Shadow Work

Kaoru is invited to stay at the share house where Akie and her friends live. Unable to understand their intentions, she returns to the share house. While she suspects that the women may have been involved in the deaths of the house residents' husbands, she is torn between envy and the fact that, unlike herself, they have regained their vitality and are living their lives. Noriko and her friends welcome Kaoru with smiles, but... What is the ultimate choice they have made to survive, and what will be the outcome?

Suddenly, Shinichi appears before Kaoru. As Kaoru is paralyzed with fear, Shinichi leaves her with threatening words before leaving. Afterwards, Kaoru visits Akie's share house and sees Noriko and the others living resilient lives, but on her way home, she encounters an unexpected person... Meanwhile, Nami, having completed her mission, leaves her friends, but further problems erupt at the share house, leaving everyone feeling anxious. As the situation unfolds, Kaoru begins to uncover their hidden secrets.

Kaoru is attacked by someone and severely injured. She suspects Shinichi of being involved in the crime, but there is no solid evidence. Kaoru is doggedly pursuing the case, and her superior, Saito (Miyazaki Tomu), worries about her safety but questions her true intentions. However, after coming into contact with Michiko (Ishida Hikari), Kaoru gets a clue to the case and becomes even more absorbed in the investigation. Meanwhile, Noriko senses Akie and her group's secret plan and wonders whether it is okay for her to stay where she is.

Even now, Noriko is tormented by memories of the domestic violence, but as she works with Nami (Reina Triendl), Yoko (Mitsunori Uehara), and Masayo (Risa Sudo), she begins to connect with them and gradually regains her true self. Meanwhile, the events that occurred between Kaoru and her husband, Shinichi (Takezai Terunosuke), an elite at the National Police Agency, are revealed, and Araki (Takumi Kawanishi, JO1), who learns of Kaoru's past, has mixed feelings and begins to question why the police, who are his family, are shunning Kaoru.