Two school kids, Kyonosuke and Akira, live in a little village by the Japanese countryside. Following a physically and mentally debilitating accident that required a skin graft to his face, Kyonosuke is left with a permanent and prominent scar. His disfigurement makes him a constant target for harsh bullying when he returns to school after a period as a shut-in. Akira, his classmate, is trying to come to terms with her gender dysphoria but suffers violent abuse from her father for expressing her identity as a girl. When the two meet, they form a bond and fall in love, finding solace in each other while under attack from all angles by bullies and unsupportive adults.

The narrative quickly establishes Kyonosuke as a pariah at school, where he is taunted with names like Frank and endures vicious physical and mental assaults from classmates, particularly a bully named Kenta. However, the story complicates this dynamic by showing that Kenta himself is a victim of domestic abuse, beaten by his father for failing to steal money. The adults in the story are largely portrayed as sources of betrayal and failure. In a devastating scene, Kyonosuke finally confides in his parents about his struggles and his relationship with Akira, only to be completely rejected by his father who moments earlier promised unconditional support. Facing zero support at home and constant danger at school, the young couple decides to escape their toxic environment together.

Notable narrative arcs in the first volume include the development of Kyonosuke and Akira's relationship from an initial friendship into a romance that serves as their only respite. Flashbacks reveal the accident that caused Kyonosuke’s scar, answering a central question for readers. The story also features a redemptive moment for the bully Kenta, who chooses to defend Akira after her secret is revealed, despite having tormented Kyonosuke. A major narrative thrust is the couple's decision to run away, leading to a final third of the volume that places them in new circumstances, though overlaid with a heavy sense of foreboding. The trilogy ends its first volume on a rare happy scene, but the ominous words "nothing lasts forever" foreshadow continued struggles for the two teenagers fighting for their physical and mental survival in a harsh world.