Azusa Hinomori, an orphan raised with her younger sister Mina, cherishes a pendant from her late parents—a sentimental heirloom passed from her father to her mother, accompanied by a note wishing for her future romance. Mina openly supports Azusa’s bond with Kouji Maeda, envisioning him as a brother figure. Azusa’s fiery tsundere tendencies emerge after a fateful collision with Kouji sparks mutual animosity, masking her growing affection. Privately, she stashes his photo inside the pendant, concealing vulnerability beneath pride.

Their relationship frays when Azusa misinterprets Kouji’s connection to another, prompting a breakup. She briefly dates Shinji Yano, though both soon confront lingering feelings for their past partners. Observers like Shinji and Tsukasa Enomoto nudge the pair toward reconciliation, culminating in a simultaneous confession that reignites their romance.

Clumsy yet tenacious, Azusa juggles part-time waitressing with turbulent friendships and rivalries. Early story versions replace Mina with Tsukasa as a romantic foil, though Azusa’s core journey—from denial to emotional honesty—persists. A sequel film later portrays her and Kouji as an established couple.

Her interactions with peers like Jun Kagurazaka, whose cross-dressing briefly confounds Kouji, and Rumi Kinoshita underscore her gradual maturity. Temporary dalliances with secondary figures contrast her steadfastness, anchoring the narrative’s focus on love’s complexities, miscommunication, and self-discovery.