He died of an epidemic.
Ichi-san, there's still some left. Here you go.
The sake Okinu pours sure does taste good.
Got that right!
Please have a look. It's lovely and quite gorgeous.
Your burn scar has the same shape as this maple leaf, right?
Are you feeling down?
I'll give you a lesson.
Yaichi! We need to prepare for a party. Madam is pregnant.
Going home already?
Why don't you come with me...
"Already Wasted"
and have another cup?
I'm already wasted.
I passed by this place the other day.
I wanted to stop by, so...
This place doesn't suit you.
Yaichi, huh?
That name brings back memories.
One of the neighbors of the Sawais, the family I was born into,
had a servant named Yaichi.
He passed away, though.
The Saegusa family that he worked for had a child.
The kid had a good look on his face.
His name was Seinoshin.
I wanted to have a drink with him when he grew up.
Did you want someone to listen to your stories of old times?
You have a past, too, right?
Don't you sometimes wanna have a drink and talk about old times?
There isn't much in my past worth speaking of, so...
So what happened to that child?
It was right after that Yaichi died.
He fell into a well. Such a fool, isn't he?
It wasn't like him at all.
I was suspicious of it then.
Seinoshin died suddenly.
And then they found Yaichi's body in a well, as if the incidents were connected.
Seinoshin was a child adopted by a neighboring family without an heir.
Later, a boy was born to that family.
I suspected that they killed Seinoshin
and passed the death off as being from illness since they now had a family heir,
and that Yaichi was killed as well because he found out about it.
The Saegusa family disappeared, too, after their son ended up dying
and a series of misfortunes happened.
There's no use in investigating it now since they won't come back...
both Yaichi... and Seinoshin...
This kidnapping was planned by someone in your house. It's a charade!
So was Mother the one who planned this?
That's right.
When I threatened the man who brought the deal to me, he told me many things.
I don't intend to kill him. I don't like pointless killing.
Do you wanna come with us, too? You have no place to go, you know.
I'll go home. I have Yaichi.
Who is Yaichi?
A servant. He'll protect me.
Yaichi, huh? The name of the man who brought this deal to me was Yaichi.
What?
I see... So Ichi-san went home.
Yeah.
But he looked pale and seemed down today.
He's always like that, isn't he?
No, it was different today.
It looked as if he was thinking about the past or something.
The past?
Yeah.
Hi there!
Hey, Matsu. Are you here because you're worried about Ichi, too?
Ichi-san? Not really.
Sake.
Okay! And some snacks, right?
I don't need them.
Say...
what does Ichi want to do with the Five Leaves?
Beats me.
I don't think he really has a specific idea of what he wants to do with it.
You know, Ume... Ichi-san is someone who wouldn't do things he doesn't enjoy.
Here you go.
The reason Masa joined us...
was also because Ichi-san thought it would be fun.
Can you see something?
What can you see in this darkness?
I'm looking into the darkness because I can't see anything.
We meet again, Sei.
Matsu-dono...
What's the matter?
Ichi-san isn't here, so I was waiting for him.
Then he isn't back yet?
Is it urgent business?
No, I was a little worried. That's all.
I'm going home now.
I'll try looking for him a little, too.
Come here.
Oh, you're heavy.
You know how to get on in the world, don't you?
Rumor has it that... Monji...
...is dead.
Was it you who killed him... Sei?
It was you, wasn't it?
Because selling out the Bakuro gang to the police wasn't enough for you.
I'll tell you something before you die, 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've been killed.
"Yaichi's Grave"
It's lovely and quite gorgeous.
Yaichi...
Yaichi-dono...
I thought you'd be here.
Yaichi-dono?
It stopped snowing a while ago.
Come in already! How annoying.
Hi there!
Uhm...
If you're looking for Ichi, he isn't here.
You're blocking the entrance. Sit down already.
Okay...
Yaichi-dono didn't come home this morning.
So I was worried how he's doing.
You don't have to worry.
Why?
Ah, Matsu-san!
What's the matter?
Ichi-san said that he wanted to do another job after New Year's.
So you saw Yaichi-dono?!
Yeah, just now.
Where?
At the usual shrine.
I'm going there.
And?
He asked me if we'd help him.
It's not like him.
Hello.
What brings you here?
Hm? Well...
can't I have a drink at this taven?
A customer?
Welcome!
If you're hungry, anything tastes good.
"End"