Makoto Okano spent his early childhood in Kazune City alongside his sister Hinata and their friend Minamo Narukaze. Following his father's death, his family moved away, separating him from Minamo. Before another later move, Makoto gave Minamo a harmonica, promising to reunite and marry her someday. This promise became a profound emotional anchor for Minamo, though Makoto did not initially regard it with equal gravity.

Makoto returned to Kazune either four or ten years later—accounts differ—accompanied by Hinata, and enrolled in the local high school. His reunion with Minamo coincided with the discovery that many Kazune residents, including his companions, possessed unique supernatural abilities: Minamo controlled wind, Hinata exhibited extraordinary jumping prowess, Nozomi generated shockwaves with bladed weapons, and Wakaba healed injuries and slowed illnesses. Makoto himself appeared initially devoid of any overt power, though some accounts indicate his presence could weaken others' abilities, especially near the town's mystical barrier.

His family history was marked by tragedy: his father died during his youth, and his mother later vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving Makoto and Hinata as orphans. It was revealed that Hinata was adopted, not his biological sister, a fact that influenced potential romantic developments between them in certain story paths.

Characterized as impulsive yet deeply compassionate, Makoto frequently acted on instinct to alleviate others' suffering without considering consequences. This trait earned the respect of the methodical Hikari Tsukishiro, a pivotal figure privy to the town's dark secrets. Makoto's return coincided with a series of murders and disappearances, prompting him to assist Minamo's father, Professor Akihito, in investigating Kazune's mysteries. This investigation entangled him in supernatural conflicts, including confrontations with Hikari, who was revealed as responsible for several deaths, including those of Makoto's parents and Akihito.

His relationships varied across narrative routes. In one path, he honored his childhood promise with Minamo, while in others, romantic feelings developed for Hinata or the Fujimiya sisters, Nozomi and Wakaba. A critical juncture involved choosing whether to maintain his sibling bond with Hinata or become lovers—a decision that could trigger her descent into a supernatural coma. In this scenario, Makoto learned Hinata's condition resulted from crossing the town's barrier, exacerbating her power depletion. To save her, he faced a wrenching choice: sacrifice his own life via a soul transfer or allow Hikari to die, which would break the town's curse but erase all memories of its supernatural elements. Choosing the latter resulted in Hikari's death and a reset of the town, where residents forgot their powers and Hikari's existence.

In the OVA adaptation, his return similarly involved reuniting with Minamo and encountering a mysterious girl connected to his parents' past and the harmonica, though this version condensed or altered elements of his investigative role and relationships.