Asakura Sōhei is a superintendent with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, but he is far from the typical image of a confident, driven officer. His defining trait is a profoundly negative and pessimistic outlook on life. Overwhelmed by the sheer number of criminals and malicious individuals he encounters, he constantly laments, Ah, I want to die. Despite his self-deprecating and weary demeanor, Asakura is surprisingly effective at his job, driven by a twisted sense of duty to combat the very pests of society that make him miserable.

The story is a blend of police procedural and dark comedy, chronicling Asakura’s reluctant crusade against a wide array of modern crimes. He is supported by a colorful cast of colleagues from his precinct. This includes his doting and understanding superior, Kanou, who genuinely cares for the troubled superintendent; the narcissistic superintendent Date, whose vanity often clashes with Asakura’s gloom; and the sensible patrol officer Tsuji, who serves as the straight man to the unit’s eccentricities. Together, this team tackles cases ranging from internet fraud and corporate malfeasance to organized crime.

The narrative is structured into several arcs that follow Asakura’s personal and professional challenges. An early major development is the introduction of Asakura’s father, whose arrival adds a new layer of complexity to the protagonist’s backstory and personal demons. The series is described as a negative-heart boiled police romance, highlighting its unique tone where dark humor, gritty police work, and moments of genuine heart coexist. The story ran for eight collected volumes from December 2007 to October 2010. The series concludes with Asakura and his team facing off against major criminal forces, pushing his bleak worldview to its limits as he continues his struggle against the endless tide of societal pests.