Yukie Asakawa, a housewife new to her apartment building, grows suspicious of her neighbor Ruriko Tonegawa. Rumors circulate among residents suggesting Ruriko mistreated her elderly mother-in-law and potentially caused the deaths of both her husband and the mother-in-law. Specific claims include Ruriko neglecting household duties, lacking basic cooking skills, and physically dragging her mother-in-law back into the apartment during an apparent escape attempt. Yukie's view of Ruriko as disrespectful hardens after observing her yawn during the mother-in-law's funeral.

When Ruriko departs temporarily, she asks Yukie to care for her cherished potted plants, explaining they hold deep sentimental value for both her and her late husband. While tending the plants, Yukie accidentally knocks over one pot. Among the spilled soil, she discovers a fragment resembling bone. Yukie speculates it could be part of Ruriko's deceased husband's remains, intentionally hidden. Her anxiety escalates upon learning Ruriko moved away permanently but left the plants behind, intensifying her suspicion about the fragment. Her husband dismisses her concerns, suggesting it is merely fertilizer.

Yukie's initial assumptions about Ruriko prove incorrect. The damaging rumors originated from Ruriko's mother-in-law, who systematically spread falsehoods to portray Ruriko negatively. The mother-in-law fabricated incidents, including the alleged public mistreatment, to manipulate neighbors' perceptions. The bone fragment Yukie found was indeed part of Ruriko's husband's remains. Ruriko had kept it within the plant to maintain a connection, ensuring he could symbolically remain with her. This discovery alters Yukie's understanding, revealing Ruriko as a victim of bullying.