This is the 19th Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
On his way to deliver a forgotten worksheet, Yoshiki is stopped by Tanaka, the mysterious man in sunglasses. His motives are unknown, but could this encounter spell danger for "Hikaru"?![1]
Plot[]
Tanaka approaches Yoshiki after they encounter one another at night in Kubitachi. He asks about the local food specialty, and Yoshiki replies that it'd be shiitake mushrooms. Tanaka then explains that he's a folklorist here to study the village and that he's staying at Mikasa Tetsu's house. He introduces Yoshiki to his hamster, which Yoshiki adores, and explains that he's owned it for about 12 years. He notices that Yoshiki has finger-shaped bruises on his arm,[2] and after considering his own scar on his neck, he remarks that he and Yoshiki are similar. They part ways, and Tanaka privately concludes that Yoshiki has been "mixed" with impurity. He dismisses the idea that Yoshiki himself is the Great Brain-snatcher, instead assuming that he's been in contact with it and is holding something that has a connection to it.
At school the next day, Yoshiki dreams about a memory of Indou Hikaru. Hikaru wasn't liked by animals much, and for that reason he didn't care about them much either. Yoshiki said he likes that animals live by their own rules, separate from human rules – and he even likes animals that kill and eat people. Hikaru found this amusing and said that just means Yoshiki hates humans. Yoshiki wakes up with his head on his desk and tears in his eyes. Maki gives him a handkerchief. Yoshiki glances at the cast and sling on Maki's arm and asks how it broke. He explains that one of the senior students flew into a rage in the baseball team's club room.
At the end of class, Yoshiki thinks about their next step in investigating "Hikaru," and feels doubtful that Old Man Takeda would take them seriously even if they approach him like Matsuura suggested.[3] He considers whether Hikaru's father knew anything. He looks out the window and spots a man running naked in the courtyard. Believing it's a monster, he immediately looks away so as not to attract it to himself. His classmates notice and gather at the window, and "Hikaru" tells Yoshiki that it's not a monster, but a person. When he looks again, the man is bleeding from his throat while being held back by two staff members.
The students are left to a self-study period. The chatter explains that the man cut teacher Yoshinaga, and then slit his own throat with a knife. Asako explains she had a feeling that something had entered the man, and asks whether "Hikaru" is okay since he seems like so much has entered inside him. "Hikaru" nervously says that he's fine and probably has some sort of tolerance against evil spirits. Asako expresses regret that she can't do anything to prevent the situation from getting worse. "Hikaru" then notices that he has a bruise on his arm from getting bumped into a desk during the commotion. He finds this strange because it hurts, but until now he'd hardly ever felt pain.[4]
Later, Hikaru and Yoshiki go to Casual Diner America. "Hikaru" checks to make sure Yoshiki is still holding the piece of himself. He tells him not to lose it, because he's not sure he'll be okay if it breaks. Yoshiki is shocked to learn it's that important. "Hikaru" reassures him it'd be basically impossible to break it, but Yoshiki resolves to be more careful with where he puts it.
Yoshiki then notices that the restaurant has emptied and gone completely silent – except for the sound of a bell approaching. The head of a dark entity appears from under the table, and Yoshiki screams when he sees it. "Hikaru" grabs him and tells him not to move. He tries to take the ominous being into his body, but fails, blood falling from his eye and nose. Yoshiki takes "Hikaru" and runs for the door, but he can't get it to open. The entity stands behind them, beginning to say Yoshiki's name. There's a sudden, loud snapping noise. When Yoshiki opens his eyes, Kurebayashi is helping him to his feet and telling him it's okay, and the noise of the restaurant returns as well.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- Tanaka
- Mikasa Tetsu (mentioned)
- Indou Hikaru (flashback)
- Mince-aniki (flashback)
- Maki Yuuta
- Tadokoro Yuuki
- "Hikaru"
- Yamagishi Asako
- Old Man Takeda (flashback)
- Indou Kouhei (flashback)
- Yoshinaga
- Kurebayashi Rie
Gallery[]
References
- ↑ Yen Press: The Summer Hikaru Died, Chapter 19
- ↑ Chapter 7 (Vol. 2)
- ↑ Chapter 18 (Vol. 4)
- ↑ Chapter 17 (Vol. 4)
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