Hatsukos World

15yearold Hatsuko Higashi Ayu lives with her elder brother in a humble town house Their mother died when they were young and the father disappeared The brother Shioya Shun left high school before graduation to work at a factory but spends their meager housekeeping money on adult entertainment Hatsuko who is poor and has no friends finds emotional support in Mishima Sano Kazuma a boy in her class who helps her with her study to go to a high school together However Hatsukos brother causes trouble at the factory and gets the sack Hatsuko gives up her dream of going to high school In spring the modest relationship continues between Mishima now a high school student and Hatsuko who works at a biscuit factory One day Hatsukos longgone father reappears In a drunken frenzy he sets fire to the house to go and rejoin the mother leaving Hatsuko without a place to live Hatsuko leaves the town on her own drawing strength from the promise of marriage with Mishima