Once, there was a lonely little town almost forgotten by the whole world, named Kekoshke, tucked away in the eastern part of Japan. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, and endless trees, it remained hidden from the rest of the world. It rained for half the year and snowed for the other, giving the town a quiet, timeless feeling.
Kekoshke was deeply rooted in its traditions and ancient beliefs. At the center of the town stood an old, towering tree that people believed housed a sacred deity named Sushumi—one who granted wishes only to those who truly deserved them.
And that is where our story begins.
There was a 17-year-old boy named Kakeru Mushibiya, a junior in high school, living with his grandfather after losing his parents in a car accident. He always believed it was his fault they died, and deep down, he felt he was the one who should have been taken instead. He moved through life with the constant weight of guilt, convinced he was alone in this world.
Since he had no friends and the whole school treated him like an outcast because of what happened, he felt invisible—like nobody cared whether he existed or not. Sadness followed him everywhere, and more than once, he wished he could simply disappear from the world altogether.
Kakeru never believed in traditional myths or gods, but after what was about to happen, he would soon begin to question even his own existence.
On a rainy day at school, Kakeru sat in his usual seat—the last row near the window. From there, he could see the ancient wish-granting tree. He found himself staring at it for a long moment, and for the first time, he felt the urge to make a wish.
"I don't know if any god or spirit lives in this tree… but if there is, please… if you can… let me feel happiness," he whispered.
The moment he finished his wish, a massive lightning strike came crashing down and struck a light pole near the school. The entire class jolted in shock, but Kakeru felt something deeper—like the world had answered him.
The next day arrived bright and sunny. Kakeru came to school and sat in his seat as usual. When the teacher walked in, she wasn't alone. A girl stood beside her—a girl Kakeru had never seen before. She had deep red eyes and long, straight black hair. The teacher introduced her as a transfer student from Tokyo. Her name was Mai Ayasaki.