Mizorogi is a popular novelist known for his essays and social commentary, currently writing the acclaimed Utsubora serial novel. He is described as fairly aloof, getting involved with women at times but never forming deep connections with them. Yatabe, a fellow novelist and old friend from their university days, describes Mizorogi as a "pervert", explaining that his eloquent manner of writing doesn't reflect his true personality. Right when he is beginning to feel the pressure of not having written anything in four years, he coincidentally meets Aki at a social event and the two begin corresponding. After Aki commits suicide, Mizorogi is questioned about his relation to her and meets Sakura — a mysterious woman with an uncanny resemblance in personality to Aki, who introduces herself as Aki's twin sister and seems to know a lot about Mizorogi and Aki's relationship. In a desperate move, Mizorogi decides to plagiarize Aki Fujino's Utsubora by stealing it from his editor, Tsuji. Though unwilling at first, he submits to Aki's demands in exchange for receiving more chapters of Utsubora.