In exchange for her help, Gaen requests three tasks from Koyomi, all being connected to Suruga Kanbaru, formerly known as Suruga Gaen. Izuko reveals herself as her aunt, but she doesn't want to be introduced to her as one to spare Suruga's feelings. When Koyomi accepts, she shows the darkness' true motive—it is a manifestation of the natural order, and means to destroy apparitions not behaving as they should—in this case, not Shinobu, but Mayoi...