As the new year rolls around, Natsu’s progress on her novel stalls. Sengawa has stopped asking about the book, and Natsu worries that her editor has given up on her. In late January, she attends a symposium hosted by Children of Donors. Natsu decides to leave early but runs into Aizawa on her way out. She gives him a copy of her novel, and they discuss their careers. Natsu learns that Aizawa is an on-call physician in Osaka. He gives Natsu his email address, agreeing to answer her remaining questions about donor conception.

In February, Natsu meets with Sengawa for a drink. She notes that Sengawa’s eyes look empty, and she is suffering from intense coughing fits. When the topic of family comes up, Natsu asks Sengawa if she’s ever considered having children. Sengawa says that she is happy to be child-free. Her life is busy enough without children, and she has seen firsthand how women who juggle careers and families often end up exhausted and burnt out.

Sengawa gets up to use the restroom and doesn’t return for a long time. Natsu eventually follows. She finds Sengawa bent over the sink, her eyes bloodshot. Wordlessly, Sengawa embraces Natsu. Natsu is surprised by how thin and frail her friend has become.