In a fit of despair, Muraki decides to kill himself and a prostitute he has picked up. However, he loses his nerve and doesn't go through with it. Two years later he runs into her again.

Muraki is in debt after a business failure. When he is unable to pay his debtors, the loan sharks rape Muraki's wife. Remorseful and sick of his life, Muraki picks up a prostitute named Nami, and plans to commit suicide in a hotel room after having sex with her.

Muraki is at wits end after several aspects of his life fall apart simultaneously. He decides to commit suicide but figures on taking someone with him. He books himself in at an hotel and orders in a prostitute. He is set to kill her and then himself but then loses his nerve and flees. Two years later he runs into her again.—grantss