Always considered inferior to her older sister, the strong-willed but aimless Chihaya Ayase lacks a dream of her own. In contrast, Taichi Mashima, the son of a surgeon, is talented yet insecure, burdened by the heavy expectations of his strict mother, who demands perfection in everything. However, the lives of Chihaya and Taichi soon change when they meet Arata Wataya, the new transfer student in their class. Inspired by Arata's dream to become the best at competitive karuta—a card game based on the classic anthology of one hundred Japanese poets—Chihaya quickly falls in love with the game. Refusing to lose to the talented Arata, the proud Taichi joins in and immerses himself in the game, aiming to one day surpass his destined rival. The three friends spend their childhood practicing karuta every day, until certain circumstances force them to part ways. A few years later, now in high school, the trio reunites through the world of competitive karuta. Alongside their newfound comrades and rivals, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and romance.