A live-action television series adaptation of Minetaro Mochizuki's manga, Bataashi Kingyo, aired on Nippon TV in 1993. The story centers on Kaoru, a high school boy who is a complete non-swimmer, and his all-consuming infatuation with Sonoko, a talented and dedicated member of the school's swimming club. After spotting her by the pool one day, Kaoru impulsively joins the swim team as the only way to get close to her, despite having no athletic ability or understanding of the sport. His clumsy and obsessive efforts to win her affection disrupt the swimming club and deeply irritate Sonoko, who initially views him as nothing more than a nuisance. As Kaoru trains relentlessly, driven by his crush, Sonoko becomes so frustrated and stressed by his relentless pursuit that she begins stress-eating, causing her to gain weight and her performance to suffer. She tries to discourage him by dating Nagai, the team's ace swimmer, but Kaoru remains undeterred. A turning point arrives when Kaoru realizes the emotional toll his behavior is taking on Sonoko, leading him to step back. This separation allows him to discover a genuine passion for swimming for its own sake, while Sonoko, freed from his pressure, comes to recognize the depth of his feelings and her own unexpected attraction to him. The narrative follows this awkward, often humorous romantic dynamic set against the backdrop of high school athletic competition, with Kaoru's journey from a lovesick amateur to a dedicated athlete forming the central arc. The series stars Marina Watanabe as Sonoko and Shoji Narita as Kaoru.