Tamaki Tsuru arrives at Aonagi University from Nagasaki, determined to shed her high school reputation as overly athletic and boisterous after romantic rejection. Her new goal is a "sparkling love" and a more conventionally feminine college identity.

Her plans derail when attempting to join the tennis club results in accidentally damaging a Sports Association Aviation Club glider, saddling her with a two-million-yen repair debt. Forced to repay, she joins the Aviation Club as an assistant, unexpectedly entering the world of gliding. Despite lacking prior knowledge or experience, Tamaki displays an exceptional innate aptitude for piloting gliders, a talent recognized by senior member Jun Kuramochi.

Tamaki masters the principles of unpowered flight, learning to utilize thermals and ridge lifts to sustain altitude – skills mirroring her growing adaptability. While initially motivated by debt repayment, her focus shifts towards embracing the freedom and perspective of flight. Her natural abilities spark a semi-friendly rivalry with Kaede Hatori, a skilled pilot from a rival university, and facilitate an unexpected reconciliation with her estranged stepsister, Chizuru Yano, during a joint training camp. Chizuru admits jealousy of Tamaki's perceived freedom, revealing familial tensions from their parents' divorce and Tamaki's father denying Chizuru's existence.

Relationships within the club evolve. Initial clashes with Daisuke Sorachi, who disapproved of her involvement, subside as she demonstrates dedication. The Aviation Club becomes central to Tamaki's self-discovery, enabling her to embrace her authentic, loud, determined, and passionate self without conforming to societal expectations – a stark contrast to her original goal of suppressing these traits.

A pivotal moment occurs when Jun Kuramochi, her mentor and club president, accepts an overseas opportunity in Germany under pressure from his sponsor, Yō Asahina. This coincides with the club preparing for a national gliding competition. When news arrives of Jun's involvement in a glider crash during the competition, Tamaki persuades the club advisors and teammates to continue flying in his honor, arguing it aligns with his wishes. In the finals, she overcomes a slow start by expertly harnessing thermal currents, securing victory for the team.

Following the competition, she confronts Yō Asahina about his past influence over Jun and demands fulfillment of a promise related to Jun's situation. This leads her to Germany, where she locates Jun – alive after surviving the crash. In their emotional reunion, she declares her intent to continue flying alongside him indefinitely, affirming a deep personal commitment to gliding that transcends her initial collegiate aspirations. Her journey highlights themes of self-acceptance, resilience, and discovering unexpected passions through adversity.