In 1980, Shirahama Shohei’s former student, Goto Akira, returns to the junior high school at Ota Ward as a teacher, only to find that the Alma Mater for which he has such fond memories is caught in the grip of school violence. There are disgruntled delinquents riding motorbikes, windows smashed in by bats, and the blackboard has the word “Die” scrawled across it in red graffiti. Furusawa Yukari, the ring leader, is all but ignored by the school staff, so Goto takes it upon himself to stop her violent ways. However, his methods draws criticism, and he is quickly labelled as a teacher who uses physical force. However, he also draws upon his own life experience in order to teach about the importance of life.