Ryūji Nakayama

In the notorious soapland district of Ogoto—Alice, a seasoned sex worker scarred by abuse and betrayal, is ready for a new start as she marries Honjo, a driver she once served. Despite her painful past, which includes being exploited by her stepfather and betrayed by her mother, Alice has found a semblance of family among her peers in the industry. She’s particularly close to Maya, a top earner in their shared apartment building, and maintains a complicated relationship with Dera, an intellectual companion of Maya’s. When Alice and Maya are mugged, they discover that the assailant is Tamae—Alice’s own younger sister. As the web of relationships further entangles with characters like the man Ikuno who originally introduced Alice to this harsh world, and others whose lives spiral out of control, the story builds to a series of shocking events. These include violent confrontations, explosive accidents, and tragic mishaps that leave the characters emotionally and physically shattered.