This is the 21st Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
Yoshiki takes a moment to reminisce about the real Hikaru and sort out his feelings for the impostor. But this calm won’t last long, as the next step in the boys’ investigation lands them in dire straits...![1]
Plot[]
Yoshiki visits a shed in the forest where he and Indou Hikaru used to spend time together. Next to Crowly's grave, Yoshiki has set up a grave marker for Hikaru, at which he leaves an offering of cream bread. "Hikaru" finds him and asks what the differences are between him and the original Hikaru. Yoshiki explains that Hikaru was different: he was more mature, harder to read, and more liable to lie and to make trouble, and that he will never come back. "Hikaru" asks if Yoshiki liked him romantically, but Yoshiki refuses to answer, saying "Hikaru" doesn't need to understand his feelings. He says that "Hikaru" doesn't have to be human, and he'd even prefer "Hikaru" not to be. Privately, he wishes there was somewhere "Hikaru" could live the way he pleases without harming others.
After returning to the Indou family home, Yoshiki goes over what they've learned: Nounuki-sama granted a wish in exchange for something, became a malevolent god after a famine, and became unable to leave the mountains. For generations, men of the Indou family have used "Hichi-san" to perform some sort of ritual in the mountains. "Hikaru" wonders if it was a ritual to seal Nounuki-sama. They further theorize that worship of Nounuki-sama existed before the arrival of Western religions, and this somehow intimidated or warded off settlers.
Yoshiki explains what Kurebayashi said about "Hikaru" being something outside the cycle of Samsara that attracts impurities.[2] "Hikaru" posits that if he goes back to the mountains, that would prevent the impurities from coming down into the villages. Yoshiki rejects that option, saying that with Kurebayashi's help, they can find another solution. Yoshiki then asks why "Hikaru" came over two nights before,[2] but "Hikaru" can't remember clearly.
They go to the Takeda household to speak with Old Man Takeda, like Matsuura suggested.[3] A woman answers the door and at first denies them entry, but changes her mind when "Hikaru" says that Kurebayashi sent them. She mentions that Kurebayashi was the one her father-in-law is looking for, and lets them inside to speak to him.
They sit outside his bedroom door, and he asks for the boys to quickly fetch Kurebayashi because he has finally found a real spirit medium. He says it's his turn to be killed, and that the village is consumed by impurities. He clutches an ofuda in his hands and mumbles that "it" has descended from the mountains, bringing chaos. He blames the son of the Indou family, and says that the root of the death and calamity is the Indou family's taboo. He claims that the famine was not the only cause, but divine retribution due to an outrageous wish, for which the Indou men must go into the mountains to apologize. He grows outraged when "Hikaru" asks what they did, and shouts at him that he should check his household's shrine and learn why they have the name "Indou."
Yoshiki tries to calm him down, but "Hikaru" comments that he's already been possessed. Old Man Takeda's face distorts, and long black hair suddenly grows over his face. He stands and picks up the katana behind him, then raises it to swing down at the two boys. However, his wrist is grabbed by Tanaka, who appears suddenly. He knocks Takeda back and takes the sword, then apologizes before he swiftly decapitates "Hikaru" with it.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- "Hikaru"
- Indou Hikaru (mentioned)
- Grandfather Indou (flashback)
- Kurebayashi Rie (mentioned)
- Matsuura (flashback)
- Takeda Hajime (mentioned)
- Takeda's Wife
- Old Man Takeda
- Old Lady Matsuura (mentioned)
- Indou Ancestor (mentioned)
- Tanaka
Gallery[]
References
- ↑ Yen Press: The Summer Hikaru Died, Chapter 21
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 20 (Vol. 4)
- ↑ Chapter 18 (Vol. 4)
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||