In the 1930s, Yeh Hsing-Chiao, a new student at a top prep school known for fostering independent learning, moves into the dormitory. There, he meets his roommate, Nanjo Untaro, a student on the verge of dropping out. Inspired by the school's culture of intellectual freedom, the two decide to create a magazine together.
Yeh, a diligent student with a talent for writing, earns a place at Taihoku High School, a prestigious institution known for nurturing an atmosphere of intellectual freedom.
Upon moving into the dorms, Yeh meets his Japanese roommate, Nanjo, a notorious campus eccentric who frequently skips class. At first, the straight-laced Yeh is frustrated by Untaro’s unorthodox behavior.
But soon Yeh discovers another side to Untaro: a voracious reader who skips class to pursue self-directed learning. To Yeh’s surprise, Untaro has even mastered German, a subject Yeh struggles with. The roommates decide to start a campus literary journal. Will these unlikely partners succeed?
Author and artist Zuo Hsuan conducted extensive research to authentically portray the campus, uniforms, and student life in Taiwan during Japanese colonial rule. Her delicate, warm linework brings to life this story of two young men with contrasting personalities, who risk everything to pursue their passions and shape their own path.