Sometime later, in the auditorium of a high school, students gathered in full to enjoy a classic stage play titled The Courtesan on a Rainy Night. This play was based on the diaries of Edo-era courtesans, often called Yotaka in the context of old society. Many courtesans came from samurai or merchant families who had fallen into difficult circumstances due to family misfortune, and keeping diaries became a common way for them to record their lives.
The performance began with a solemn narration about a samurai who was arranged to marry in order to save his declining family. However, the woman he was to wed, daughter of a samurai family, appeared so indifferent that the samurai felt hurt and canceled the engagement. The woman’s family slowly fell apart—her father died in despair and her mother was lost in endless grief. The heroine realized there was never a true bond between them, and when no one called her by name anymore, she felt no need to cling to that name.
This mood blended with the stage setting as the curtain gradually rose, revealing the onset of a rainy night. On that rainy night, Miura Naotsugu happened to shelter from the rain with a courtesan. His first impression was a strong attraction to her appearance and aura. However, the woman, an experienced courtesan, remained calm, which confused Naotsugu and led him to quickly apologize. Seeing the rain hadn’t stopped, she decided to leave. But before going, Naotsugu called her back to ask her name. She introduced herself as Yotaka, believing the simple name was enough to be remembered. Her image, with a faint smile in the night, made Naotsugu feel as if he had just met someone from another world.
That same rainy night, Naotsugu noticed a figure appearing near them. Yotaka’s reaction showed it was an old acquaintance, and her gaze carried a mix of familiarity and unmistakable fear. This detail made Naotsugu begin to suspect a complicated relationship between them.
The next morning, Naotsugu went to the familiar noodle shop to find Jinta. During their conversation, Jinta recalled the heavy rain the night before and talked about the drinking party at the Assa Tavern. They both drank quite a lot, and Jinta was so tireless that Ofuu had to remind him to slow down. Still, it was a joyful evening—until they parted ways and met the heavy rain. Naotsugu also asked about Jinta’s earlier mention of looking for work. Jinta confirmed and added that since rumors about demons were spreading, he would return to Okusa that night to investigate under the night’s shadow.
Naotsugu went back to the place where he had sheltered from the rain before, seemingly drawn back by some unknown feeling, unsure of what he expected there. Yotaka appeared again with her familiar umbrella, and their second meeting took place in a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. Naotsugu was still haunted by the mysterious figure from before. When he brought it up, Yotaka simply said it was an old acquaintance and advised him not to concern himself with the private matters of a courtesan.
Faced with her cautious attitude, Naotsugu was embarrassed and admitted the real reason he returned was because he hoped to see her again. Though initially playful, Yotaka soon recognized the sincerity in the young man’s eyes, which made her reflect on this strange person. Not long after, the mysterious figure reappeared, their face unmistakable. Yotaka’s eyes showed both familiarity and clear fear. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and Naotsugu instinctively stepped forward to shield her. That action immediately made the figure disappear, restoring peace to the space.
The next morning, Jinta arrived at the noodle shop with a heavy heart. He shared that he had just missed a rare opportunity to capture a demon—creatures that only appeared on rainy nights. This failure left him with lingering regret. At that moment, Naotsugu also entered, seeking advice from Jinta and Ofuu about love. He confessed he had fallen for a woman, surprising everyone—especially Zenji, who had thought Naotsugu’s visit after the drinking party was just for casual fun.
It turned out Naotsugu truly wanted to impress that woman by any means. Zenji quickly hatched a plan for a heroic rescue act—a staged assault on Yotaka to give Naotsugu a chance to step in. But the idea was soon dismissed as cliché and unrealistic. Instead, the shop owner gave sincere advice: winning someone’s heart required time and mutual understanding. He shared his own grandfather’s example, who spent decades pursuing true love.
Naotsugu listened attentively and resolved to wait patiently. He stood in the same place, hoping one day the girl would approach him. Before leaving, he thanked everyone. The mood suddenly darkened when Ofuu mentioned something strange—according to Naotsugu and Jinta, both had experienced events on rainy nights, but in reality, those days had been completely clear, without a single drop of rain.
The story shifted to Yotaka’s perspective—the courtesan whose fate was wrapped in the past and whose lineage traced back to samurai. She reflected that humans only perceive what’s before their eyes, but absence of sight doesn’t mean absence of existence. Despite knowing this, tonight she stood waiting in an imagined rain at the old garden, only to be disappointed when Naotsugu didn’t appear.
Old memories flooded back with the cold wind. In Yotaka’s heart, the one thing she couldn’t let go was her brother, who had loved her like a blood sister. The cherished keepsake—a phoenix-shaped hairpin he gave her—was now lost, leaving an unfillable void. Just then, the figure from the past suddenly appeared before her, accompanied by a faint sound like a call from the afterlife. For a moment, she told herself it was impossible, but the feeling was too clear. A vague warning echoed, urging her not to look—but it was too late.
Naotsugu appeared hurriedly, asking about her condition. Upon seeing her trembling, she firmly asserted she had seen the person from her past—the one her heart never forgot. Naotsugu gradually realized this place was truly haunted by spiritual energy, causing people to see illusions. The figure Yotaka recognized was likely not her old companion but a malevolent entity. He drew his sword and faced the enemy in a tense battle. Though lacking extraordinary power like Jinta, Naotsugu’s swordsmanship was enough to hold his ground. But the final strike came from Jinta, who unexpectedly appeared and defeated the demon.
Yotaka rushed to Naotsugu’s side, worried and moved by his bravery. Jinta took the opportunity to explain that the creature was not a full demon, but a half-formed spirit born from unresolved grudges. It had the power to reflect hidden pain in those it faced. This explained why Yotaka saw her past companion and why Naotsugu saw his brother.
As the stage curtain fell, the audience was brought back to the present. Mazaka had fallen asleep throughout the performance. Her close friend promised to help finish the reflection paper. In response, Mazaka gave her a chocolate bar as thanks. The next afternoon, Karu brought the essay to Mazaka, meeting Jinta, the reincarnated figure. Karu took the chance to share impressions of the play. He was dissatisfied that Jinta’s character was portrayed as weak—though he was the one who had defeated the demon. But since Yotaka loved Naotsugu, it made sense she would idealize her lover’s image.
Moreover, Karu was particularly impressed by the character Yotaka. Even though she knew her husband’s friend was a demon, she remained silent and chose to hide the truth. The whole group of classmates was captivated and decided to find the original novel to read more. One even expressed a wish to personally read Yotaka’s diary lines to better understand how she viewed the samurai from long ago.
