This is the 2nd Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
Yoshiki and "Hikaru" go about their daily lives, like high school students their age do. All the while, Yoshiki tries to understand more about "Hikaru," his circumstances and how he came to be. On their way home, they encounter an old villager, who seems to be very frightened at the sight of "Hikaru." Can she tell something is wrong...?
Plot[]
At school, the students watch a movie on a projector. Yoshiki and the other students find it boring, but when he looks over to "Hikaru", he sees him crying out of sadness. "Hikaru" explains that even though Indou Hikaru has seen the movie before and it's in his memories, he himself is experiencing it for the first time. He shows similar enthusiasm for a mince meat cutlet after they leave school, and explains again that living with Indou Hikaru's body is really the first time he's experienced a sense of self. Mince-Aniki, a stray cat, arrives but hisses and runs away as soon as "Hikaru" tries to pet it. Yoshiki notes to himself that this is the first time he's ever seen Mince-Aniki react that way to a person. Yoshiki then invites "Hikaru" to go somewhere else, but denies that he's being extra nice when "Hikaru" suggests it.
They later walk their bicycles down a more rural road. Yoshiki explains the difference between two types of dragonflies, while wondering to himself what exactly "Hikaru" is, and why he's even accepted the situation. "Hikaru" then asks if they can read more of the Master x Master manga at Yoshiki's house, but they're interrupted when an old woman suddenly screams loudly. Horrified, she wonders aloud if Nounuki-sama has really come down here. Yoshiki watches her, uneasy. "Hikaru," mishearing the name as "No Monkey"-sama, asks what that is. She shrieks for him to stay back and go away when "Hikaru" steps closer, and Yoshiki tells him not to mind her and urges for them to leave.
When they arrive at the Tsujinaka household, Yoshiki asks if Hikaru is really dead. "Hikaru" confirms that he is - the body he's in has warmth and a pulse, but it's not alive. He explains that he used to be wandering through the mountains on autopilot, until he came upon Hikaru's body that was on the verge of death. Yoshiki asks if "Hikaru" likes him. "Hikaru" confirms that he does, saying he's crazy about Yoshiki. Yoshiki thinks to himself that the real Hikaru has never said anything like that before, even once. He then tells "Hikaru" that if he truly feels that way, then he should never disappear on him again. He goes inside, tears running down his face, leaving "Hikaru" at the front door of his house.
Later that night, Matsuura cowers in fear inside her house when an unidentified voice calls to her from outside, claiming to have a delivery for her. She refuses to open the door, knowing that a package delivery wouldn't be arriving at her house this late. The voice outside continues to call out to her, repeating her name over and over. She screams that she won't let them in, but the voice, now coming from behind her, tells her that they're already inside.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- "Hikaru"
- Maki Yuuta (classroom)
- Mince-aniki
- Old Lady Matsuura
- Indou Hikaru (mentioned)
Gallery[]
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