The chapter opens with the narrator's greeting to Asako, who has just returned from a visit with her father. The narrator tells Asako that he's glad she's doing well, since she was depressed on New Year's Eve. He also tells her that he wishes she and a man could be together, because it would make her life easier. Asako agrees, saying that she'd rather have a man than a man and a woman together. She also tells the narrator that she doesn't have a crush on Mitchan, because Mitchan is 42 years old and she likes old men. She tells him that Mitchan has won 42 times in the past three years, and that's not surprising, since Mitchan's a good sport. Mitchan says that he thinks Mitchan and Asako are the same age, but Mitchan points out that it's better to have nothing to do with crushes than to have them. He says Mitchan was depressed about the new year, and Mitchan didn't understand what he was talking about. He's happy that Asako is doing okay, and he wishes Mitchan could be with her, because he'd be able to do whatever he wants with her. He tells her to be happy, and she agrees. She then tells Mitchan that she wants to help him, because she can't meet Mitchan in person. She asks Mitchan if Mitchan likes him, since he has so much snow on his face. He replies that he does, but that he has to think about his feelings for Mitchan. She says that she wishes someone could be Mitchan because he is so nice to her, and because he has a stamp stamp on his stamp that says "I love him." Mitchan agrees, and they decide to invite Mitchan to a party.