This is the Bonus Chapter for Volume 5 of The Summer Hikaru Died manga series, written and illustrated by Mokumokuren.
Synopsis[]
Yoshiki and "Hikaru" spend some time in a library taking notes and reading books. Yoshiki notes that "Hikaru" has shown more interest in picture books and fairy tales lately, and asks him why. "Hikaru" explains that he likes to understand humans better, and that these kinds of books and stories are great for that. They are usually targeted for children to read, but by the end of their discussion, even Yoshiki realizes that he has learned something new from them.
Plot[]
Yoshiki takes notice that "Hikaru" has been reading a lot of fairy tales recently, and is currently reading one titled "The Princess and the Monster." "Hikaru" says that he's trying to study to understand humans, and picture books are the easiest for him to understand. Yoshiki says that he hates that particular story – a man-eating monster falls in love with a princess and they get married, all too conveniently. Yoshiki remarks several points that he dislikes: the monster's ideal situation would've been if the princess became a man-eater too. The idea that living in a palace as royalty is happiness. The implication that the monster even has the concept of human love. The anthropocentrism of the storyline in general.
"Hikaru" finds it funny that Yoshiki talked so much at once, but he still thinks it's interesting learning about something that's different from himself.
Yoshiki thinks to himself that he's being hypocritical and arrogant, recalling how he once decided he'd teach "Hikaru" to fit within the human value system even though "Hikaru" will never be a human.[1]
"Hikaru" points out that it's nice that the monster found out he could live without eating humans, and that it chose not to even if it wanted to continue deep down. Yoshiki contests that the princess should've tried to learn more about the monster– their similarities and differences– rather than make it into a human. "Hikaru" agrees, saying that's why he wants to learn more about humans. Yoshiki concludes that he needs to learn more about "Hikaru" too.
Character Appearances[]
- "Hikaru"
- Tsujinaka Yoshiki
- Yamagishi Asako (mentioned)
Gallery[]
References
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