Set in Edo, the series posits that as a wealthy city expands, more people congregate, and as a side effect, seeds of discord become easier to find. On one hand, there is Shusuke, a slacker "almost" apprentice to a merchant with a rather large mouth, who is quite skilled in conversation and reading people's intentions. On the other hand, there is Rie, a gracious Yamato nadeshiko who is actually an expert swordsman dedicated to her craft, working as a benriya or hired hand (jack of all trades). What do these two have in common? Besides their distinct backgrounds, they are both indebted to the same person: Shusuke's merchant "mentor" and Rie's landlord.