One week later, Yumi and Painter watch the final episode of the show Seasons of Regret. Yumi dislikes it because the main characters do not end up together. Painter explains that some people find a sad ending more realistic. After this, Yumi asks if they can go out hunting nightmares. Painter reluctantly agrees, as it might help them resolve the body-swapping. When he mentions ending their bond, Yumi feels worried about being alone again.

While preparing to go out, Painter notes that the stable nightmare should have started rampaging by now. He directs Yumi to go to his old beat—he assumes someone will have replaced him but figures he can avoid seeing another nightmare painter. He has Yumi pack painting supplies as well as a bell-contraption, which is designed to make noise and alert others. As they patrol, Painter sees the obvious signs of a nightmare. This leads him to worry that no one replaced him. The foreman always suspected him of faking paintings, so he likely thought it was safe to not replace him. This would leave a part of the city open for the stable nightmare to slip through.

Yumi asks why people are so keen to assume he would lie, but Painter does not answer.