Sumie Kanomata, operating under her geisha identity Hinazuru, stands as a central figure in the narrative. Her origins trace back to the Boshin War, where she endured a massacre targeting women by samurai forces commanded by Masaomi Kuramoto (later Zenbei Kuraya), emerging as the sole survivor. Transformed by this trauma, she adopted the Hinazuru persona to infiltrate influential Meiji-era circles. Her core mission focuses on dismantling Meiji government figures connected to wartime atrocities, utilizing her position to gather intelligence and facilitate weapons acquisition for her cause. She fosters a friendship with fellow geisha Koume, who remains unaware of Hinazuru's traumatic past or her clandestine objectives. This bond offers Hinazuru a semblance of normalcy within Edo's teahouses. Her actions directly fuel an assassination plot against government official Iwakura Tomomi, as she supplied both his schedule and the pistol used in the attempt. Her vendetta culminates when she executes the captured Kuraya with a long-range shot. Her personal life intertwines with Shizuma Origasa, her fiancé from before the war, who actively searches for her after her disappearance. She retains a connection to their shared past through origami. Simultaneously, she shares a protective link with Kyōshirō Shuragami, stemming from his promise to her late brother—his best friend—to ensure her safety. This complex web of relationships and her dual existence as both victim and avenger defines her journey.