The story follows the relationship between Motoharu Yano and Nanami Takahashi, starting from their teenage years and continuing into their early twenties.

It was serialized in Shogakukan's Betsucomi magazine from April 2002 to February 2012 and later collected into 16 bound volumes under the Flower Comics imprint.

We Were There was adapted into a 26-episode anime television series, produced by Artland and directed by Akitaro Daichi, which aired in Japan from July 3 to December 25, 2006.

A two-part live-action film adaptation, starring Toma Ikuta and Yuriko Yoshitaka, and directed by Takahiro Miki, was released in Japan on March 17 and April 21, 2012, respectively.

The center of attention at her school is Motoharu Yano, a very popular boy, whom Nanami dislikes at the beginning, due to his apparent superficiality.

Their romance takes an unexpected turn when Yano finds out that his mother, Yoko, wants to move to Tokyo.

She befriends a co-worker named Akiko Sengenji, who is revealed to be one of Yano's classmates from the Tokyo high school he transferred to.

In a series of flashbacks, it is shown that Yano was forced to work part-time when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, but kept everything hidden from Nanami, not wanting to worry her.

Following an unexpected visit from Michiko, her former friend and the wife of Yano's father, Yoko became increasingly paranoid, fearing he would leave her.

After a short, but violent fight, Yoko hung herself; as in Nana's case, Yano blamed himself for her death and therefore decided to sever all the ties with his past.

He also starts to push Yano to admit his own feelings for Nanami and points out that no matter how strong she seems, she is unable to deal with the situation by herself.

During their conversation, a severely over-worked and anemic Nanami falls down a flight of stairs and is brought to the hospital injured and unconscious.

Written and illustrated by Yuki Obata, We Were There was serialized in Shogakukan's monthly shōjo manga magazine Betsucomi, starting in the May 2002 issue (released on April 13).

[13] We Were There was adapted into an anime television series, produced by Artland and directed by Akitaro Daichi, which premiered in Japan on July 3, 2006.