Despite being small and frail due to past illnesses, Ame works day and night to pay off culinary school and support his mother. He's used to working odd jobs, skipping sleep and meals, and chronic wrist pain that he ignores in favor of grinding out more paychecks. He doesn't mind, until one day he's hired by the Cottage Cafe. Gumi, the stern but well meaning manager, says she'll fire him and/or feed him to the strange rat man in the sewers if he doesn't take better care of himself.