The Garden of Sinners: A Study in Murder (Part 1)

Mikiya Kokutō briefly encounters Shiki Ryōgi while walking home in 1995. This chance meeting foreshadows their later recognition and budding friendship.

Later at his high school, Mikiya recognizes Shiki in a crowd and introduces himself. The two become friends, though Shiki seems to have forgotten their earlier meeting.

One night, Shiki leaves her home to wander the streets of Mifune City. She finds the corpse of a traffic accident victim and applies their blood to her lips in a trance.

The following night, a man is brutally killed by an unseen attacker with a knife. The murder spree appears to be escalating.

During lunch the next day, Mikiya discusses the murders with Shiki, which displeases her. Their exchange hints at Shiki's growing distance from ordinary life.

Three more victims are murdered in a similar manner. Mikiya remains with Shiki as she waits for an upperclassman's associate to pick her up after school, and they argue about a party invitation while Shirazumi Lio cryptically reprimands Shiki.

Sometime later, Shiki leaves her home again to explore Mifune City and encounters a fifth corpse. The pattern of violence continues to deepen the mystery.

Shiki's servant Akitaka reveals that Shiki is the successor to the Ryōgi family due to a condition of multiple independent personalities. The alter-ego SHIKI is revealed to be male and in control at times.

Mikiya finds a letter from Shiki asking him out on a date. She appears, acts boyish, and explains that SHIKI is currently in control of her body, with the two personalities out of sync recently.

Mikiya has dinner with his detective cousin Daisuke, who is investigating the murders. Daisuke explains that the police found Mikiya's school emblem at the latest crime scene.

After school, SHIKI cryptically warns Mikiya that Shiki will kill anything that opens up her isolation from the world. Despite this, Mikiya agrees to eat lunch with Shiki the next day.

Mikiya spots a bandaged injury on Shiki's left arm and she admits it happened during the latest killing. Nervous, he still goes to Shiki's mansion and finds her drenched in blood with a freshly beheaded corpse. She approaches him with a cryptic warning.

After police arrive at the crime scene, Mikiya pretends not to have seen anybody but secretly returns to Shiki's house nightly to keep watch. The danger surrounding Shiki intensifies as he remains in denial.

Shiki chases Mikiya to the outside road and holds him at knifepoint. When she demands that he say something, Mikiya declares that he does not want to die, and SHIKI reveals her intent to kill him.

Screeching tires cue a jump to June 1998, when Mikiya has started to work for magus Tōko Aozaki. He visits the hospitalized, comatose Shiki with flowers and tells her that he has always believed in her.