Machi, a student in middle school, works as a shrine priestess at a Shinto shrine while also caring for a bear residing in the mountains of Japan's northern Tohoku area. Natsu, the bear, acts as Machi's protector and possesses the gift of speech. While telling Natsu about her intention to enroll in a city school, Machi is given a series of challenges by Natsu that she must complete to adapt to life in the city.