Aoi married a man she met through work and moved to the countryside to live with his family. Her mother-in-law, Saki, subjects her to a vicious campaign of psychological abuse, and Aoi's spirit is nearly broken. However, she is saved by the encouragement of Saki's stepson, Hanzou. Saki sees Aoi as "a woman who smoothly infiltrates the family to build her own place" and resents her. To drive her out, she summons men through an acquaintance and orders them to rape Aoi. After the act, Saki berates the weakened Aoi. Hanzou accidentally witnesses this scene and is overcome with an indescribable emotion.