Yukimasa endures bullying without support from Miyako, who coldly dismisses his struggles as an inconvenience to her settled life. Having missed her chance at marriage, she faces her own humiliations and responds by mocking his awkward exchanges with a teacher. Elsewhere, Suzune and Ruka seek quiet refuge in a shared bath after escaping trouble, their gentle closeness bringing them nearly to a kiss beneath the lamplight. They remain unaware that the tender moment signals the start of greater hardship to come.