The Lion Mask Incident

When Yozo's father asks what present he wants from Tokyo, Yozo cannot answer, paralyzed by fear of displeasing him. That night, he sneaks into the parlor and writes 'Lion Mask' in his father's notebook. His father later discovers the entry and laughs, interpreting it as a cute, mischievous act. Yozo feels a hollow triumph, having successfully manipulated his father's perception, but the incident deepens his sense of inauthenticity.