While attending the funeral of his late grandfather, Soichi Kaga, office worker Daikichi Kawachi learns about the existence of Souchi's illegitimate six-year-old daughter, Rin. Due to her illegitimacy, other family members treat her as an outcast, refuse to adopt her, and are planning to put her into a foster home/orphanage. Daikichi decides to take matters into his own hands and raise Rin.
Daikichi has to deal with the new challenges of raising a child alone. He has to take her to an overtime daycare center located far away from both his house and his office, thus causing him to turn up late at his office every day. Eventually, Daikichi chooses to be demoted to a labor position to prevent fatigue and give him more time with Rin after work. Nevertheless, Daikichi's decision to raise Rin changes the both of them: Daikichi becomes happier in his playtime with Rin, while Rin, who previously only talked with Soichi, opens up and regards Daikichi as both a father and a friend.
However, Daikichi's position is frequently challenged by other family members, including his sister, Kazumi, who openly states her dislike of children and urges Daikichi to not overwork himself, although she grows to adore Rin as time goes on, as well as a nanny, Yumiko Sugiyama, who urges Daikichi to stop sacrificing his life for Rin's sake. At one time, Daikichi discovers the identity of Rin's mother: a manga artist called Masako Yoshii. He arranges for a meeting with her and is disgusted upon learning that she never sees Rin as a daughter, though her position on the matter is ambiguous. He decides to adopt Rin.