Kikuko Misuji, commonly called "Nikuko-chan," is recognized by everyone in her tiny northern village as the joyful, plump woman who runs the grill. After years of hard‑worn travel from one person to another and town to town, Nikuko-chan finally appears to have settled aboard a houseboat moored in the bay with her daughter—also named Kikuko. Together, they strive to locate their place in life. For the daring and outspoken Nikuko-chan, her spirited conduct readily steers her toward sincere objectives. Yet for the shy and reserved Kikuko, who frequently feels mortified by her mother"s antics, each day can feel as dull as the previous one. From middle‑school drama to unraveling the puzzle of her odd classmate Ninomiya, Kikuko"s teenage years are filled with numerous twists and turns in the quiet harbor, that echo through the years.
