Malevolent Spirits

Kunato Hyoma is forced to live with a house full of tsukumogami and Nagatsuki Botan.

Botan Nagatsuki, the head of the Nagatsuki Clan, returns home to find the Wedding Furnishings in the midst of a battle. Botan scolds the Wedding Furnishings for clashing with Hyoma, but when Hyoma sees how close Botan is with the Tsukumogami, he mistakenly believes she is under their influence. Hyoma feels concern for Botan and insists she snap out of it, but Botan grew up under the protection of the Wedding Furnishings and considers them family, so she is naturally offended. Hyoma must compromise with the Wedding Furnishings so he can fulfill the stipulated length of stay and he is in danger of losing his status as a Saenome on the first day.

In order to continue his stay with the Nagatsuki Clan, Hyoma is told he must compromise with the Wedding Furnishings within three days. He gains the support of Nagi, Kagami, and Suzuri, but Nagi and the others worry about Hyoma mending ties with Yu, who cares deeply for Botan and is incredibly cautious. Hyoma accompanies Yu in his capacity as a Saenome. Amid the awkward atmosphere, a Tsukumogami claiming to be a Nagatsuki hunter confronts the two and a battle ensues. Hyoma thus witnesses how particular Tsukumogami are employed by people to hunt their own kind.

The Tsukumogami in the Nagatsuki Clan's Wedding Furnishings -- Nagi, Kagami, Suzuri, Yu, Kushige, and Haori -- all support Hyoma. Hyoma apologizes once more for his rude behavior and is allowed to stay. While Botan and Hyoma shake hands and reconcile amid a friendly atmosphere, the Wedding Furnishings call out to them. They lead Hyoma into the living room and he is perplexed to find a sake barrel and a banner welcoming a husband. It seems Zohei and the Wedding Furnishings made a secret contract regarding Botan's marriage when negotiating Hyoma's stay.

After protecting her from the Tsukumogami Hainarashi, Hyoma is alarmed to see that Tsukumogami are stalking Botan. He places secret Saenome talismans throughout the residence, but Nagi tells Hyoma the talismans are unnecessary because Kushige provides a powerful barrier for the Nagatsuki Clan. Hyoma is ordered to retrieve them, but as he collects the talismans in the city, new Tsukumogami named Uchiki and Aogi, whose primary work involves internal investigations and intelligence activities, appear. The two are looking into the circumstances behind the Kunato Clan contacting Botan. It is then that Hyoma realizes Botan has some kind of secret.

In order to ascertain the meaning of "yorimashi," a word he heard Aogi mention, Hyoma tells Botan he wants to go on a date with her. This startles Botan and she runs off. Haori asks Hyoma, who wants to learn the secret in order to protect Botan, if she can follow them during their date. As they cross into the world beyond Kushige's barrier, Hyoma sees the eyes of numerous Tsukumogami directed at Botan. After experiencing her unusual daily life, Hyoma learns Botan's secret, along with the unwritten rule that "Botan Nagatsuki must never be used."