The harder you climb the higher you live.

Buntaro Mori is a loner but being alone in a crowd is almost as bad as being forced to fit in. Then in high school a dangerous bid for solitude introduces Mori to the rush of solo climbing addicting him to the brilliant sense of freedom he finds as he pits his body and soul against the heights. But how high does he have to climb to leave humanity behind?

For a brief brilliant moment Mori thought he had found his life's purpose but after an unscrupulous reporter's sensationalized article gets the climbing club disbanded he finds himself more at odds with the world than ever. With nothing left to lose Mori agrees to go alpine climbing with the very reporter who ruined everything not caring that Kurosawa obviously doesn't have his best interests at heart. Meanwhile Kurosawa isn't trying to destroy Mori. He just wants to ignite the boy's intense potential no matter who it hurts!