Tosei Aoe heads the newspaper where Benio Hanamura finds employment. He harbors a deep-seated resentment toward his mother, resulting in a severe physical allergy to women's proximity. Benio alone provokes no reaction. Driven by feelings for her, he anonymously settles the mortgage debt on the Ijuin mansion, preventing its repossession. This secret act becomes the decisive factor compelling Benio to marry him. Their engagement leads to a wedding ceremony.

During the chaos of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, Tosei attempts to rescue Benio. She refuses his aid, choosing to stay with the seemingly dying Shinobu Ijuin. Tosei then saves both Benio and Shinobu from the disaster. This experience resolves his long-standing animosity toward his mother. Free from this burden, he channels his focus entirely into his newspaper business.