The narrator introduces us to the protagonist, a man named Ken. He's been an employee at the photochemistry research center in Tochigi Prefecture for eight years. He tells us that he's happy at his job because he gets "enjoyment and pride" from his work. He also says that he used to think he'd be out in the world when he grew up, but now he thinks he'll be more like his wife, who found out about the astronaut program through her husband. Ken tells the narrator that he wants to go to the International Space Station because it's "life or death" . He says that if he were to become an astronaut, he would have to spend a lot of time away from his family because he would earn less than he does now. The narrator tells Ken that he should try it out because it will expand his horizons.