Synopsis

Namba Yurika isn’t unattractive or socially awkward, yet she struggles with romantic relationships. The root of her problem traces back to her first boyfriend, “Makochi” Saito Makoto, and their seemingly perfect romance.

 

During her teens and twenties – what should have been her “romance driving school” period for learning relationship skills through failures, struggles, and embarrassing moments – Yurika’s first relationship went too smoothly. She fell for someone, they naturally got together, and everything felt effortless. While this was a precious experience, Yurika didn’t appreciate its value at the time.

 

When career pressures created distance between them, Yurika broke up with Makochi, confident she’d easily find another wonderful relationship. However, her next boyfriend turned out to be terrible, the second one was even worse, and, lacking the courage to risk a third disappointment, she stopped dating entirely.

 

Lost and questioning “What is love?” and “How do relationships work?”, Yurika finds her answer: living in the happiness of past romantic memories. She becomes obsessed with fantasizing about Makochi and their blissful time together, becoming a full-fledged “ex-boyfriend maniac.”

 

While intellectually understanding that “real love isn’t as sparkly as TV dramas,” Yurika convinces herself that this fantasy-based existence brings happiness. However, her peaceful delusion shatters when an unexpected event destroys her beautiful memory sanctuary – a reunion with Makochi himself.