Lonely Castle in the Mirror - In another world, we were already friends

Kokoro, a high school student tormented by bullying, discovers a mirror in her bedroom that leads her to a magical world. Inside, she finds a castle and encounters a girl wearing a wolf mask. To her surprise, she is not alone—six other high school students have also entered the mirror. They’re all called Little Red Riding Hoods, and their mission is to find a hidden key before a deadline. The finder will be granted a wish, but they risk losing their memories in the castle afterward. A final rule is that they must leave the castle before nightfall, or they will be eaten by the wolf.

The seven students starts hanging out in the castle but not all of them come by every day. They begin bonding and discover that they are all high school students. One of the kids returns to the castle wearing a school uniform, which makes them realize that they all come from the same secondary school, except for Rion. Another thing in common they share is that they have been avoiding school. They knew that they cannot avoid school forever, so they suggest meeting up at school at a specific time. Kokoro arrives at the planned time, but she cannot see any of her friends from the castle. After school, they all gather at the castle and realize that it wasn’t a prank. They has thought they were in a parallel universe, but the wolf girl denies this. The truth is, they are not living in the same timeline outside the castle.

Inspired by the painting of ‘The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats’, Kokoro discovers a clue about the key’s location. As she is about to enter the castle through the mirror, she realizes it is broken. Learning from her friends in the castle, Kokoro understands that Aki breaking the rule by staying in the castle after 5 pm resulted in the unfortunate demise of her friends. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Kokoro knows that the only viable solution to save her companions lies in finding the key and making a wish. Based on the imagery depicted in the painting, Kokoro successfully locates the key and uses it to make a wish that ultimately leads to their rescue.

Rion confronts the wolf girl, and it is revealed that she is actually his late sister who passed away a few years ago. After the castle is closed, they return to begin their new chapter of life, unaware of the events that happened within its walls.

The film underscores the possibility of finding companionship and forming connections with others who share similar experiences, even in a seemingly hopeless world. It serves as a comforting reminder that we are never truly alone. While the world can be cruel, life can become easier and more enjoyable when we make friends along the way. Avoiding problems is never a solution and reaching out for help when needed is a braver and better approach. You are not alone.