No Longer Heroine

Hatori Matsuzaki starts her freshman year with a vivid crush on her aloof childhood friend Rita Terasaka. She believes she is Rita's heroine and prides herself on simply being his friend. The opening sets the emotional tension that threads through the story.

Rita enters a serious relationship with Adachi, shifting the dynamic away from Hatori. Hatori struggles to protect their closeness while the new romance grows. The competing loyalties create a fragile balance within their circle.

Hatori can't hide her feelings and confesses to Rita. Rita does not reciprocate and remains with Adachi. The confession marks a turning point and fuels Hatori's resolve to rethink her relationships.

Kosuke Hiromitsu notices Rita's care for Hatori and starts a casual arrangement with Hatori to provoke Rita. The arrangement gradually deepens as Hiromitsu develops genuine feelings for Hatori. The trio's dynamic becomes tangled as emotions rise.

Adachi travels abroad for three months to pursue journalism, creating a temporary distance among the group. Hatori and Rita must manage their shifting dynamics without Adachi's daily presence. The absence intensifies the emotional stakes for everyone.

At a late-summer festival, Rita realizes his growing feelings for Hatori and shares a kiss with her. This kiss marks the start of a genuine romance between them. Adachi's absence and festival atmosphere heighten the emotional turn.

Rita, haunted by guilt after the kiss and Adachi's heartbreak, ends the romance with Hatori to stay with Adachi. Hatori is devastated by the sudden change and must face life without Rita. The rupture forces her to seek new directions.

To cope with the loss, Hatori decides to forget Rita by pursuing a deeper relationship with Hiromitsu. She begins to explore new feelings and distances herself from Rita. This marks a new chapter as she seeks emotional replacement in another romance.

Hatori grows jealous as her best friend Kyoko Nakajima grows closer to Rita, straining her relationship with Hiromitsu. Rita's renewed closeness to Kyoko complicates her own feelings for Hatori. The triangulation tests the strength of both relationships.

Hiromitsu, overwhelmed by insecurity and Hatori's jealousy, breaks up with her. He cannot cope with the turbulent dynamics and pulls away. The end of this relationship shifts Hatori's attention back toward Rita.

Adachi returns as a carefree flirt, and Rita chooses to stand by Adachi out of guilt. Hatori feels increasingly sidelined and decides to stay single for the time being. The pair's evolving choices push Hatori to reassess what she wants from love.

After a heart-to-heart with her mother, Hatori realizes she still loves Rita. She resolves to pursue Rita again despite past hurts. This moment rekindles hope for a future together.

Hiromitsu, encouraged by a pep talk from his cousin, tries to rekindle with Hatori, but she politely rejects him. She reaffirms her feelings for Rita and focuses on what she truly wants. The rejection closes the loop on that interim relationship.

Hatori publicly confesses her love for Rita again. Rita is hesitant to leave Adachi, but Adachi reassures her that she will be fine on her own. The moment keeps the possibility of a reconciliation alive without requiring an immediate breakup.

Rita and Hatori finally reunite and become a couple, having weathered misunderstandings and interruptions. Their bond endures as they navigate the complexities of young love. The story closes on their renewed partnership.