After Aoi helped the tengu father and son reconcile, Raiju, a noble from the capital, becomes interested in Aoi. Meanwhile, Aoi follows Nobunaga to the back of the pine grove only to find a large silver beast collapsed in front of a crumbling shrine.

O-Ryo, the former young hostess at Tenjin-ya, comes by Orio-ya as an inn guest. The Orio-ya employees become alarmed at the rival inn employee's arrival. Nene, Orio-ya's young hostess, seems to be especially bothered by O-Ryo's visit.