The novel opens with a flashback to the events of the previous chapter, in which Hiro finds out that his crush, Milady, is dead. Milady's father has promised to pay for Hiro's room and board for the rest of the school year, and Hiro is shocked to learn that his father has already done so. He asks Milady to come to him for advice, and Milady agrees, promising not to tell anyone that she is in love with anyone. The two exchange pleasantries about their mutual love for each other and about their respective jobs, which Milady describes as "like a mother and a cleaning woman." Milady wonders if Milady is the one who has written this diary entry, but Milady assures her that it is not Milady. She also tells Milady that she has been reading her diary, and that Milady looks like one of her female co-workers, who she thinks is the girl who wrote the diary entry. She wonders whether Milady might be the girl she is writing about, and she is surprised when Milady tells her that she will not be able to communicate with Milady until they are able to understand each other.