The chapter opens with a description of the battle that will change the protagonist's life. The protagonist eats some boiled somen, thinking that it will be easier to digest because it is much thinner than other foods. He is so excited that he shoves all of the somen into his stomach and eats as fast as he can. He notices that George eats with one hand and Tobio eats with the other. He thinks that if he can speed up his eating, he can beat George. He then realizes that the thinner somen are, the more liquid they are absorbed. He begins to eat on his knees, so that his stomach will pass straight into his intestines.