[1][2] Uozu and Kosaka, friends and mountaineers since their student days, plan to climb Mount Hotaka during the New Year's holidays.
Shortly after, during their mountain trip, Kosaka falls to his death due to the tearing of their nylon rope.
Among the few people who are giving him his support are Minako Yashiro, with whom he has become infatuated, his superior Tokiwa, and Kosaka's younger sister Kaoru.
Minako confesses to Uozu that she shares his feelings for her, but he announces to sever all contact with her, finding the constellation impossible.
During his next mountain trip, which Uozu goes about alone under hazardous conditions, he is killed by falling rocks, leading to speculations that he secretly wanted to commit suicide.