By Keiji Nakazawa Hiroshima's citizens face massive food shortages and horrendous health problems. Gen is in school, but he is forced to choose between making money to support his family or staying in school. His choice is further complicated when his mother becomes sick, and his old friends reappear as part of a street gang. There is no help for his mother, save for the costly medicine procured on the black market. Gen becomes entangled with black market gangs and faces an internal struggle of honor, ethics, and duty to resolve his problems.