This is the 13th Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
Yoshiki, still struggling with how he should continue to handle "Hikaru," ponders alongside his friends what it truly means to be a person and thinks to himself whether "Hikaru" can still be seen as Hikaru, the best friend he has known for so many years. A few days prior, Tanaka presented his findings from his investigation of the local mountain area to the other village leaders. They are starting to question whether the stories of old about the monster in the mountains may be more than just myth, and are looking for ways to solve their "problem"...
Plot[]
Yoshiki reads aloud a story that was assigned to them by a teacher: A man went out hiking, got caught in a storm, and was killed by a lightning strike. However, the lightning and the mud around him forced a chemical reaction that caused a "Swampman" to be born. The swampman was identical to the man who died, down to the molecular level, retaining both the man's physical appearance as well as his memories. The Swampman was not even aware that it was the Swampman, and it returned to the man's regular life at home.
Yoshiki asks Maki and Asako whether the dead man and the Swampman are the same person or not. Maki says that they're different, but can't explain why when Yoshiki asks. Whereas Asako says that they're not completely different people. Humans are constantly regenerating, meaning that the cells we have now are different from the ones we had years ago – and according to her, this is effectively the same as the man being replaced by the Swampman. Maki asserts that the real man died in the swamp, therefore the Swampman is different, especially because there was a moment where the two of them existed at once. Asako concedes that that's a good point, but brings up that everyone in the man's life wouldn't be able to tell the difference. She and Maki eventually give up on the conversation, deciding it's too hard and doesn't really matter. Yoshiki continues to wonder to himself whether memories, experience, or cells make a person who they really are – and what that means for "Hikaru." To Asako and Maki, Hikaru is still alive, so what does it take for a person to actually die?
Asako remembers that she borrowed "Hikaru"'s PE uniform and goes to return it. She wakes "Hikaru" up, who was sleeping on his desk, and gives him the uniform. He sniffs it and remarks that it smells nice and floral. Asako thinks it's odd for a moment, but Maki continues the conversation by asking why girls generally smell nice whereas boys tend to stink.
Yoshiki and "Hikaru" bike home together. When "Hikaru" forgets the lyrics to the song he's singing, Yoshiki fills him in. "Hikaru" suddenly gets a flat tire, so they start walking their bikes uphill instead. Mikasa then drives by and stops when he sees them. They explain they have a flat tire, and he offers to drive them the rest of the way up the hill. They thank him, and Yoshiki also extends a thank-you to Mikasa's wife, Kazumi, for fixing Kaoru's yukata for the summer festival.[1] The boys sit in the truck bed with their bikes, and they part at the top of the hill.
As he drives away, Mikasa thinks back to several days ago when he met up with Matsushima, Takeda, and Tanaka. Tanaka asked generally how things have been getting on. Mikasa explained that Old Lady Matsuura definitely died unnaturally, but it was especially bizarre because she never went up into the mountains. Tanaka asked if Takeda's father is doing well. Takeda said that his father has been unable to leave his room and has been claiming he's "gonna be next." Tanaka laughed, claiming he knew that was the case. Takeda was immediately offended and suggested that Tanaka's Company may even be what's causing this. Tanaka replied that they should be grateful to his Company for stopping the development of a compact city in the area. Mikasa then brought up Indou Hikaru who went missing, and said that something abnormal has likely happened related to "that."
Tanaka then brought up the waist bag that he found on the mountain. Matsushima pointed out that the bag belonged to Kouhei and wondered if Hikaru took it. Matsushima opened it and found what appeared to be a black stone resembling a head. Tanaka then said that it probably used to be a human head. He explained that it is a talisman containing a strong power that wards off evil spirits and at first thought it was the reason the impurity from the mountain disappeared, but no longer believes so. He noticed that the special barrier that he set up around the shrine on Mikasa's property was significantly damaged, which indicates that "it" has come down from the mountain and has probably concealed itself somewhere in some form. Mikasa thought to himself that things are happening exactly as Kouhei said. Tanaka finished off his drink and with a grin, suggested they go to uncover it all.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- Maki Yuuta
- Yamagishi Asako
- "Hikaru"
- Indou Hikaru (mentioned)
- Mikasa Tetsu
- Tsujinaka Kaoru (mentioned)
- Mikasa Kazumi (mentioned)
- Takeda Hajime
- Tanaka
- Matsushima Yoshihiko
- Old Lady Matsuura (mentioned)
- Old Man Takeda (mentioned)
- Indou Kouhei (mentioned)
Gallery[]
References
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