Through Yaichi’s referral, Masanosuke starts working for the rice wholesaler, Ohmi-ya. Masanosuke works very diligently, as it seems to be a job that he can hold onto. Little does he know that the next target of the “Five Leaves” is the head of the owners of Ohmi-ya. Masanosuke gradually becomes an irreplaceable member of the “Five Leaves.”

Even though he did it unknowingly, Masanosuke becomes depressed after finding out that he had become an accomplice in crime to the “Five Leaves.” Yaichi keeps trying to recruit Masanosuke, who is still suffering from his internal strife. Masanosuke grows an interest in Yaichi and follows him around one day. He ends up in the unauthorized brothel district in Fukagawa. There, Masanosuke learns that Yaichi lives in a brothel called Katsura-ya as their bodyguard. Now, he’s even more confused about who Yaichi is.

One snowy night, Yaichi is standing on a bridge, thinking about what Yagi said. He stares blankly into the sky. Yaichi’s memories and Yagi’s stories are strewn together to construct Yaichi’s true past. At the same time, the rest of the members of the “Five Leaves” gather at Umezo’s tavern and talk about how strange Yaichi has been acting recently.

The “Five Leaves” do not have a reason to continue their kidnappings. However, Yaichi insists on keeping the gang together. The rest of the “Five Leaves” become troubled, as they have no way of knowing what Yaichi’s true intentions are. However, Masanosuke is the only one who figures out that there is more to Yaichi’s true motives than money.

Masanosuke is walking around Edo with his sister, Sachi, when Yagi Heizaemon invites him to his residence. While Yagi is looking at the maple tree in his yard, he starts reminiscing about the two people were his neighbors in the past.

The ronin, Akitsu Masanosuke, was working as a bodyguard in Edo, but due to his shy personality, he was let go from his current job. Unable to find new work, he wanders around town and meets a man, the playboy who calls himself Yaichi. Despite having just met for the first time, Yaichi treats Masanosuke to a meal. In exchange, Yaichi wants a bodyguard to protect him. However, Yaichi is a member of a group of kidnappers who call themselves the “Five Leaves.”

In the modern world, Hinohara Arata's family knows something is different about Arata, but they continue to try to converse with him despite their confusion. In Amawakuni, Hinohara Arata has made it out of Gatoya and is heading toward the Capital. Along the way, he learns of the relationship between the princess of Amawakuni and the Twelve Shinsho. He also encounters some nomads who say that, with the princess gone, the world will fall into chaos...

Our own president of the student council at Hakuo Academy: Hinagiku Katsura. Excelling in both literary and military arts, in both brains and beauty, she's basically unrivaled. But when she's in love, she just can't be honest with her feelings. "This can't keep up! Surely the others don't think I'm a weakling!" In episode 5, Hinagiku musters up a little courage to walk away from her old self. "Today, I'm not the same person I was before!"

A request from Minster Mizuno Saneyoshi has requested for Mugai to perform an insect extermination. Mugai has picked Jinbei to accompany him, but won’t explain why…