Smells Like Green Spirit

Futoshi Mishima is a high school boy living in an isolated rural town in the Heisei era. Ostracized and bullied by his classmates for having long hair, he never resists. His only solace is secretly wearing his mother’s lipstick and styling his long hair in waves—becoming the "cute" version of himself. One day, bullies cut off his precious hair with scissors. Shocked and devastated, he returns home. But when he sees himself in the mirror… “Whoa... I’m... cute.”

Futoshi is nearly forced into a car by a group of men—only to be rescued by Makoto Kirino, the leader of the very group that bullies him. Though grateful, Futoshi's thanks enrages Kirino when he notices Futoshi is wearing lipstick. Later, on the school rooftop, Futoshi sees Kirino applying the same lipstick to his lips. “A shared kiss? Could it be that Kirino… actually likes me?” A surprising side of Kirino is revealed.

Now aware of Kirino’s true colors, Futoshi spends his days secretly meeting him on the rooftop, sharing love stories and trying makeup. One day, the most popular girl in class, Rinka Fujii (Hiyori Kata), confesses her feelings to Futoshi after school. As he hesitates, Kirino’s words echo in his mind… Futoshi’s first experience dating a girl could change everything.

Unable to go all the way with Rinka, Futoshi questions his identity even more. Kirino continues to comfort him during their rooftop meetings. “Someday, I hope I can say out loud, ‘This is who I really am.’” Meanwhile, gossip about Futoshi's appearance spreads among the town’s housewives. The reason Kirino hides his true self and the past of social studies teacher Mr. Yanagida (Aran Abe), who keeps a close eye on Futoshi, slowly come to light.

Mr. Yanagida finally reveals his true colors during a cruel “punishment game” targeting Futoshi. Even Taro Yumeno (Kota Fujimoto), who used to tease Futoshi, begins to worry about him. Kirino, sensing something sinister about Yanagida, tries to warn Futoshi—just as Yanagida’s dangerous intentions start closing in. “No way!” Will Kirino and Yumeno arrive in time to save Futoshi?

Following the attack by Yanagida, Yumeno begins spending his afternoons caring for Futoshi. While Kirino smiles at their closeness, he also senses the difference in identity between himself and Yumeno. Curious, Futoshi finally asks, “Yumeno… did you hate me?” The feelings Yumeno has kept hidden until now are finally revealed.

Shocked after Yumeno recoils from his touch, Futoshi is comforted by Kirino, deepening their bond. Meanwhile, in the tightly knit rural community, gossip about Futoshi spreads like wildfire—eventually reaching their parents. Futoshi’s mother, Kayo, and Kirino’s mother, Takeko, respond in starkly different ways to their sons’ struggles with identity. “But… I want to get married, have kids… stay here forever.”

In an attempt to escape the constraints of their rural hometown, Futoshi and Kirino ride their bikes toward Tokyo. But Kirino seems distracted—and with good reason. Upon learning of his mother’s worsening health, the two return home. As their summer journey ends, both boys are led toward a choice: to accept or let go of their identities. “It was like a treasure… I was really happy.” The fleeting summer of youth—how will it end?