Despite her known carefree attitude, Michi Sonoda shocks her teammate Sanae Takigawa when she announces her decision to quit judo after their last middle school competition. Sanae struggles to understand the reasoning behind Michi's departure, considering that Michi's zeal for the sport had initially inspired Sanae to join. Michi argues that youth should be for romance, not the grueling sport of wrestling on wet tatami mats. Unfortunately, Michi's plan to end her judo career on a high note crumbles when she suffers an embarrassing defeat to the skilled Towa Hiura. Adding to the blow, Towa enrolls in the same high school as Michi and Sanae. However, Towa's arrival reignites Michi's dormant passion for judo, prompting her to reconsider her decision to quit.