Spiral

Mitsuo Andō, a pathologist and rival of Ryūji Takayama, examines Takayama's corpse and finds a cryptic note hidden in his stomach that hints at a larger mystery. The note suggests secret life and hidden motives, prompting Andō to dig deeper. This discovery triggers Andō's broader inquiry into the rumored curse tied to the videotape.

Shortly after Takayama's death, Reiko Asakawa and her son Yōichi die in unexplained ways. Andō begins to suspect a supernatural cause or a cascade of linked events beyond a single man. The case widens as more deaths appear to follow the same ominous pattern.

Andō learns of a mysterious videotape haunted by the spirit of a murdered young woman and the rumor that anyone who watches it will die exactly a week later. He realizes the tape could connect Takayama's death with the others. The search shifts toward uncovering the tape and its origin.

Driven by professional curiosity and mounting fear, Andō watches the cursed video. After viewing, he experiences strange events around him and senses the video has a direct, malevolent influence on his life. The curse becomes personal and dangerous.

Mai Takano partners with Andō to dig into Ryūji Takayama's past and the enigmatic Sadako Yamamura. They uncover that Reiko kept a diary explaining the tape and its effects. Their collaboration deepens the mystery as they search for the truth behind the deaths.

Andō learns that Reiko's diary is in the possession of her boss Yoshino, who confirms the diary and reveals the videotape's existence. Yoshino presents both the tape and the diary, linking the events to Sadako Yamamura. This revelation reframes the case as a supernatural plot with tangible documents to study.

Andō informs Mai of what he has learned, drawing her further into danger. During a call, Yoshino laments his involvement and soon dies, indicating that someone is actively eradicating those who probe the case. The deaths intensify Andō's resolve to uncover the truth.

Realizing the tapes are a conduit for the curse, Andō destroys the physical copies to sever the link to the deadly force. He resolves to become the video’s last victim and to seek answers about the underlying virus behind the deaths. The act represents a turning point in his investigation.

Andō confides in Mai about his own losses, and their shared peril deepens their bond. They become emotionally intimate, and Andō asks whether Mai will be there when he dies, but she admits fear. The relationship ties personal tragedy to the ongoing mystery.

Mai Takano disappears for a time, and Andō endures the still-looming curse. When Mai unexpectedly returns, she is found dead soon after, having given birth with no sign of a baby. The unsettling turn suggests a brutal supernatural mechanism at work.

Back at work, Andō encounters a figure he believes is Mai, only to realize she is Sadako Yamamura reborn and claiming to be perfectly dual-gendered. He learns that Ryūji Takayama was not helping to stop Sadako but aiding her. The haunting truth shifts the entire case toward a reanimated force.

Andō discovers that the deadly events were not caused directly by a virus or the video, but were tied to Reiko's diary and what it reveals. Takayama's involvement with Sadako is exposed as a complicating factor in the chain of deaths. The diary becomes the central clue that ties many figures together.

Sadako promises to help resurrect Andō's son in exchange for his assistance. The two form a dark alliance as they plan to reverse the losses Andō has suffered. In the final act, Andō brings Takayama and his son back to life with Sadako's power, and Ryūji departs with a warning that peace will be fragile.