Mao is a studious girl who insists she will never fall for Hatori, the reckless boy everyone else seems to like. She believes that liking him would only bring her pain, so she deliberately rejects her own growing feelings. But the tension between them comes to a head when Hatori forces a kiss on her, an act that drives Mao to cut off all contact with him. What begins as a childhood clash turns into a five-year silence, during which both secretly harbor unshakeable feelings for the other.

The story follows Mao and Hatori from fifth grade through their third year of middle school, tracing the quiet ache of a love that neither can admit. What sets the narrative apart is that every key scene is presented twice: first from Mao’s perspective, then from Hatori’s. This dual viewpoint reveals the misunderstandings, the fear of rejection, and the loneliness each carries. Mao appears cold but is terrified of being hurt; Hatori seems bold but is desperately afraid of losing her. The small acts of jealousy, the lingering glances, and the words left unsaid all build into a portrait of two people fated for each other yet unable to bridge the gap.

The single volume collects three chapters that form a complete prelude to their relationship, eventually leading to the moment when the walls between them begin to crack. It is a story about first love, pride, and the painful space between wanting someone and knowing how to keep them.