High school teacher Ootaguro Yamako carries a secret: within a three-meter radius, he can hear the unspoken thoughts and true feelings of everyone around him. This satori ability has been a source of trauma since childhood, causing him to hide his power and abandon any hope of romantic love. His quiet, guarded life is disrupted when the school's most feared delinquent, Kumaoka Takatora, abruptly summons him. Bracing for trouble, Yamako uses his ability to probe Kumaoka's intentions, only to discover that the intimidating yankee harbors a startlingly pure and earnest crush on him.

Kumaoka is not the dangerous thug his reputation suggests; his internal monologue is filled with sincere, almost innocent affection. Despite his initial shock, Yamako tries to maintain distance, believing his curse makes a relationship impossible. Kumaoka, however, is undeterred and begins a persistent, heartfelt pursuit. As Kumaoka protects Yamako from other delinquents who hold a grudge, the teacher is forced to confront his own growing feelings.

The narrative unfolds through several arcs. Kumaoka’s first confession is gently rejected, but he continues his thoughtful approaches. A rival teacher, Ashioami Gensei, nicknamed Balkan, shows a suspicious interest in both Yamako and his relationship with Kumaoka, later subtly offering himself as an alternative. A stalker named Mobuyama, who idolizes Kumaoka, discovers the romance and tries to interfere. During a school camping trip, a sudden rainstorm traps Yamako and Kumaoka alone in a mountain hut, intensifying their intimacy. A flashback reveals how the two first met years earlier on a train, when a younger Kumaoka was inspired by Yamako’s habit of giving up his seat to those in need, eventually leading to Kumaoka’s decision to become a delinquent strong enough to protect others.

A school legend holds that a confession made under a large tree on the final day of the cultural festival will bind a couple forever. Kumaoka invites Yamako to the tree for a second confession, but Yamako again refuses. Still, Kumaoka’s unwavering sincerity reminds Yamako of his own formerly romantic nature and forces him to admit the truth: he can read minds. Yamako reveals his satori ability and distances himself, fearing the inevitable rejection. Balkan takes this opportunity to propose himself as a romantic partner. Ultimately, at the end of the third term, Yamako resigns from his teaching position and disappears. Realizing that his fear of rejection made him run, Kumaoka resolves to find him, and the story concludes with their reunion and a resolution to their emotional standoff.