Sakon travels with Kaoruko to the house of Noh master Kujou to meet Naoto, the senior apprentice and potential partner in an arranged marriage. They find friction in the household with the eldest son Kouei a drunkard, jealous of his talented younger half-brother Eimei. On the eve of Naoto's final performance for the Kujou school, master Kujou is shot through the head by an arrow from a cross-bow some distance away. Kaoruko commences an investigation, with everyone under suspicion, including the niece Aki and long term attendant Tsubota.