Hijiri Suenaga begins teaching at a rural middle school, but her enthusiasm goes to waste. One of her students, Akira, gets involved in an incident.
Hijiri brushes off Akiras confession of love. She begins avoiding him, but he takes a bold action during the schools sports festival.
The Koboshi students and faculty embark on a four-day study camp, but Akira gets into a fight with a classmate. Hijiri asks him what happened.
A night of turmoil begins at a local fireworks festival, where Hijiri sees Akira and Runa together. Shotaro and Haraguchi visit as well.
After their kiss on the beach, Akira and Hijiri run into Akiras mother and Shotaro outside Hijiris place. Shioya summons Hijiri to the school.
Three years later, Hijiri is teaching at the elementary school where Chizuru works. One day, she is shaken when she sees Akira at a local bazaar.
Moved by Nogamis kindness, Hijiri tries to move on. She confronts a mother about her parenting, but the mother threatens to reveal Hijiris secret.
While Hijiri and Nogami prepare for the upcoming school recital, the parents learn about Hijiris incident with Akira from three years prior.
Hijiri accompanies Akira on his journey to find his father. As they spend more time together, Akiras feelings toward Hijiri are reignited.
Upon returning to Tokyo, Hijiri is met by her mother, who tears her away from Akira. The next day, Hijiri and her mother visit Aiko to apologize.
After being apprehended by the police, Hijiri loses everything. With her feelings toward Akira growing in her heart, she must make a crucial decision.