The drama continues in the same spirit^[48] when Kaoru, who has repeatedly considered appropriating both sisters, decides instead to bring his friend Niou (understood to be the next heir apparent) into the game. His silent calculations on the issue, and his banter with Niou, are confusing not only in themselves, but also in the light of what the reader already knows about him, Niou, and Ōigimi. The maneuvers, delusions, and deceptions that follow belong indeed on the stage of a théâtre de boulevard. The only figure to emerge satisfied from it all is Niou: secretly introduced into the Uji house by Ben, at Kaoru’s order, he enjoys a gratifying night with Nakanokimi. By the time he and Kaoru leave again, Nakanokimi is no longer on speaking terms with her sister, Ōigimi is beside herself with outrage at Kaoru’s behavior, and Kaoru, wounded and pleading, has spent the night locked out of the house.

All this ends with Ōigimi making up her mind to die.^[49] However, she still loves Kaoru. “I cannot possibly keep him away,” she reflects, “now that he is close beside me and knows everything about me, but even so, what seems to be strong affection would fade on both sides with familiarity and end in misery and grief.” Kaoru “knows everything about” her because he has seen and touched her face. To Ōigimi they are therefore as nearly married as, once, Kaoru nearly succeeded in marrying her. The author has brought her theme of tragically failed love almost to its conclusion. There remains only for Ōigimi to die of self-starvation with Kaoru beside her and for Kaoru, beautiful and endlessly affecting in his grief, to mourn.