Hotarubi no Mori e

The action unfolds across several summers, with Hotaru growing from a curious child into a young woman. Gin remains ageless as Hotaru matures, and their bond is tested when she reaches high school and a late-night forest festival. A fateful touch during the festival leads to Gin's disappearance, leaving Hotaru with a bittersweet memory.

A secluded, ancient forest sits at the heart of the story, serving as both sanctuary and boundary between human life and the spirit realm. It is where Hotaru meets Gin, and where the rules that keep their worlds apart shape every summer. The forest comes alive with lantern-lit festivals and whispers of legends that color their fragile bond.

💖 Forbidden Love

Hotaru and Gin form a deep, tender bond across the boundary between human and spirit worlds. Their affection defies the rules that forbid contact and crossing between realms. The relationship is fragile and bittersweet, highlighting the costs of pursuing closeness across impossible boundaries.

🌲 Nature and Boundaries

The forest itself acts as a living boundary and memory, shaping the summers Hotaru spends with Gin. Its rituals, whispers, and seasonal cycles frame the romance and the tension between two worlds. The setting is as much a character as the people who inhabit it.

⏳ Parting and Memory

Gin's disappearance after a single touch marks the end of their direct connection. The story lingers in the memories of their summers, teaching Hotaru about loss, endurance, and the quiet hope that memory can sustain love beyond absence.