In this chapter, we are introduced to the young protagonist, who has just returned from a trip to the city of Ibukuro with his friend, the newspaper girl, and his friend's boyfriend, the cable girl. The two of them are on their way home from the city when they encounter a man who is begging them to help him buy a present for his girlfriend. The man asks them to buy him a gift for his birthday, but they refuse, saying that they do not know what the gift should be. The young protagonist says that he has no idea what to buy his girlfriend for her birthday, and they decide to go to another store to find out what she would like. The shopkeeper tells them that he will give them a good deal on the gift, and the two decide to buy themselves a present.