ˈɪnfluːənst baɪ ɐ fˈɛloʊ ˈɑːɹɾɪst, hˈoːɹɪki, hˈuːm hiː mˈiːts æɾə pˈeɪntɪŋ klˈæs, ˈoʊbə dᵻsˈɛndz ˌɪntʊ ɐ pˈætɚn ʌv dɹˈɪŋkɪŋ, smˈoʊkɪŋ ænd hˈɑːɹlətɹi, ænd ɐtˈɛndz kˈɑːmjuːnˌɪst mˈiːɾɪŋz wɪðˌaʊt bˌiːɪŋ ɐ stˈɔːntʃ fˈɑːloʊɚ.
Influenced by a fellow artist, Horiki, whom he meets at a painting class, Ōba descends into a pattern of drinking, smoking and harlotry, and attends communist meetings without being a staunch follower.