In November of the same year, the relationship between Soseki and Shiki was getting closer through several occasions including Soseki asking Shiki to criticize his "Bokusetsuroku," an account of a journey to Awa Province (Boso Peninsula) written in Chinese.
同年9月、安房国（房総半島）を旅したときの模様を漢文でしたためた紀行『木屑録』（ぼくせつろく）の批評を子規に求めるなど、徐々に交流が深まっていく。