The story starts with Yumiko working at a
love hotel. Afterwards Keiko, Yumiko's stepsister, reveals that her mother is having an affair with a younger man named Haruo. Through a chance encounter, Yumiko develops feelings for Haruo herself and learns of his struggles as a novelist. Despite their unconventional dynamic, their bond strengthens. Eventually, due to a flooding at her apartment, Yumiko moves in with Haruo. Together, Yumiko, Haruo, Keiko, and Yumiko's pet crocodile Croc slowly start to resemble a family. Haruo overcomes his
writer's block by cutting and pasting passages from other stories to create his own novel. Their newfound life together takes a turn when Yumiko's stepmother, enraged by their relationship, steals Croc and turns him into a leather suitcase. This plunges Yumiko into a deep depression. Meanwhile, Haruo wins a writing competition for his novel. He plans to use the money from the competition to move with Yumiko to a tropical island. Before they can leave, Haruo is involved in a fatal car accident while returning home from an interview. The story concludes with an image of the Yumiko forever marked by the loss of her lover and pet, waiting in vain for the fulfillment of her dream life. == Characters ==