Arriving in Paris to conduct Wagner's Tannhäuser Overture as a guest conductor for the Recyl Symphony Orchestra, Yukihisa Matsuda, the principal conductor of the Rising Star Orchestra, overhears the orchestra members praising Shinichi Chiaki, a budding Japanese conductor of the Roux-Marlet Orchestra. Matsuda cannot contain his displeasure as he despises the idea of having another "Black-Haired Noble" in the same city. After experiencing a breakup with his mistress post-performance, Matsuda encounters Chiaki and invites him for drinks under the guise of discussing their careers. However, much to Chiaki's dismay, Matsuda shifts the conversation to Chiaki's romantic interests.