Due to her father's job, third-grader Hitomi Kurio moves around frequently and has always struggled to make friends. Feeling alone and neglected, she dreams of owning a dog, but realizes that her family's constant relocation would harm the animal's wellbeing. When Hitomi learns about the "Happy Walkers" program, which allows loving families to raise potential guide dogs for a year, she yearns to become a trainer. Three months after intensively studying dog care, Hitomi is accepted into the program and meets her new four-legged companion, whom she names "Eye"—a name derived from the Japanese word for "love." Although he is timid and weak, Hitomi vows to make Eye the best guide dog in the world. She raises Eye with love, and they form a deep bond, but she must let him go when he is ready to work as a proper guide dog.