The old, dilapidated boarding house called Maison Ikkoku is located in the town of Tokeizaka. For the past few years, the building has housed a rowdy group of tenants, including 20-year-old college applicant Yusaku Godai, who is its newest resident. Recently, however, Yusaku has become impatient with the noisy antics disrupting his studies and has decided to move out. But as he prepares to leave, a beautiful woman named Kyoko Otonashi introduces herself as the new property manager. Falling in love with her at first sight, Yusaku changes his mind and decides to stay to court Kyoko instead. Although he initially believes he is making progress with Kyoko, Yusaku soon discovers that she is a widow still mourning the loss of her late husband. Despite her growing feelings for Yusaku, Kyoko states that she has no intention of remarrying or even dating, as she still loves her late husband. Empathizing with her, Yusaku seeks to free Kyoko from her sadness with the help of the other inhabitants of Maison Ikkoku—all in the hope that she will one day see him as more than just another tenant of the building.