In late September, Ethan rides the bus to work with eleven days remaining until his thirtieth birthday—the age the psychic on the plane predicted he would die in a fight. Despite his professed skepticism, morbid thoughts intrude like pop-up ads: he catches himself hoping the assault will be quick or that he'll land a good punch. He recalls a parallel childhood experience in Year 7, when he accidentally hit a scary older student with a soccer ball and spent two terrifying weeks fearing retaliation, only for fate to intervene when the older boy broke his leg. Ethan wonders if his thirtieth year will be a prolonged, adult version of that dread.

Ethan has decided against a thirtieth birthday party, partly because of Harvey's absence and partly because his friends know about the prediction while his family does not. Instead, he has planned smaller celebrations spread across the week: a work lunch, drinks with friends, a family dinner, and a dinner with high school friends. For the actual night of his birthday, Jasmine has offered to make nachos and watch The Sopranos with him—a plan Ethan looks forward to more than he thinks is wise. Carter, Jasmine's boyfriend, will be at his regular Monday poker night.

Ethan reflects on the kitchen incident with Carter, which unexpectedly became a turning point toward a grudging acquaintanceship. When Carter caught Ethan and Jasmine in an intimate-looking moment, Jasmine calmly explained the psychic's death prediction. Carter's jealous suspicion vanished, replaced by near-cheerfulness at learning Ethan might die soon. The three stayed up until dawn drinking Sleepytime tea and discussing mortality: Carter shared his interest in Stoicism and his Memento Mori coin, Jasmine described a death meditation workshop in LA and writing her own obituary, and Ethan admitted Harvey's death simply made him sad rather than grateful to be alive.

Since that night, Carter treats Ethan as a friend, offering daily fist bumps and calling him "Bro," though Ethan finds this excruciating—especially since Carter keeps asking for the exact date of Ethan's birthday, seemingly counting down the days with glee. Ethan also notes the recent deaths of the two elderly doctors: Jasmine sees them as proof of the psychic's powers, but Ethan dismisses them as predictable. The chapter ends with a woman on the bus pointing out another cherry blossom tree, and Ethan conceding it is, in fact, beautiful.