This chapter opens with a soliloquy by Hiroshi Hosono, a member of the Harumakawa Karuta Club. He tells us that he has lost a lot of friends in the past year, and that he is determined to make up for them in the upcoming tournament. He says that the other members of the club are trying to get him to play against them, but he will not let them do it. He also says that he will be playing against a boy named Mizusawa, who is one year older than him, and who has been playing with him since the beginning of the year. The two of them have been practicing together, and they have agreed to play together in the tournament. Hiroshi says that they should not call each other names, since it is not random, but should try to play with a team formation that will give them the best chance to win. He adds that he never thought that even Chihaya could feel pressure, and he is surprised that she could feel that way.