This is the 11th Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
After Kaoru's recent horrifying encounter with an unknown entity, shaped like a massive clump of hair, Yoshiki and "Hikaru" are determined to track it down and drive it out of the Tsujinaka's home. Unfortunately for them, they have drastically underestimated this abnormal being and are not only being tested during their current predicament, but also through visions of their subconscious mind and bygone memories...
Plot[]
Yoshiki helps Maki win a prize from a claw machine game that he couldn't beat. "Hikaru" and Maki tease Yoshiki about how he's good at everything and near-perfect, except for how gloomy he is. Yoshiki tries to make him give the prize back, but Maki refuses. The prize– a cat doll with long hair– reminds Yoshiki of the issue he'd heard from Kaoru earlier.
She had told him that there was an aggressive wig monster in their bathroom. Yoshiki then told Maki and "Hikaru." Maki suggested it was just loose hair, but Yoshiki insisted that it was far too much hair for it to just be loose strands. Maki then commented that his senpai from the baseball team had seen something similar, and strange things like this have been happening more and more lately. "Hikaru" said that he'd go with Yoshiki later that day to check it out.
When "Hikaru" and Yoshiki get to his house, they go straight to the bathroom. "Hikaru" explains that these beings are something like impurities and collect in places humans live, although they don't usually appear like this. He claims that because Yoshiki is nice, he is compelling to beings from the Other Side. "Hikaru" opens the door and Yoshiki asks whether the entity is there. "Hikaru" senses its presence and confirms it. He says he'll smash it up and put it inside himself like last time[1] because he wants to protect Yoshiki. He goes in the bathroom himself and Yoshiki waits outside, until he hears a loud thud and splashing water. Yoshiki hesitates to open the door, but eventually does. He finds "Hikaru" almost completely submerged in the bathtub and goes to pull him out, but as soon as he touches him, a shock of hair climbs up his arm. The sensation feels similar to the way "Hikaru"'s insides felt crawling up his arm, like something was going inside of him. He then gets pulled into the water as well.
When Yoshiki next becomes aware, he's standing in the middle of a crop field. He realizes he must be dreaming. When he turns around, he sees a large pillar that appears to have a brain-like texture. It tells him to have a radish. Two more of these pillars appear, crowding over him. They each make pointed, negative comments about his work ethic, appearance, and home life, crowding closer and closer and causing him to cover his ears.
Suddenly, a young Indou Hikaru calls out to him. Yoshiki uncovers his ears and turns around, the brain-like pillars instantly disappearing. Hikaru presents a dead bird in a box labeled "Crowly," which Yoshiki recognizes as the bird they were taking care of together a long time ago. Hikaru says it's Yoshiki's fault Crowly is dead because Yoshiki missed his turn to feed him. Yoshiki tries to tell him that living creatures die, and that's just what happens, but Hikaru gets angry at him for making excuses. They argue back and forth about whose fault it was and how many times they've each forgotten to feed him, and Yoshiki reverts to being a child as well. They end up blaming each other for Crowly's death, and Hikaru grabs him by the collar, causing Yoshiki to retaliate. He grabs Hikaru and pushes him to the ground.
In the present, back in the bathroom, Yoshiki does the same to "Hikaru," grabbing his head and shoulder and forcing the both of them underwater.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- Maki Yuuta
- "Hikaru"
- Tsujinaka Kaoru (mentioned)
- Indou Hikaru (flashback)
- Crowly (flashback)
Gallery[]
References
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||