Thrilled by a friend's poetry collection, Takuboku begins to lose confidence in himself. Kyousuke tries to cheer him up, but when he finds out that Takuboku was involved in talks of someone buying Oen, the prostitute from the same province as them, he can't conceal his indignation. Meanwhile, at the milk hall, Yoshii, Sakutarou, and Bokusui hold a poetry contest, refereed by Nomura, to see who will confess their feelings to Kiku, the waitress.
there is no sadness which 
can overwhelm happiness."
".لا حزن يستطيع التغلّب على السّعادة
kann keine Trauer das Wasser reichen.
No hay tristeza mayor que la felicidad.
No hay mayor tristeza que la felicidad.
rien n’est plus triste à voir
que leur joie. »
non c'è tristezza che superi la loro gioia.
Não há tristeza que supere a alegria
То нет на свете печали такой,
Чтоб радость мою победить!»