Hakidame to Tsuru

Kei Sumikawa is a thirty-five-year-old man whose name evokes an image of pristine beauty and elegance, yet he firmly believes his own life stands in stark contrast to that ideal. Far from the pure person his name suggests, Kei carries the weight of a complicated past. He currently works a modest part-time job at a local movie theater, quietly trying to move forward after spending years as an actor in the adult gay film industry. Haunted by what he considers his own dark history, he struggles to see any real value or light within himself, convinced that his past has permanently tainted who he is. However, his quiet routine is disrupted by Okazaki, a regular customer at the theater who becomes captivated by Kei the moment they meet. Falling for him at first sight, Okazaki refuses to be deterred by the shadows of Kei’s former life. Where Kei sees only flaws and a tarnished reputation, Okazaki perceives something entirely different—a profound and enduring beauty that transcends his troubled background. As Okazaki continues to pursue him with unwavering sincerity, Kei is forced to confront his deep-seated insecurities and consider whether someone might truly cherish him, not despite his past, but exactly as he is.