Takakura, a professor of criminal psychology at a university in Tokyo, has recently moved with his wife Yasuko to a single-family home in the residential area of Ogikubo. Takakura’s next-door neighbor has introduced himself as Nishino.

One day, Takakura attends a high school reunion and exchanges greetings and business cards with a former classmate named Nogami, now a detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. Not long after the reunion, Nogami unexpectedly stops by Takakura’s house and asks Takakura about his neighbors. Nogami’s strange visit is followed by a creepy sequence of events. Finally, a fire breaks out in the house directly across from Takakura’s and three bodies are found, one of which is Nogami’s. All three bodies have gunshot wounds to the head, and some of the detectives investigating the incident think that Nogami may have broken into the house with the intention of burgling it, but then for some reason committed suicide after killing both of the occupants.

Then, one night, Nishino’s “daughter” Mio flees to Takakura’s house seeking protection from Nishino. She declares, “That man is not my father. He’s a total stranger.”

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