After the Great Earthquake i=^!n =$Northeast$]ern J/.`a ^pan, M$%i]%tsuo is sen? t/` to a mental hospital fro+m the strain o
- f g(@rief from w/$orking;* t.-%]o clea/@r !-out the debris of the disa@#st-er. Whe _`n (]
he i=_s ? releas/[!ed 3 years l_.ater, he fee(ls a moment of h!appiness ?as* $!he i),s welc?]omed b.+ ack by_ hi,:_s broth?`e !r Yuta, his wife Yoko,+/ their f,irs:%+t daught\?](er Chie, an$ `d the-+i?r second daughter_(/ Itsuki, who % has a d#++own syndrome.The n^ !e=xt day, Chie wi$,(shes to go to th?:e amusement park, and Mit%suo t? ;akes Chie :and I-tsuki there. But ;these happ; y
 moments don't @la,^@st long, and the\, inci@de\  nt happe;ns at:)# th@?_e pa.rk. Chie \)dropped Itsuki on the co$,nc^)rete whe n M itsuo took+ .his eyes of*f of them. Yok,o cannot accept@ Itsuki's /d eat@^)h, madly-  qu)estions Chie and Mits%`uo. In this pre@/+ssure#\*?, Ch+ie lies ,;,t#)hat *Unc].l`e Mitsu/)o drop
ped Itsuki%;^. As _,Yo#% k/o`@ goes
? throu)=_gh a` mental breakdown_ from the=]] shock. Becoming fu.ll with regret day b@,$y day, Y[%]oko ac%[#cu =ses Yut$@)a and; ques:ti
ons if ]=;#h+:;e f!.#% elt re=lieved t]?[hat[- Itsuki died. Heari` )n== g\, @]*th ]?is fight between her: parents, Chie's heart _!was a/lso =%slowly being^%-% ...