Honey and Clover

Yuta Takemoto is a student at an art college and pays cheap rent for an apartment in an old shabby house. Despite the pranks of upperclassmen, Takumi Mayama and Shinobu Morita who live in the same building, he enjoys his simple life. At the beginning of a new term, he is introduced to a petite, mesmerizing and lovely new student Hagumi Hanamoto who is a daughter of professor Hanamoto's cousin.

Shinobu's persistent and directed provocations discourage Hagumi. But the stress inspires her new project, a gigantic Macho statue. Her peers are very surprised at their petite classmate's massive sculpture. Hagumi is indeed a gifted artist, and this revelation leaves Yuta with uneasy feelings.

Hagumi is now good friends with Yuta, Shinobu and Takumi and calls them from her hometown over the holidays. Although Takumi laughs when he sees Yuta nervous on the phone, a separate phone call makes him grow serious and rush off. His phone call is from Rika of Harada Design. At the same time Takumi's classmate Ayumi is unable to give up her feelings toward him despite her knowing that he is in love with Rika.

Hagumi is outstanding among her fellow college students. When she almost collapses because of the pressure, Yuta cares for her. The town is getting prepared with joy for the Christmas holiday and Shinobu dresses up like Santa Claus to deliver invitations to a Christmas party. For Yuta Christmas hasn't always been an enjoyable event. But this year things are different, because he has his friends, including Hagumi around him.

Yuta visits his hometown after a long absence. He has been reluctant to go home because he thinks his stepfather Kazuo is too blunt and direct. When he returns to Tokyo and calls on Professor Hanamoto, Hagumi gives him a 'Welcome home' greeting with a smile on her face. The group of friends wins a lottery prize from the tickets Shinobu gave them as Christmas gifts. They decide to use the money for a trip to Atami Hot Spring led by professor Hanamoto.

On the way home from the spa, Hagumi and friends make a detour to an amusement park. Takumi learns about Rika's past from professor Hanamoto, who was a good friend of Rika's deceased husband. It is graduation season and everyone is completing their courses. On the way home from a drinking party, Takumi carries a drunken Ayumi on his back. Ayumi continues to tell Takumi how much she loves him while crying. Only the moon pays attention when Takumi replies honestly to Ayumi that he cannot answer her love.