Scum's Wish follows high school students Hanabi and Mugi, who form a fake romantic relationship to cope with their unrequited love for other people. Hanabi is in love with her childhood friend and teacher, while Mugi pines for a female teacher he once idolized. They agree to use each other as a substitute for the ones they truly desire, leading to a dark and emotionally turbulent exploration of loneliness, obsession, and the toxic side of affection. Readers enjoy it for its raw, unfiltered portrayal of teenage angst and forbidden feelings, avoiding idealistic romance in favor of messy, realistic character dynamics and painful heartbreak.