In 1956, ten years after the conclusion of World War II, Rieko Sakamoto was appointed as a new teacher at an elementary school in Kiba, Tokyo. Simultaneously, Shizu Miyanaga, who had transferred from Kobe, joined the class #4 of the 6th grade. Shizu was a bright and beautiful girl with dreams of becoming a singer. She possessed both athletic and academic talents, which quickly made her the focal point of attention in the classroom. Akira, whose father worked as a joiner and who also served as the class president, began to develop special feelings for Shizu.