During her summer break at her grandfather's residence, Hotaru Takegawa, a six-year-old girl, strays off and gets lost in a forest that's rumored to be infested with spirits. Her desperation and fear intensify until she encounters a mysterious mask-wearing boy named Gin, who offers to assist her.
Overjoyed at the prospect of meeting another human, Hotaru rushes towards Gin with open arms, yearning for guidance back home. However, her hopefulness soon dissipates as Gin harshly rebuffs her and reveals his horrific curse- anyone who touches him, including Hotaru, will cause him to disappear from existence forever.
Despite Gin's warnings to never return, Hotaru ignores him and forms a close friendship despite the precarious nature of his condition. As they mature, their feelings for each other flourish, but their bond is complicated by the insurmountable divide that their fates have placed between them.