Hanamonogatari

Set after the graduation of Koyomi Araragi and Hitagi Senjougahara, Suruga Kanbaru begins her third year in high school. She continues to deal with her left hand that had been turned monstrous through the use of her mother's monkey paw charm. After hearing rumors from Ougi of a "Devil" that can solve one's problems, Suruga sets out to find this person. She secretly fears that this person is her. However, she soon discovers that the "Devil" is her former basketball rival from junior high, Rouka Numachi. Rouka explains that she took on the role of the "Devil" after a leg injury ended her basketball career three years prior. She continues by saying that her work as the "Devil" is merely free counseling. Suruga counters by arguing that her clients are under the impression that the "Devil" is able to magically solve their problems. In essence, she's lying to these people. Rouka explains that in assuring her clients that she will solve their problems, she frees them from worrying about them. The problems themselves are trivial, and get resolved on their own with time. She even says that if a person comes to her with a truly serious matter, she'll refer them an appropriate institution, such as the police. Rouka explains that her position as the "Devil" allows her to be a collector of other people's misfortunes, something she finds joy in. Suruga doesn't agree with the dishonesty or her reasons, but she concedes that as long as Rouka isn't hurting anyone, she won't stop her. She is secretly relieved that she isn't the "Devil". Suruga awakes the next morning to find that her left arm has returned to normal.

With her hand restored, Suruga attempts to adjust to this change, and how it impacts her daily life. She has many questions for the "Devil" who cured her, but she is informed by Ougi that the "Devil" has vanished, and is no longer giving counsel to others. Suruga attempts to locate the whereabouts of Rouka, but no one seems to know where she is or what she's doing. In an attempt to find some answers, she boards a train to another town. When she arrives, she is met by none other than Deishu Kaiki. She attempts to flee, but Kaiki easily outruns her. Knowing when she's beaten, Suruga agrees to accompany him. Kaiki takes her to a yakiniku restaurant, and explains his motivations. Kaiki was in love with Suruga's mother during his college days. Fate kept them separated, and it was Suruga's mother's wish that if she were to die, Kaiki would look after Suruga. Suruga is skeptical of his 'good will' toward her because of her devotion to Kaiki's nemesis, Hitagi. Kaiki reassures her that he will not deceive her. In the end, she accepts his offer. Kaiki then reveals that he knew about Suruga's monkey paw, and that a person interested in collecting items like that would visit her soon. He implores her to let the collector have it, as the monkey paw is dangerous. Suruga then asks him how he knew she would be at the train station earlier. He says that Rouka told him.

Suruga confronts Rouka, who confirms that she is the collector of devil parts. The two play a bit of one-on-one basketball. Contrary to her appearance as an injured cripple, Rouka is more than a match for Suruga. Rouka and Suruga then recount their stories. Suruga tells the story of the times she used the monkey's paw, and how Koyomi and Hitagi helped her. Rouka, in turn, reveals that she not only has Suruga's monkey paw, but a monkey's leg as well. She explains that after her injury, a friend visiting her in the hospital confided in her about a personal issue. Hearing another person's problems cheered Rouka up, and so she began collecting the misfortunes of others as the "Devil". She also recalls how she came to know Kaiki. As Kaiki is a con artist, and Rouka a collector, their methodologies are similar in how they attract their clients. They butted heads at one point, and resolved to simply pass information between them, and not interfere with the other.

Rouka continues her explanation from the previous episode, finally revealing why she came to collect devil parts. A person came to her with a problem, and like usual Rouka planned to listen. The girl revealed that she had a monkey leg, and her wish caused her to attack her own mother, similar to Suruga's wish on her paw. For the first time, Rouka actually wanted to help someone, but as nothing more than a collector of misfortune, she was unable to do anything beyond embracing the girl and telling her it would be alright. Rouka then thinks to contact Kaiki, but discovers the next morning that she now had the monkey leg. It replaced her injured leg. This begins Rouka's collection of devil parts, which she sees as opponents to her hobby as a collector of misfortune. With everything explained, Rouka leaves Suruga, expecting to not see her again. At home, Suruga is still adjusting to her arm being normal. She receives news from Karen Araragi on the current status of Rouka. Apparently Rouka committed suicide over three years prior, meaning the Rouka she had talked to was a ghost the whole time. To clear her head, Suruga decides to go for a run. She runs hard and collapses from exhaustion in the middle of the road. A car drives up to her, and as Suruga attempts to get out of the way, the driver reveals himself to be Koyomi. Koyomi elects to drive Suruga back into town. Along the way, Suruga vaguely confides in Koyomi, telling him of how in their own ways, Rouka, Kaiki, and even her own mother had told her to stay out of this issue, and that time would make things okay in the end. As a man of action, Koyomi rejects this, and encourages Suruga to face her problems if she wants them to be solved. Suruga, emboldened by Koyomi's words, agrees. Upon returning home, Suruga finds a packaged left to her by Kaiki. It is a mummified monkey's head.