GURI NOJIRO

Unable to fit in with the city, Idzuki, a lonely young man, moves into the countryside. However, the land is rumored to be haunted by youkai. As he struggles to get used to life in the mountains, with the abundance of insects and the lack of reception, he is suddenly attacked by a youkai. Cornered, out of the blue, a handsome young man with dog ears rescues him. The man claims to be a komainu youkai, a guardian lion-dog protecting shrines, pressing Idzuki to become his master — !?

Kiri Azumi is a conductor who lives in the city and is egotistic. Osamu Mitsutani is a neighborhood grocer who lives in the countryside and resembles a big dog. The two become close friends when Osamu helps Azumi out of trouble when he temporarily returns to the countryside to recuperate. Osamu tries to take care of Azumi in any way he can, and although annoyed, Azumi eventually accepts his help.

Forced by poor health to take a leave of absence, curmudgeonly conductor Kiri returns to his rural hometown for some much-needed rest. But on his very first night back, he comes dangerously close to freezing to death—until local grocer Osamu scoops him up out of the cold and into the warmth of his embrace. Can this younger man, a years-long fan of Kiri’s work, thaw out the ice in the maestro’s heart? Or will Kiri be doomed to a life of frigid loneliness forever?