Tashiro introduces Tsugami to factory owner Okabe, who helps with his various connections to authorities and other businesses, while using the venture for his own black market trades.
Businessman Miura, who wants to promote his company's pharmacy products, offers to buy all available tickets with a 20 percent discount, which would secure the financing, but is rejected by Tsugami and his boss Otome.
For a short moment, Sakiko imagines she can reach out to the temporarily defeated Tsugami, but once he regains his self-confidence, he falls back into his usual detachment.
The story refers to an actual bull fighting event held in Nishinomiya Stadium, Osaka, in January 1947, presented by the evening newspaper Shin-Ōsaka (新大阪).
He told Masakazu Kotani, organiser and then editor-in-chief of the Shin-Ōsaka, of his plan, who agreed to provide Inoue with detailed information on the venture.