Chapter 30 Summary

Zosui, a kind of porridge of rice and vegetables, is a favorite dish served at many restaurants in Kobe. Because of its popularity, restaurants are not allowed to serve it to more than a few dozen people. In order to get a serving of zosui, people stand in a long line for hours. To eat out, people have to apply for special eating-out coupons to be used in place of the ordinary ration of rice. The coupons are presented at the restaurant to allow people to eat rice with their meal. People can either carry a bag of rice or their eating-out coupons with them to the restaurant.

During an air raid drill, some students in the bucket relay get soaked with water and are allowed to go home early. H decides he wants to leave also and goes to the restroom to...