Tamahiko Shima, a self-proclaimed pessimist, lives alone in the Chiba mountains after losing use of his right hand in the same automobile accident that killed his mother. He has been thrown into exile after his father and other wealthy relatives deemed him incapable; he spends his idle days reading and his sleepless nights with uncontrollable angst. Tamahiko is resigned to his new duty—stay in the mountains and wait for death to end his suffering—true to the Shimas' legendary pride and resolved not to shame his family. On one winter night, though, Tamahiko's sleep is broken by a knock at the door. He then meets Yuzuki Tachibana, a 14-year-old girl who says that she has come to be his future wife! Tamahiko appeared unexpectedly.