Akari Shimizu

Akari Shimizu is an 18-year-old, 4'11" Japanese woman from Sendai who moves to Tokyo after failing the entrance exam for the art university she had built her future around. Her mother, now remarried to a Japanese animation producer, offers her the spare room immediately. Akari's new stepfather is welcoming, while his 20-year-old son, Renji, is polite but guarded. Then Akari learns her mother secretly showed her sketchbook to her stepfather, who wants to offer her a junior position at his animation studio. Renji has spent years fighting to earn his own place there. Akari came to Tokyo hoping nobody would know she failed. Instead, talent, favoritism, pride, and belonging become impossible to separate.