While Shinkurö is at school, Murasaki meets the other inhabitants of the apartment building. In the evening, Shinkurö takes Murasaki to the public bathhouse, and then buys her a new futon. After Murasaki is asleep, Shinkurö goes out on another assignment as a negotiator and finds himself in a violent confrontation with thugs who are threatening the owner of a local restaurant. Shinkurö realizes there is more than meets the eye.