Rika is a seventeen-year-old girl, who has been hospitalized throughout most of her life because of a weak heart valve. Her condition is genetic. Rika has inherited it from her father who died during an operation. Due to being hospitalized, she has no friends and spends her days reading books by her favorite author, Ryonosuke Akutagawa. Yuuichi, another patient, is persuaded by the nurse Akiko to keep Rika company. Dr. Natsume is Rika's personal doctor. She has a close relationship with him.