The Monster Within

In a packed courtroom, lawyer Ayame Kajin sits in the defendant's seat. "Why did I commit that crime…?" she murmurs. A murder trial begins. One year earlier—Ayame, a brilliant yet solitary lawyer, meets a woman named Kanon Minamoto at a DV seminar. Kanon, a nail technician, hints at abuse by her husband and leaves with a mysterious smile. (C) TV Asahi · SLL

"I'll defend you," says lawyer Ayame Kajin to tearful Kanon Minamoto. She visits the detention centre to meet Kanon's husband, Iteya, who is accused of murdering Ayame's former mentor, Professor Nada. The only witness is the victim's wife, Yoko. "I didn't kill him," Iteya says, staring straight into Ayame's eyes—then reveals his past with Yoko's family. (C) TV Asahi · SLL

On the night of Okutaro Nada's funeral, Ayame gives in to passion and crosses the line with Iteya. Unable to forget him, she visits his fencing club under the pretext of returning a T-shirt. Though she insists it was a one-time mistake, Iteya's sad gaze lingers. That night, his call reveals he feels the same and their forbidden love deepens. (C) TV Asahi / SLL

Struck and left alone by Iteya, the man she loved, Ayame is stunned. The pain tells her it wasn't a dream. The next day, he shows up with a flower and an apology. Though moved, she ends things. From that night on, he leaves a flower in her mailbox, and Ayame begins to wrestle with the urge to forgive him. (C) TV Asahi / SLL

Kanon storms into Ayame's law office, causes a suicide scare, then disappears. After losing everything, Ayame takes Iteya's hand and invites him in. They start living together, bringing her some happiness despite being shunned at work. Just knowing Iteya waits at home helps until Ayame slowly begins to fall apart. (C) TV Asahi・SLL

"It felt like a bad nightmare." Iteya Minamoto (Akihisa Shiono) strangled Ayame Kajin (Kumiko Aso) and became violent again. Crying, he begged, "Don't abandon me," then treated her more gently. Ayame senses his love but fears him. She's shocked to learn he's secretly searching for his missing wife, Kanon (Kana Kita). (C) TV Asahi・SLL