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As the crimson moon shines down on Jōga, a young man asks his girlfriend, Kanako, to kiss him. When she refuses, he tells her he wants all of her. Kanako asks if he loves her, her pupils glowing red, and when her boyfriend says yes she kisses him.
Cue opening theme.
After class the next day, Izuzu asks Hiroshi what he wants to do, suggesting going to eat sweets or practising for the Hassaku Festival. As she leans closely to him, Hiroshi asks if those are the only options he has while the teacher jokingly tells Isuzu to give him some breathing room. She agrees, then playfully grabs Hiroshi in a headlock. Nemuru ruins the moment by opening a window, letting in a gust of wind, then sternly glares at Izuzu. Isuzu returns the expression before sighing and releasing Hiroshi, saying to him that she heard love blossoms the the more obstacles it overcomes, and that she hopes their love will blossom well. Ignoring them, Nemuru leaves, to Hiroshi's consternation. Walking down the hall with Hiroshi and Kaname, Isuzu laments that she thought they could all go home together, but Kaname says her job as the school librarian keeps her busy, asking if they want to come with her. Isuzu enthusiastically agrees, and in the library Kaname selects a large stack of books she is making Hiroshi carry. He asks if he can set them down on a table, but she cheerfully refuses before adding to the stack. Sitting at a table, Kaname says she wants to research Jōga's folktales and urban legends. When Hiroshi asks her what urban legends are, she tells him they're like modern ghost stories. When Isuzu asks for an example, Kaname reads them the legend of "The Parading Red Firefly": that on some nights red fireflies can be seen in Old Jōga, and that bad luck befalls those who see them. She then picks another folktale, that hassaku oranges flourished in Jōga until they were split into eight parts, symbolic of being torn to pieces — the reason why the oranges are said to represent grotesque murders. Hiroshi remarks that the folktales are too vague to understand, and Isuzu complains that they should have some kind of punchline. As Kaname scolds her, Hiroshi glances at the cover of the book.
At the apartment complex, Izuzu remarks to Hiroshi that Kaname is obsessed with folklore and the occult, stating it would be funny if she became Hiroshi's father's disciple. Isuzu then states that on Monday they'll need to practise for the Hassaku festival, and when Hiroshi laments this she tells him they need to pick up the pace since the festival is right around the corner. After they go their separate ways, Hiroshi is approached by Issei. Hiroshi warily backs away, but Issei assures him he only wants to talk about school, before quickly grabbing him and telling him not to scream. Issei assures Hiroshi that he's not "like that," and Hiroshi anxiously states that if they're going to talk about school they should include Isuzu. As he sniffs Hiroshi's hair, Issei vetos the suggestion, saying that she would only get in the way. As Hiroshi struggles to get away, Issei states that just one hour, even thirty minutes, would be nice. In a panic, Isuzu runs up and pulls Issei off Hiroshi, saying that her brother is tired, leading him away and apologizing.
That evening, Isuzu tells her brother to get ahold of himself, saying that he probably spaced out because of the heat and that if he rests he'll be fine, before leaving to get him some water. Lying in bed, Hiroshi remarks to himself that Issei is definitely strange. Elsewhere in the city, a young man is pursued by the cloaked figures in wolf masks and runs headlong into the masked girl with the scythe, who kills him.
The next day, Hiroshi takes Mana for a stroll, pushing her up a hill and asking why she's sulking. Mana tersely states that she's not sulking, just that she doesn't need his help. Hiroshi reminds her that their father said they had to go together, and when Mana retorts that he usually never listens to their father Hiroshi cheerfully replies that since they're already out they should just enjoy the view. Spotting a wolf's head carving and a hassaku orange on top of a fence post, Mana tells her brother to stop and points it out to him. Hiroshi wonders if it's related to the legend of the Jōga wolves their father is writing about, suggesting they tell him about it when they return home. As they carry on, Hiroshi realizes he's being watched from the upper window of the house, but as he stope to take a second look the blinds close. Mana asks if something is wrong but he tells her everything is fine, wondering to himself why the person was glaring at him. Mana sees through his lie and says she knows something is wrong since he never loses himself in thought, demanding that they return home immediately. She is distracted by the sound of violin music coming from a house surrounded by a crowd of people, who are praying to the local wolf goddess Kannon as they listen to the soothing melody. After the crowd leaves, Hiroshi and Mana are approached by a young woman, who emerges from the house and asks if they were listening. Mana complements the woman's playing, and she invites them in for tea. Hiroshi begins to suggest they leave, but Mana cuts him off by accepting her offer.
At the apartment complex, Issei gets a phone call, agrees to the caller's request, and hangs up. At the house, the woman introduces herself to Hiroshi and Mana as Kaori Mana, joking that if Mana was her daughter her first and last names would be the same. As Kaori serves them tea, Mana complements its deliciousness and Hiroshi says he feels bad for imposing on her. Kaori responds that she often invites neighbours and passers-by in, since she lives alone and often gets lonely. Mana spots a pair of violins in a cabinet and asks Kaori if she plays often. Kaori says she plays when she has the time, but that she's not very good, causing Mana to state that's not true, as she felt moved by the melody Kaori was playing earlier. Kaori takes out a smaller violin and offers to teach Mana how to play.
