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Katsuo Ebihara, a successful but old-fashioned businessman who believes a woman’s happiness lies in cooking at home, is blindsided when his live-in girlfriend Ayumi suddenly rejects his carefully planned marriage proposal. Confused by the breakup, Katsuo begins to question himself after his usual behavior alienates women at a group date. At a colleague’s suggestion, he attempts to cook Ayumi’s signature dish, only to realize how much effort and skill it truly requires. Meanwhile, Ayumi finds herself in an unfamiliar and seemingly unsettling new environment. As both struggle in the aftermath of their separation, their story begins to unfold in unexpected ways.

Katsuo unexpectedly crosses paths with Ayumi but fails to recognize her after she changes her hair, leaving her stunned. Reflecting on the moment, Ayumi recalls how meeting her hairstylist Nagisa made her realize she had always prioritized being liked over discovering what she truly loved. After breaking up with Katsuo and beginning to live for herself, she is approached one day by Minato, a clerk at a liquor store. Meanwhile, Katsuo continues to struggle with the breakup. Though his junior Minamikawa suggests he try a dating app, he initially rejects the idea, insisting someone like Ayumi wouldn’t be found there. However, after a certain turning point, he begins to reconsider and shows interest in entering the world of online dating.

Katsuo is left shaken after witnessing Ayumi embracing Minato. Still unable to move on, he is pressured by Shirasaki and others into joining a dating app and decides to meet a match in an effort to forget Ayumi. However, his date, Tsubaki, turns out to be the complete opposite of the modest woman he imagined—bold, energetic, and quick to take the lead. When she suggests a home date, Katsuo prepares homemade oden with great enthusiasm, but the evening doesn’t go quite as he expected.

After Ayumi tells him she has found someone she truly loves, Katsuo is stunned to later spot Minato at Taihei’s bar. Hearing rumors that Minato is a serial dater who quickly moves from one relationship to the next, Katsuo grows increasingly worried about Ayumi. However, when Minamikawa reminds him that, as an ex, it’s no longer his place to interfere, he hesitates to act. Meanwhile, unaware of Katsuo’s concerns, Ayumi’s relationship with Minato progresses smoothly, and the two begin living together. As she cooks and waits for him at home, lingering unease begins to surface—until she witnesses something that deepens her doubts about him.

Ayumi is shaken after seeing Minato with his ex-girlfriend Sekita and begins to suspect he may be cheating. However, Minato shows no sense of guilt—he even brings Sekita back to their home and casually suggests they all drink together. His carefree attitude continues to frustrate Ayumi, especially as he disregards her efforts, such as buying prepared food instead of appreciating the meals she cooks for him. Meanwhile, Katsuo, who has resolved to leave Ayumi in Minato’s hands but still struggles to move on, is visited by his older brother Takahiro from Oita. Through their reunion, Katsuo learns of an unexpected hardship his seemingly perfect brother has been facing. Determined to encourage him, Katsuo comes up with an idea—but it soon draws Ayumi into the situation as well.

Ayumi is suddenly dumped by Minato, who reveals he has no intention of getting married. Choosing not to tell anyone, she begins living alone, but small habits—like cooking for two—make his absence painfully clear. Meanwhile, Katsuo struggles to admit to his father that he and Ayumi have broken up, weighed down by guilt as his father expects them to visit for a formal marriage introduction. Despite this, Katsuo continues to improve his cooking skills, even making his own chicken stock from scratch. When he is invited to a home party by Tsubaki, he eagerly brings handmade soup dumplings—but things don’t go as planned. At the same time, Ayumi attends a matchmaking party with a colleague, setting the stage for new developments in both of their lives.

With neither Katsuo nor Ayumi able to tell their parents about their breakup, the wedding of a mutual friend in their hometown of Oita draws near. Around the same time, Ayumi is shocked to discover that her sister Sayori has appeared on a dating reality show—one that also features Tsubaki, leaving Katsuo equally stunned. As they return to Oita separately for the wedding, both are caught off guard when their families secretly arrange a joint dinner between the two households. Unable to admit the truth, Katsuo and Ayumi go through with the meeting despite having already broken up. However, when Katsuo witnesses the reality of Ayumi’s family for the first time, he is compelled to confront her with something she has long kept hidden.

Katsuo’s mother, Yoko, suddenly shows up at his place after apparently leaving home following an argument with his father. Though concerned for her, Katsuo grows increasingly irritated as Yoko oversteps—cleaning his suits without asking and replacing his kitchen tools under the guise of helping. As she shows no signs of leaving, Katsuo begins to consider a way to deal with the situation. Meanwhile, Ayumi agrees to help Nagisa by preparing Mexican dishes for a festival hosted at Taihei’s bar. While there, she unexpectedly runs into Tsubaki, who reveals that Katsuo still has feelings for her. When asked whether those feelings might be mutual, Ayumi finds herself unsure of her own heart.

At Taihei’s bar’s Mexican festival, Katsuo watches Ayumi shine as she serves her signature Mexican-style spring rolls. Encouraged by Tsubaki, he tries to confess his feelings, but things don’t go as planned. Meanwhile, seeing how much Katsuo has changed, Ayumi begins to reconsider their relationship. When a well-known food producer offers her the chance to open a restaurant together, her future takes an unexpected turn. At the same time, Katsuo is appointed project leader for a new initiative at work, but clashes with Yanagisawa from the strategy team, whose laid-back attitude conflicts with Katsuo’s earnest approach. As Katsuo struggles with both work and his feelings, Ayumi offers him an unexpected suggestion.

After being scammed, Ayumi searches for work in the restaurant industry, while Katsuo—suspended from his job—spends his days focusing on housework. When his suspension ends and he returns to the office, he is met with a mix of support and cold indifference, including continued tension with Yanagisawa. Meanwhile, Ayumi begins taking steps toward opening her own place, starting small by operating out of Taihei’s bar. As both move forward in their respective lives, a major turning point shakes their relationship. In the final chapter, what will become of their unconventional romance that began with a breakup?