Mimei Fukumori is the picture of a model high school student, a respected class president who excels in both academics and sports. What few people know is his secret passion for Mon-Mid, a late-night comedy radio program. For years, he has been sending in jokes and one-liners, hoping to hear one read aloud on air, but success has always eluded him. His quiet admiration for the show's most prolific and funny contributor, a user known only as Eel Potato, is matched only by his frustration.

That frustration turns to shock when he discovers that the brilliant and eccentric Eel Potato is actually his own classmate, the small and incredibly cute Kurage Mizuo. Unlike Mimei, Mizuo is a natural, firing off jokes constantly and having her submissions read with impressive regularity. Rather than being intimidated, Mimei asks for her coaching. With her help, he finally gets his first joke on the show, a moment of triumph that ignites a new ambition: he will surpass Mizuo and become funnier than her. This declaration is fueled by her offhand remark that she would only ever be interested in someone who could make Eel Potato herself laugh.

Thus begins a unique and warm-hearted rivalry set against the backdrop of a high school in Japan. The central conflict is not about grades or sports, but about the art of comedy, specifically the craft of writing punchlines and puns for a radio show. Mimei, the diligent straight man, and Mizuo, the unpredictable jokester, form a classic manzai comedy duo in their everyday interactions, pushing each other to be more creative. Their relationship, a blend of friendship, rivalry, and budding romance, is the core of the series as they navigate their shared love for Mon-Mid.

The story unfolds in several key arcs. The initial arc focuses on Mimei learning the fundamentals of comedy writing from Mizuo, a process that includes the shocking revelation that prolific submitters send dozens or even hundreds of jokes at a time, a stark contrast to his own cautious approach. As their skills develop, the narrative builds toward a major tournament or contest held by the radio show. In a significant early arc, Mizuo, the favorite, earns second place. Despite her attempts to play it cool, the frustration and disappointment overwhelm her, and she breaks down crying. This vulnerable moment is a turning point, showing how far she has come not just as a comedian, but as a person who now has a close friend, Mimei, to share her feelings with. The series, published in Weekly Shonen Jump, has been noted for its pleasant tone and the natural development of its two leads, setting the stage for their journey through the rest of their high school years and potentially beyond.