At the apartments, Isuzu searches for Issei in a panic only to be told by their mother, who brushes aside her concern, that he stepped out to pick up some medicine. At the hospital, Issei tersely asks a receptionist if the small packet he received is all the medication they have. She apologizes, telling him that they've run out and that she's given him all that she can spare for the time being. Driving home, Issei spots his underclassman and honks to get her attention. As they drive, she apologizes for calling and asking for a ride home, but he tells her it wasn't any trouble since he had something to take care of as well. Issei says she mentioned she had something she wanted to tell him, and to his surprise his underclassman confesses her feelings for him. As she talks, Issei's eyes turn red and he struggles to suppress his instincts, stopping the car and tersely telling her to get out, saying he'll give her his reply when they next speak. As soon as she gets out, Issei drives away, leaving her concerned and confused.
As the sun sets, Hiroshi apologizes to Kaori for imposing on her for so long. Kaori tells them to stop by again for more violin lessons, but once they leave Kaori's cheerful expression fades to a sad frown. As they head home, Hiroshi and Mana discuss how wonderful a person Kaori is, but Hiroshi is distracted by the sight of a suspicious man walking in the opposite direction. Mana asks if she knows him, but Hiroshi says he doesn't. The man, Sakaki, pauses to glance at a topographical map before looking out over the city. Carrying on, he spots Kaori watering some plants on her porch, and is stricken by her resemblance to his late fiancee. Kaori notices him and asks if she can help, but Sakaki remarks that he's just lost, and she invites him to come in so that she can give him directions. As they reach home, Mana realizes she forgot her hat at Kaori's. Hiroshi runs off to retrieve it, ignoring Mana's protests that it's getting late and they can get it the next day. At her house, Kaori remarks she assumed Sakaki was a university student due to the map he was carrying, and he tells her he's researching Jōga's geographical features for a class. Noticing his silence, Kaori asks him if he doesn't like the tea and Sakaki quickly compliments it, inwardly wondering why he's smiling and enjoying such a pointless conversation. Hiroshi arrives, interrupting his troubled thoughts, and tells Kaori that Mana forgot her hat. Sakaki gives the hat to Hiroshi, then tells Kaori he should be leaving. Kaori invites him to return when he isn't busy with his research.
As night falls, Hiroshi walks home only to pause when he hears a woman's voice angrily confronting someone. Hiding as he feels a distrubing presence, he spots a series of glowing red lights rush past and recalls Kaname's folktale of the red fireflies. Chased by the masked and cloaked figures, Kanako protests that the love between her and her boyfriend is mutual, her eyes glowing red as she asks why she should be punished for something as small as a kiss. She states that she knew what she was getting herself into, but that she couldn't stop herself from falling in love, breaking into tears as she accuses the cloaked hunters of not knowing what that's like. As Hiroshi watches, Kanako is cornered by the cloaked figures. As the scythe-wielding woman approaches, Kanako demands to know why she was even born. The scythe-wielding woman coldly retorts that she exists to enforce the rules, and Kanako charges at her. The scythe-wielding woman leaps an impossible height into the air, cutting Kanako down as Hiroshi flees in horror. Stumbling across a police outpost, he is surprised to find it abandoned and tries to call for help, only to find the phone isn't working. He flees in a panic, calling out for someone to help, and is stopped by Sakaki. They return to the scene of the murder, only to find no visible trace of Kanako left behind save her hairpin. Hiroshi protests that he wasn't lying, but Sakaki interrupts and says he believe Hiroshi, revealing that a mysterious group has been murdering people in the town.
Cue end credits.
- Byronic Hero: Sakaki is revealed to be a deeply troubled individual motivated by the murder of his fiancee, but meeting Kaori causes him to question his mission.
- Dead Hat Shot: Kanako wore a four-leafed clover-shaped hair decal, which is the only trace of her left after she's cut down.
- Do Not Go Gentle: Having been cornered by the hunters, Kanako tries to fight back against her inevitable demise, but is cut down by the scythe-wielding woman.
- Felony Misdemeanor: Kanako kisses her boyfriend, and is hunted down and executed for it.
- Love at First Sight:
- When Issei's underclassman confesses to him, she states she'd fallen for him at first sight but thought she didn't have a chance with him.
- Sakaki is taken aback by Kaori's striking resemblance to his murdered fiancee, Mieko.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Mana, having previously been nothing short of condescending and hostile towards her big brother, begins to thaw out towards him.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Issei's eyes turn red when he is consumed by lust, as do Kanako's.
- Resist the Beast: When his underclassman confesses to him, Issei struggles to suppress his instincts and kicks her out of the car.
- Stepford Smiler: Kaori Mana seems to be a cheerful woman, but when she's alone the facade crumbles to reveal a person fraught with loneliness and sorrow.
