Ken Amafuji endured significant family instability in his adolescence. His parents divorced when he was thirteen due to his father's affair. His father disappeared, and his mother relocated to Singapore and remarried. This breakdown forced Ken into independent living in an apartment at a young age, leading to financial struggles that resulted in him working as a rent boy. Economic hardship and emotional turmoil contributed to his decision to drop out of high school.

His longtime friendship with Ritsurou Yoshinari served as his primary emotional anchor, though he harbored unexpressed romantic feelings. To navigate his complex emotions and create a connection, he engaged in a physical relationship with Ritsurou's girlfriend, Moeko Kohashi. This act stemmed from his desire to disrupt their relationship and bring Ritsurou closer. He eventually persuaded Ritsurou to move into his apartment as a roommate, marking a pivotal shift. Unresolved tension escalated until Ritsurou acknowledged reciprocal feelings, transforming their relationship into a romantic and sexual one.

Later, Ken faced upheaval when his mother requested he join her in Singapore. Initially resistant due to his commitment to Ritsurou, he later chose to relocate temporarily, seeking distance to process his emotions and past trauma. In Singapore, tensions arose with his mother over her disapproval of his relationship with Ritsurou. During this period, he encountered Junta Tsuzuki ("J"), his mother's younger husband and a freelance photographer. Following a car accident, J assisted him and introduced him to photography, sparking a new interest. Despite the potential stability offered by this pursuit, his emotional ties to Ritsurou remained strong.

Ken grappled with self-destructive tendencies and the consequences of earlier choices, including his involvement in sex work. Figures from his past, like Kazuyoshi Iwasaki—a former associate aware of Ken's history—resurfaced, complicating his efforts to move forward. His journey involved vacillating between embracing new opportunities, such as accompanying J on a photography assignment to India, and maintaining his relationship with Ritsurou. This internal conflict highlighted his ongoing struggle between self-reinvention and unresolved attachments.

The narrative depicts Ken evolving from a troubled, self-sabotaging individual toward one gradually seeking healthier foundations. His initial "bad boy" persona, marked by delinquency and emotional volatility, gave way to tentative steps into personal growth, including exploring photography. However, his path remained fraught with challenges, including societal disapproval, lingering secrets, and the complexity of sustaining a same-sex relationship in a conservative environment. His trajectory reflects a continuous effort to reconcile his traumatic background with aspirations for stability and self-acceptance.