Mutta arrives in Houston where he meets up with Hibito, along with his pet pug, Apo. At his home, Hibito points out to Mutta that he has lost his competitiveness with him. The next day, Mutta talks with dog walkers Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who teach him a bit about how Hibito thinks of him. Later, Mutta decides to be a bit more competitive with Hibito. Meanwhile, back at JAXA, one of the judges seems to be against Mutta's application.