in modern-day japan, only the direct descendants of samurai are allowed to carry swords. in takahara ibuki's neighbourhood, rumors have been spreading about shiroyasha – a mysterious swordsman who is said to attack other swordsmen. many skilled sword-fighters have converged in the city with the hope of hunting down shiroyasha. on his way home from school, ibuki witnesses a fight involving his classmate, haruma kokonoe, who is the strongest swordsman in their kendo club. intrigued by kokonoe's skill, he tries to discover more about this mysterious student…