The chapter opens in a small town in Japan, where Hario and his friends are waiting for their chance to be published in a magazine. Hario tries to draw a rough draft of his manuscript, but it is too late. He tells himself that he will do better the next time around. He also tells his friends that he is in love with a girl named Harima, who has just come from a meeting with the editor of another company. Toyokawa, the owner of the publishing house, tells Hario that he wants to see how Harima pays her dues in the manga world. He wants to know if he is a "ruffian" who has committed "all kinds of atrocities on all sides" . He decides that he would like to see what Harima does for his company. Harima's hair band is a sign of her will, and he bows his head, but his face is scornful of them. He feels guilty for bowing his head in such a way, but to his surprise, he is pardoned. The next day, he reads a copy of the magazine that Harima has just published.