Kumiko Yamamura, known as Josee, is a wheelchair-using young woman with congenital paraplegia. Raised in isolation under her grandmother’s overprotectiveness—a response to societal stigma around disability—she cultivated a rich inner world through painting and literature. Adopting the nickname "Josee" from a rebellious François Sagan character, she idolizes fictional figures who challenge constraints.

Her defensive exterior, marked by sarcasm and fabricated tales of romance, shields deep-seated vulnerability and shame tied to her disability. Guarded interactions, including early clashes with Tsuneo Suzukawa, reveal fear of judgment and stunted emotional growth, exacerbated by her grandmother’s stifling control.

Tsuneo’s role as her caregiver sparks gradual transformation. Outings to libraries, zoos, and beaches dismantle her belief in universal hostility, fostering newfound autonomy. Her art evolves from solitary refuge to public profession, epitomized by a children’s book allegorizing her struggles: tigers embodying fear, fish symbolizing liberation.

Critical junctures—her grandmother’s death and Tsuneo’s temporary disability—test her resilience. Navigating grief and societal barriers, she secures employment as a librarian and office worker. Her bond with Tsuneo shifts from antagonism to mutual reliance, weathering conflicts and reconciliations. A defining moment sees her crafting a storybook that aids Tsuneo’s recovery, channeling unspoken emotions into creative expression.

Progress emerges through tentative camaraderie with colleagues like Kana Kishimoto and confronting fears of burdening others. Her journey refuses to romanticize disability, depicting raw frustrations alongside hard-won agency. By the story’s end, she steps into a future harmonizing ambition with interdependence, trading seclusion for purposeful connection.