Hajime reads through the newspaper in hopes of finding any unusual disappearances and Tsugumi asks him if Hell Girl really bothers him that much. Hajime tells Tsugumi that she may not be able to see every deal the Ai makes, but Tsugumi says that she thinks that Hell Girl is doing people a favor since all of the victims thus far have been people who have done something wrong. Tsugumi has another vision, this time of Yuko Murai, Tsugumi's friend whose father is an old friend of Hajime's. As Hajime and Tsugumi drive out to the Murais' farm in the countryside, Tsugumi notes that the Murais haven't visited in more than a year, which is unusual. Hajime recalls that Yuko's father is a recovering alcoholic and Tsugumi notices some spindly red flowers by the road. Hajime identifies them as red spider lilies. When the Shibatas arrive at the farm, Hajime is horrified to see that all of the crops are dead. Hajime drives up to the house as Ichimoku Ren and Hone Onna look on and Ren comments that Hajime won't leave them alone. Hajime finds the house seemingly deserted and wonders if Murai is out. Tsugumi finds Yuko on the second floor and Yuko tells Tsugumi that her father is dead.
Hajime asks Yuko what happened to the farm and Yuko says that shortly after moving to the farm, they met one of their neighbors, Ryosuke Sekine. Ryosuke and Yuko's father became friends quickly. Yuko's father told Ryosuke that he inherited the house from his uncle and moved in so that he could spend more time with Yuko. Ryosuke offered to help out on the farm and eventually taught Yuko and her father everything he knew while the rest of the town's residents gave them the cold shoulder. After the harvest came in, Ryosuke convinced Yuko's father to expand the farm, after which the next years crops failed. Ryosuke brought some of his pesticides over, but the crops still died and Yuko's father started drinking again. Yuko's father never asked anyone else for help, but Yuko discovered that the pesticide was fake when a dog lapped some of it up and suffered no ill effects. Yuko went to tell her father but found that he drank himself to death. Yuko tells Hajime that she found out afterward that Ryosuke and her great uncle had been in a dispute over the land that the farm is located on. After that, Yuko accessed the Hell Correspondence. As Ren and Hone Onna look on, Hajime tells Yuko not to untie the thread and Tsugumi tries to stop him. Hajime tells Yuko that the kind of revenge that the Hell Girl offers isn't what her father would want. Yuko takes Wanyuudo's straw doll out of her pocket and Hajime takes it away. Ren and Hone Onna resolve to take the doll back. Hajime throws the straw doll away in a barrel of compost and Wanyuudo emerges covered in rotting vegetable after Hajime walks back into the house. Tsugumi confronts Hajime about taking the doll away and Hajime admits that is might not have been the best thing to do, but that he is the adult and it's up to him to keep a level head. Tsugumi says that Ryosuke deserves to die for how he made Yuko's father suffer, but Hajime tells her that bad things happen in life and you need to move on afterward. Tsugumi yells at Hajime that Ryosuke deserve to go to Hell and Hajime smacks her. Tsugumi runs outside in anger.
In the sunset world, Ai sees another apparition of the mysterious boy. The apparition fades as the minions return, Wanyuudo still covered in compost. Meanwhile, Hajime is beginning to think that the events surrounding the Hell Correspondence are driving a wedge between him and Tsugumi. It starts to rain and Hajime runs out to look for Tsugumi. Inside the house, Yuko meets Ai and asks her what she should do, but Ai says that it is her decision. Yuko then notices Ryosuke grinning at her from outside. Yuko finds the straw doll on the porch and is about to pull the thread when Hajime runs up and asks if she's seen Tsugumi. The two head into the forest together to look for Tsugumi. Yuko finds one of Tsugumi's shoes and they follow Tsugumi's footprints to a small shrine. Hajime is relieved to find Tsugumi safe and sound and tells her not to worry him like that. The sight of Hajime and Tsugumi reminds Yuko of how her father cared about her. The next day, Yuko decides not to pull the thread while Ai's minions decide that they need to find a way to stop Hajime. Yuko says that she plans to stay at the farm until she decides what to do next, but Ryosuke shows up and says that Yuko's father borrowed money from him using the farm as collateral and even wrote up a promissory note. Hajime grabs Ryosuke by the collar of his shirt and yells at him for betraying the Murais' trust, but Yuko tells him to stop because it won't bring her father back. Ryosuke tells Yuko that she has a week to clear out and says that he's going to sell the farm. Yuko has second thoughts about not pulling the thread. Hajime drives Yuko to her relative's house. That evening, Yuko goes to her room and notices that it has a computer. From outside the room, Ai says that the decision rests solely with Yuko.
This episode contains examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Yuko's father used to be an alcoholic.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Yuko's father starts drinking again after the crops fail and eventually dies of alcohol poisoning.
- Karma Houdini: Ryosuke. He winds up owning the farm and kicking Yuko out. The end of the episode suggests that Yuko might untie the thread after all, though.
- Manipulative Bastard: Things went pretty much as Ryosuke planned.
- No Ending: We don't ever know if Yuko decided to send Ryosuke to hell, though she is mulling it over.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Hajime give one to Ryosuke, but Yuko interrupts him.
