In the middle of the novel, Mishima and her brother, Kishure, are on their way to a festival in the country. Mishima is worried about her brother's mood, and she tries to comfort him by asking him to take her to the festival in a costume that he has made for her. He refuses, saying that he is too busy with his own business to attend the festival, but Mishima assures him that she will protect him if he tries to harm her