The townspeople of Sakurashin begin to prepare for the yearly festival honoring the Seven Pillars, and Akina and Hime, as the representatives of the Hiizumi and Yarizakura families respectively, are the key participants. In the ceremony, Hime carries the Dragon Spear into a shrine around one of the Seven Pillars and prays for the continued safety of the town. Following the ceremony, Akina and Hime join the party at Akina's office, where all the participants become inebriated on the alcoholic yōkai water. That morning, Enjin informs them that he has kidnapped Ao, and Akina, Hime, Kotoha, and Kyōsuke go to the shrine to meet him.
桜真町を守る七郷に感謝する七郷祭りでは、メインである儀式が秋名とヒメによって厳かに行われた。儀式の慰労会を事務所の面々で楽しんでいる最中、突然七郷が微かな怪しい光を放っていた。次の日の朝、朝ごはんを作っていたアオを円神が連れ去り、ヒメたちを脅迫し、神社に来いと誘い出す。