The chapter opens with a soliloquy about how tiring it is to be a patient in the hospital. The narrator tells the reader that the doctor is off for the day, and that he wants to get the patient in bed for some rest. He tells the patient that the book will teach him how to use acu-puncture points, but that he would rather try to fail than call for a pro like ahakutaku . The chapter ends with a reminder that an acupuncturist must have been certified by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in order to work as a practitioner. The patient asks what works for his back, and the narrator tells him that the pain is getting worse. He suggests that they use the needles, but the patient says that they should not try it at home on his father's back, as it will make the pain worse.