During his second year of high school, Kuniyoshi discovers that his childhood friend Taishi has fallen for one of their classmates, Tadashi Matsuda. Though secretly in love with Taishi himself, Kuniyoshi chooses to bury his own feelings and support his friend’s hesitant attempts at confession. But Taishi never finds the courage to speak his heart. However, during the winter before the end of their senior year, Taishi, shaken by the discovery that Matsuda prefers long hair, fails his university entrance exams. Kuniyoshi then pushes his friend to grow his hair out and try again.