Chiaki Yoshino is a 28-year-old shōjo manga artist publishing under the female pseudonym Chiharu Yoshikawa at Marukawa Publishing's Emerald department, overseen by his childhood friend and editor, Yoshiyuki Hatori. Yoshino maintains a long-standing friendship with Hatori and his chief assistant, Yuu Yanase, who has harbored romantic feelings for him since middle school. Their dynamic grows complicated when Yoshino witnesses an ambiguous interaction between Hatori and Yanase, prompting him to question their relationships and his own emotions.

Hatori confesses his love to Yoshino, admitting he altered Yoshino's management arrangements fearing his feelings might harm their professional rapport. This forces Yoshino to confront his developing attraction to Hatori, though he initially resists physical intimacy by pushing Hatori away during an attempted kiss. Yoshino experiences jealousy when Hatori interacts with others, like at a party where admirers including writer Ichinose Erika surround him. After detecting perfume on Hatori, Yoshino confronts him, leading to mutual reassurances and Hatori's vow to persist in expressing his love until Yoshino accepts it.

Key relationship milestones include a visit to Yoshino's family with Hatori, where his mother's remark about Hatori and Yoshino's sister making a good couple triggers Yoshino's jealousy, revealing his deepening attachment. During a hot spring trip with Yanase, Yoshino abruptly cancels upon realizing it coincides with his birthday and returns to Hatori, who offers himself as a "birthday present," cementing their commitment. Yanase later confesses his love to Yoshino during this trip, intensifying the love triangle.

Yoshino navigates workplace pressures like manga deadlines and interactions with editors Ritsu Onodera and Shouta Kisa. His growth involves gradually accepting Hatori's love and striving to balance personal and professional challenges within their interconnected social circle.