Ichi-san, there's still a little bit left.
Here!
The sake Okinu serves is really good...
You betcha!
Look over here.
Its elegant beauty is captivating.
Don't you think your scar is the same shape as this maple leaf?
Are you still feeling down?
I'll keep you company.
Yaichi!
We must prepare a party.
The Madam is pregnant.
Going home already?
Why don't you come with me?
How about having one more drink?
I'm already staggering.
I passed near here the other day.
I wanted to stop by, so...
You look out of place here...
Yaichi, huh?
That name brings back memories.
The neighbors of the Sawais, my family, had a servant named Yaichi.
He died, though.
He worked for the Saegusa family, who had one child.
He seemed like a good kid.
His name was Seinoshin.
I wanted to have a drink with that Seinoshin, once he grew up.
Were you looking for a drinking buddy to tell your stories to?
You've got stories too, don't you?
Don't you ever want to have a drink with someone
and chat about the good old days, too?
My past isn't really worth talking about.
So... what happened to that child?
He died... in a plague.
As for Yaichi, he died soon after that.
He fell into a well.
Quite a fool, right?
That wasn't like him at all.
I was a bit dubious about that back then...
Seinoshin's death was so sudden,
and then Yaichi was found in a well, as if those two things were connected.
Seinoshin was adopted by this neighboring family who had no heir.
Later on, a son was born to that family.
I suspected that because of the succession issue,
the family killed off the foster child, claiming he died of an illness,
and then got rid of Yaichi when he figured out what had happened.
In the end, the Saegusa family's own son passed away, and after that
misfortune fell upon them, so they eventually died out.
There's no use investigating it now,
since they won't come back...
Either Yaichi...
Or Seinoshin...
This kidnapping was planned by someone from your own house.
It's a sham.
The conspirator is...
Mother?
That's right.
When I threatened the man who gave me the job,
he talked a lot.
I don't plan to kill him.
I don't like pointless murder.
Do you wanna join us?
You've got nowhere to go, you know.
I'll go home.
I have Yaichi.
Who's that Yaichi?
A servant.
He will protect me!
Yaichi, huh?
The name of the man I talked to was... Yaichi.
I see... Ichi-san went home...
Yeah.
Although...
He was pale and didn't look like he was feeling too well today.
Isn't that how he always looks?
No, today was different!
How should I say... It looked like he was mulling over old things.
Old things?
Yeah.
Welcome!
Hey, Matsu.
Did you show up here because you're also worried about Ichi?
Ichi-san?
Not really.
Sake!
Okay!
And some snacks, right?
Don't need any.
Hey...
What is Ichi planning to do...
with Five Leaves?
Beats me.
I don't think he has any specific idea.
You know, Ume... Ichi-san's the sort of person who...
wouldn't do something he couldn't enjoy personally.
Here!
Masa was let into the group...
...because Ichi-san thought it would be fun.
Do you see anything?
What do you see in this darkness?
I'm looking into this darkness because I can't see anything.
So we meet again, Sei.
Matsu-dono...
What's the matter?
Ichi-san isn't here, so I'm waiting for him.
He has not yet come home, then?
Did something come up?
No, I just got a little worried, that's all.
I'm going home now.
I will try looking for him a little, too.
Come here.
My, you're heavy!
You sure know your way in the world, right?
I caught wind of a rumor...
Seems that...
...Monji...
...died recently.
Was it you?
Sei?
It was you, right?
Merely selling out the Bakuro gang to the police...
You just couldn't stop at that, right?
I'll tell you a little something before you kick the bucket, Sei.
The messenger from your family...
His name wasn't Yaichi.
I didn't even ask...
his name in the first place.
But...
If I hadn't said that, you...
would have been killed.
Its elegant beauty is captivating...
Yaichi...!
Yaichi-dono.
So... Here you are.
Yaichi-dono?
It stopped snowing long ago.
Come in already!
You klutz!
Welcome!
Uh...
Ichi isn't here if that's what you want.
You're in the way, so hurry up and sit down.
Yaichi-dono... did not come home this morning.
That is why I am worried about him.
You have nothing to worry about.
Why is that?
Ah, Matsu-san!
What's up?
Ichi-san said he wanted to do another job after New Year.
Did you see Yaichi-dono?
Yes, just now.
Where?
The usual shrine.
I'm going, then.
And?
He asked for our help.
That's not like him.
Excuse me!
What brings you here?
Well...
Can't I have a drink here?
A customer?
Welcome!
Anything tastes good...
when you're half-starved to death.