室井静信为了调查村子里不断有人死亡的秘密，而走访了村子以及附近的村子的死者的家属。发现他们一个共通点，死者在生病的死后都要求辞职，以及拒绝去医院诊治，还有很多村民毫无征兆的离开村子。 小彻好几天没来上课，不久结城夏野得知小彻已经死了。与此同时村迫宗贵的儿子村迫博已也生病住院。小彻的死令夏野想起了那天晚上的噩梦。不久夏野的妈妈收到了清水惠生前寄给夏野的明信片。

Seishin talks to the relatives of the recently deceased and discovers the pattern that all of them became ill and weak only a few days before they died and that many quit their jobs before becoming ill. He also learns that many families have suddenly picked up moved in the middle of the night without telling anyone.

Tooru dies suddenly, and at the funeral Natsuno and Masao get in an argument that ends with Masao running home crying complaining about how no one appreciates him. Arriving at his home he sees a white figure go around back. Following him he finds nothing, as he opens the backdoor the tree above him rustles with movement.

静信は、死者が出た家を周って不審点を洗い出す。

そこで浮かんだ共通点は、かなりの人が死ぬ数日前に辞職をしていることだった。

夏野は恵の暑中見舞いはがきを受け取る。

一層濃くなる恵の気配。徹が死ぬ。

Seishin conversa com os parentes do falecido recentemente e descobre o padrão de que todos eles ficaram doentes e fracos apenas alguns dias antes de morrer e que muitos largaram o emprego antes de ficarem doentes. Ele também descobre que muitas famílias repentinamente retomaram a mudança no meio da noite sem contar a ninguém.

Natsuno se despierta por la mañana, pero descubre que Toru aparentemente está ileso. Seishin va a entrevistar a familiares y amigos de los fallecidos y se entera de que varios de ellos renunciaron a sus trabajos justo antes de morir. Intenta ponerse en contacto con el bibliotecario local, pero le dicen que también ha renunciado.