is embarrassed by his parents' treatment of him. He tells his parents that he is not good at any of the subjects they teach him, including math, history, and biology. He also tells them that he used to go to dances at the local folk dance, where he would dance with other students. He realizes that his parents are treating him like a child, and he decides that he will study hard at the inn where his parents live. He asks his parents to come back and explain what has happened, but they refuse, saying that he has acted in a "bad naked" manner. He says that his mother left home a year ago to go abroad, but he is determined to stay in the country until she returns. He then asks why they don't allow him to stay, and they reply that he can't make a decision that easily. He finally tells them he will let them stay, but that he doesn't know what to do with his life now. He wants to go back to school to become a lawyer, a bureaucrat, or a politician. They say that he needs at least a "hey" , a "todai" . He adds that he would have saved them money if he had stayed at the country inn instead of going to school in the big city. They finally agree to let him stay, though Hiroyuki says that he must apologize for the way his mother acted. He complains that his friend, Tamura, groped him while Hiroyuki was trying to ask him what he was doing, and Hiroyuki replies that he was sorry about how his friend acted, and that he didn't have time to say anything. He goes on to say that Tamura is very smart, and if he works hard and studies, he can get into the country. He compares Tamura to a gold digger, and says he tricked the innocent girl into thinking he was a law student, when in fact, he is actually a twice-rupin. He wonders if Tamura will do the same thing to his friend , but Tamura assures him that he won't do it, because the girl has "renewed hope" to continue working hard.