Akane Nishimura is a fifth-grade student relentlessly bullied by classmates who mock her as "Grim Reaper" or "Shinigami," attributing curses and misfortune to her dark clothing, piercing eyes, and reserved demeanor. This ostracization deepens her loneliness as neutral students join the bullying to avoid exclusion. She internalizes the taunts, developing crippling self-esteem issues and believing herself unworthy of friendship. To shield her single father, she conceals the bullying and falsely claims to have friends, reflecting victims' common avoidance of reporting. Her isolation shifts when transfer student Taiyo Takada arrives. Unaware of the bullying's context, he interprets the "Grim Reaper" nickname as cool and persistently seeks her friendship. Initially resistant due to fear of social repercussions for him, she gradually opens to his kindness, forming her first meaningful connection. She eventually accepts the nickname solely from Taiyo, reappropriating it as a symbol of their bond. Her background holds deeper trauma: her mother died shortly after her birth, an event she unconsciously links to the "Grim Reaper" moniker, feeling responsible for replacing her mother. This guilt compounds her vulnerability, unknown to her classmates. Her father and grandparents provide unwavering support, with her father recognizing her struggles but respecting her need for independence. Development shows Akane emerging from isolation. Small interactions with Taiyo, like holding hands or receiving compliments, trigger luminescent blushes and gradual confidence shifts. She adopts a black cat named Kuro, symbolizing her growing warmth. Key milestones include selecting a cute swimsuit with Taiyo's sister Yukiko's encouragement and participating in school festivals, wearing a yukata and engaging in group activities. Her emotional growth expands to friendships with classmates Umi Adachi and Daichi Hino. During fever-induced delirium, she clutches Taiyo's sleeve, pleading him not to leave and exposing her fear of loneliness; subsequent embarrassment reveals ongoing self-consciousness. Unacknowledged romantic feelings for Taiyo manifest in heightened blushes and unique treatment of him. By the cultural festival, she demonstrates increased assertiveness, asking Taiyo to keep using her nickname and initiating first-name terms. Her academic side surfaces through a love of reading dark fantasy manga shared with Taiyo and an interest in stars and constellations. The narrative underscores her transformation from a shrinking violet to someone capable of trust and joy, though residual shyness persists, often expressed through physical tics like covering her face or hiding behind her bangs.