Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

The events unfold over a bright summer season, capped by a major summer festival and fireworks. Characters juggle daily life at the mall with performances and preparations for the festival. The warm days and evening crowds create a backdrop for confession, risk, and rediscovery. The time frame emphasizes a single transformative summer rather than a long-span arc.

The story centers around the bustling Oda Nouvelle Mall, a local hub that hosts a lively summer festival. Within the mall complex sits an elderly care center where Cherry and Smile cross paths and rehearse the Daruma Folk Song. A vintage record shop owned by Fujiyama becomes a key quest site, with the record YAMAZAKURA at the heart of the story. The mall atmosphere blends youth, nostalgia, and community activity throughout the summer.

🎭 Masks

The film explores how people hide and reveal themselves. Smile wears a mask to conceal her buckteeth, while Cherry’s quiet demeanor hides a deeper longing to connect. The online personas they share contrast with real-life interactions, and both learn to risk vulnerability in front of others. The fireworks finale becomes a symbolic unmasking and acceptance of true identity.

🎵 Music

Music acts as memory and a bridge between characters. The search for the Yamazakura recording ties to Fujiyama’s late wife, turning a simple album into a cherished symbol of longing and connection. Rehearsing songs at the care center threads through the festival, giving emotional weight to performance and remembrance. The reassembled record on the wall clock underscores how music preserves moments past and present.

💌 Connection

Cherry and Smile form a bond through a chance phone swap and shared hobbies, proving that communication can bloom from chance encounters. Their growing closeness confronts obstacles—distance, fear of rejection, and the stigma of appearances—but culminates in a heartfelt confession. The narrative treats connection as a catalyst for personal growth, courage, and mutual understanding. The post-credits kiss seals a hopeful future built on honesty.