It is the sixteenth year of the Showa era (1941), and Soutarou Kuramoto, the son of a distinguished family, has returned to Japan after years of studying abroad. He carries with him the weight of a single, cruel childhood statement made to his best friend, Haroumi Asuma: "I hate the way you dance." Consumed by guilt and believing his thoughtless words destroyed the confidence of the boy he secretly adored, Soutarou is determined to find Haroumi and apologize.

His search leads him to a Tokyo pleasure district where Haroumi has become a renowned dancer. To Soutarou's confusion, Haroumi, now a celebrated performer of traditional dance, deftly avoids any attempt at a reunion. Convinced he must make amends, Soutarou conceals his true identity and takes a job as a servant at the exclusive restaurant Tachibana, where Haroumi occasionally performs.

The story unfolds against the backdrop of a Japan on the brink of World War II, an era where openly expressing love, especially between two men, was fraught with difficulty. As Soutarou works up the courage to confess his past failure, he begins to understand that the harm caused by their childhood rift might be more complicated than he imagined. Haroumi has not been broken by the comment; rather, thoughts of Soutarou have infused his dancing with a profound sensuality that captivates all who watch. The long-hidden feelings between them are revealed to be mutual, and their friendship blossoms into a deep, romantic love.

However, their happiness is fragile. The looming war creates a persistent anxiety, bringing with it the threat of conscription and the presence of foreign soldiers, constantly testing the bonds between them. Despite these forces working to tear them apart, the two men strive to carve out a small space of happiness, culminating in a hard-won resolution that allows their love to endure. The narrative also features a short, whimsical bonus story involving a tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dog, which provides a lighter counterpoint to the main historical drama.