The narrator introduces himself as a young man who has been working as a broadcaster for a local station for two years. He tells us that his name is Hiroshi Hirose and that he's been working for the station for about two years now. He asks the other broadcasters what they think of the word "broadcaster" when they hear it. They say they wish they could stay away from broadcasting like that. The other broadcasters are Hiroshi's mentor and colleague, Kaori Ohori San, and he tells them about the earthquake that has just occurred in the area. He also tells them that there's a wide blackout in the prefecture. He says that he can't see two feet in front of him and that his stepmom is walking around the house in a crazy dress. He's not sure if she's alive or dead, but he wants to go back and check on her. The two men ask him to help them open the door so they can see her body. He doesn't want to open it because he hears her voice over the radio. He wants to run back and find her dead. The men tell him to stay calm and vigilant. The prefecture is experiencing a "wide blackout" and they don't have any generators. They're only two hours away from sunrise.