This is the 22nd Chapter of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
The events at the Takeda residence have left Yoshiki reeling and “Hikaru” in far worse shape! They’re brought to the hospital to recover, but what could Tanaka be plotting while the boys are getting bed rest?![1]
Plot[]
Stunned, Yoshiki holds "Hikaru"'s severed head. Suddenly, "Hikaru"'s insides spill out of both his body and head, filling much of the room. It knocks off Tanaka's glasses and injures his face in the process. Yoshiki frantically pushes "Hikaru"'s head onto his body, hoping that it will reconnect. After a few moments, it is successful – "Hikaru"'s insides return, leaving a thin line where his head and neck rejoined. Relieved, Yoshiki loses consciousness.
He wakes up in the hospital with his mother at his bedside. She heard that Old Man Takeda flew into a rage, attacked them, and the scholar who was with them stopped him. She says she'll file a police report, but Yoshiki tells her she doesn't have to.
Tanaka reflects on the situation at Old Man Takeda's house. He counts himself lucky that he'd found Something in this era in a weakened state, with its own sense of self. Hajime then bursts into the room and informs him that his father has suffered a heart attack and is likely not going to make it. Tanaka takes responsibility for that, saying it took him too long to realize. He explains that the more someone fears beings from the Other Side, the more likely they are to be targeted – so Old Man Takeda was right in saying that he would be next. Tanaka asks where his glasses are, and knocks over a glass when he reaches around for them. Takeda hands them to him and asks if he's blind, which Tanaka confirms. He explains it's a type of curse and he is able to see to an extent when he's wearing the glasses his Company provided him with. At Takeda's questioning, Tanaka explains that his Company has spent hundreds of years looking for Something that came from beyond this world; Tanaka was dispatched here on the small chance that it exists. When questioned about his personal motives in the matter, Tanaka evades the question but assures that he's on the humans' side. Tanaka then leaves, saying he'll be out of the village for a while.
Two days later, Kurebayashi and Yoshiki wait in the hospital for "Hikaru" to wake up. They discuss Tanaka and why he attacked "Hikaru." Kurebayashi assures him that something like "Hikaru" couldn't be exorcised, even if he's been weakened. At most, humans could relocate him or lock him up. She reminds Yoshiki not to let his guard down and to come hide at her place if things are dangerous, and says she'll try to find out who the man that attacked them was. Privately, she wonders if it's someone from "that Company."
They overhear the neighboring patient's TV. The news reports that a Fledgling Youtuber went missing in Darumazuka Tunnel, an infamously haunted location. Kurebayashi tells him that a long time ago, a mass grave of torso bones was found there. Additionally, arm bones were found in Udekari and leg bones in Ashidori. Out of all the remains, skulls were never found anywhere. This reminds Yoshiki of the impurities he'd encountered in the past. They were all strange from the neck up.[2] He wonders if the man he saw in a vision, that closely resembled Hikaru in appearance, making a wish and offering a woman's head[3] was somehow linked to the mass deaths that occurred in Kubitachi.
Just then, "Hikaru" wakes up.
Character Appearances[]
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- "Hikaru"
- Tanaka
- Tsujinaka Satoko
- Takeda Hajime
- Old Man Takeda (mentioned)
- Old Lady Matsuura (mentioned)
- Kurebayashi Rie
- Fledgling Youtuber (mentioned)
- Indou Ancestor (flashback)
Gallery[]
References
- ↑ Rakuten Kobo: The Summer Hikaru Died, Chapter 22
- ↑ Chapter 3 (Vol. 1)
- ↑ Chapter 11 (Vol. 2)
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