Yu Hazuki, a 13-year-old girl from rural Japan, relocates to Tokyo to live with her father, Toshihiko, a cameraman freshly returned from Peru. Her mother’s absence since childhood shapes her life alongside Sunny, her adoptive younger brother, whose unwavering devotion leads him to trail her to school and volleyball games. Toshihiko’s resistance to her volleyball dreams puzzles her until buried family secrets surface.

Her extraordinary leaping prowess and fierce dedication propel her goal of competing for Japan in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At Hikawa Junior High, volatile clashes with coldly arrogant team captain Nami Hayase ignite a rivalry that gradually transforms into a layered alliance, especially when both train under Daimon, a merciless coach molding Nami’s professional career.

Romantic tension arises through her crush on Sho Takiki, the boys’ volleyball captain, fueling competition with Nami. As ambitions sharpen, Yu joins a team alongside former adversary Eri Takigawa of the Sunlight Players, forging a bond of rivalry and respect.

A pivotal revelation unravels her mother’s identity as Kanako Tajima, a retired volleyball star turned commentator, clarifying her father’s past hostility and mending family fractures. Years later, during recovery from a two-year-old Achilles’ injury, she resurfaces in China with the Dragon Ladies team, signaling an unbroken athletic legacy despite physical trials.

Her story intertwines mentorship under harsh coaches like Daimon, a protective bond with Sunny, and alliances with steadfast teammates such as Meiko "Chibi" Nanao. Through injuries, clashing team dynamics, and personal sacrifices, she evolves from a headstrong rookie to a strategic athlete, balancing ambition, familial healing, and the shifting terrain of competition and camaraderie in volleyball’s demanding world.