Hiroki Shitara, a freelance writer for a weekly magazine, and Makoto Tsutsui, a TV news program director meet at the scene of a serial murder case in Tokyo and become attracted to each other as they cover the case together. However, as suspicions begin to surface about Hiroki, Makoto is conflicted about whether or not she should believe him.

East Shinjuku Night High School has students with various challenges. Delinquent Taketo is trapped in a negative spiral. Filipina-Japanese Angela struggles with schoolwork, while Kasumi spends all her class hours in the infirmary. Shozo had to leave school to work in his youth. With guidance from their new science teacher, Fujitake, they work on an experiment for an academic conference.

A fierce struggle unfolds as a university team fights for a comeback in the Hakone Ekiden while TV producers battle behind the scenes to broadcast their story.