"The Imagination Runaway" is the first chapter of the second volume of the novel. It opens with a conversation between Hiroshi and Kyukushigoto. Hiroshi says that he is a chess player and that he thinks he is an artist. He says he is hiding a secret from his daughter. He tells her that he does not want her to think that he works in the field of drawing. He also says that if she does not like the way he looks, she will not be able to follow him. He adds that he will have a bald appearance in two weeks. The conversation turns to the subject of Hiroshi's body, and he says that his body does not fit the description of an artist's. He explains that he wants to become an idol to his daughter, but she is too young and inexperienced to be a real man. He wants to find another suit of clothes, but he knows that his current suit is not good enough for her.