You Don't Know Gunma Yet

Kamitsuki Nori is being transferred to a high school in Gunma. While riding the train, he remembers his friend Todoroki moved there in elementary school. Todoroki, warns Kamitsuki to stay away. As the train gets closer to Gunma, Kamitsuki realizes the doors have stopped opening automatically...

Kamitsuki arrives at his new high school, but does not find his classmates welcoming. After messing up the commands at the beginning of class and being tied up with large Himokawa udon noodles, he realizes there is much he does not know about the local culture.

Having been taken to the tatami room as punishment, Kamitsuki is first presented with the challenge of Joumou karuta. Outsiders are unable to recite all 44 by heart. However, Todoroki arrives at the last second and issues a different challenge: feeding Kamitsuki grilled sweet buns.

Todoroki forces Kamitsuki to eat grilled sweet buns which are airy dough coated with a thick, sweet miso sauce and then grilled. It is well known that if anyone not from Gunma tastes grilled sweet buns, that person will die...

Kamitsuki is getting used to Gunma after just one day and is feeling more confident. He is approached by Shinooka Kyo, a girl from his class claiming to want to get to know him better. But does she have an ulterior motive?

Todoroki explains to Kamitsuki about Shinooka Kyo and her group of elite Joumou karuta champions, including a history of Joumou karuta. Kamitsuki doesn't understand why Joumou karuta is so important, but decides to buy a set.