Tetsuhiro Morinaga, a graduate student in agricultural science at a Nagoya university, works as a research assistant. Raised in a conservative rural household, his early romance with another boy, Masaki, was exposed by his older brother Kunihiro. Community backlash forced Morinaga’s departure from his hometown and estrangement from his family. After this rejection, he entered a phase of promiscuity and partying before reforming upon starting university.

He developed immediate romantic feelings for senior labmate Souichi Tatsumi, sustaining unrequited affection for five years despite Souichi’s openly homophobic and violent disposition. After Morinaga’s confession yielded only a conditional platonic kiss, their dynamic shifted when Souichi accidentally ingested an aphrodisiac drug in Morinaga’s apartment, triggering a non-consensual encounter. Morinaga subsequently vanished from Souichi’s life, provoking intense anxiety and longing in Souichi. Their reconciliation established a complex sexual relationship: Morinaga leveraged Souichi’s abandonment fears to initiate ongoing physical intimacy while Souichi denied romantic attachment.

Morinaga demonstrated unwavering patience and emotional investment, enduring Souichi’s physical aggression and verbal rejections. He occasionally employed emotional blackmail, threatening permanent departure to maintain their connection. Despite Souichi’s insistence their interactions were transactional, Morinaga interpreted Souichi’s exclusive sexual acceptance and possessiveness as evidence of deeper sentiment. Notable developments included Morinaga’s temporary absence for professional training—during which Souichi experienced erotic dreams about him—and their Glad-to-Be-Alive sex following a traumatic house fire.

Morinaga reconciled with his past by reconnecting with Kunihiro, who sought forgiveness for exposing the relationship with Masaki—an act that had driven Masaki to attempt suicide. Witnessing Kunihiro and Masaki’s gradual reconciliation and eventual romance tempered Morinaga’s initial resentment. Academically, he transitioned from master’s student to Souichi’s lab assistant, preserving this professional tie during personal estrangements. His social circle included Hiroto, a bartender offering romantic counsel, and university peers like Yamaguchi.

Morinaga balanced outward cheerfulness with emotional endurance, navigating Souichi’s internalized homophobia and violence. His romantic focus remained exclusively on Souichi throughout documented events. Their relationship evolved incrementally: Souichi’s protests diminished over time, with near-confessions surfacing during high-stress incidents, yet Morinaga continually bore the primary emotional burden of their unconventional partnership.