Heart-Wrenching Shocking Development in the Finale! Yoshiki and Hikaru’s ‘Duet Chorus’ ED Has Fans Weeping: ‘So Precious,’ ‘First Time Crying to a Chorus Song.’ Anime Original Elements Also Noted [Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu Episode 7 Spoiler Reactions Summary]

Unveiling the “Ketsui”: Episode 7 of Hikari ga Shinda Natsu Marks a Major Turning Point

The seventh episode, titled “Ketsui” (Resolution), of the TV anime Hikari ga Shinda Natsu has aired, marking a significant turning point in its compelling narrative. The episode skillfully portrayed an unsettling atmosphere lurking beneath a fleeting sense of normalcy, set against the backdrop of a chorus competition. This tension culminates in Tsujinaka Yoshiki’s firm resolve and Hikaru’s profound choice. The special ending, featuring the original chorus song “Hibi no Kage” sung by the two protagonists, garnered an outpouring of praise, with fans exclaiming “I cried!” and “Too precious!”, leading to a huge buzz across social media.

About Hikari ga Shinda Natsu: A Poignant Horror Story

Hikari ga Shinda Natsu is a unique youth horror story based on the manga by Mokumoku Ren, serialized on KADOKAWA’s “Young Ace UP.” The series delves into the eerie yet captivating relationship between a high school student, Tsujinaka Yoshiki, and an enigmatic “something” that has taken on the form of his childhood friend, Hikaru. This acclaimed work received the Global Special Award in the Web Manga Division of “Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishou 2022” (Next Manga Award 2022) and was ranked first in the “Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023” (This Manga is Amazing! 2023) Male Edition, cementing its status as a highly talked-about title.

The story follows Tsujinaka Yoshiki and Hikaru, who grew up together as childhood companions in a certain village. Their summers were filled with familiar scenes: the scorching sun, the persistent buzzing of cicadas, eating ice cream on the way home, and laughing over trivial things. However, six months prior, Hikaru went missing in the mountains, only to mysteriously reappear a week later. The entity that returned looked and sounded exactly like Hikaru, but what truly lurked within was an unknown “something.” A bizarre daily life began with this “something” in his friend’s guise, and simultaneously, strange incidents began to plague the village.

※Please be aware that the following content discusses plot points that may be considered “spoilers” for those who have not yet watched the series, due to the nature of this topic. Proceed with caution.

Episode 7 Highlights: “Ketsui” and Its Shocking Revelations

In episode 7, “Ketsui,” just before the actual chorus competition, Yoshiki suggests to Hikaru, “Should we skip school today?” and the two head to the movie theater. Maki Yuuta’s spontaneous remarks, involving otagei (a form of synchronized cheering) and rap, delighted viewers, sparking comments on social media like “So dumb, I love it!” and “Otagei is seriously wild!”

Incidentally, Nakajima Yoshiki, who voices Maki Yuuta, revealed that Maki’s rap melody was improvised during recording.

Nakajima Yoshiki’s X profile

While the episode depicted common high school antics, such as the male students messing around during chorus practice and Yoshiki and Hikaru skipping class for a movie, an unsettling undertone permeated these seemingly ordinary moments, subtly linking to the episode’s subtitle, “Ketsui.”

A particularly poignant scene shows Yoshiki making a cryptic phone call to his mother. This moment left a strong impression on viewers, leading to remarks such as “The phone call, the chorus, the falling cedar – just these elements are unsettling” and “It felt like a final farewell,” clearly conveying Yoshiki’s profound resolution.

Honda Kouhei’s X profile

Hikaru was invited to Yoshiki’s home, leading to a truly shocking turn of events. Yoshiki suddenly stabs Hikaru with a kitchen knife. But Hikaru, to Yoshiki’s surprise, does not die. Yoshiki then begs Hikaru to kill him instead. And so, Hikaru tears off half of his own core, a painful act of sacrifice.

This agonizing yet deeply moving scene resonated deeply with viewers, who commented: “The two, who had no place to belong, were kindred spirits,” “Their actions, born from caring for each other, pierce the heart,” and “The bond between the two, sharing their pain, is distorted yet beautiful.”

Azuty_ss’s X profile

Episode 7’s subtitle, “Ketsui,” was ultimately revealed to signify not only Yoshiki’s resolve but also Hikaru’s profound choice, leaving a lingering sense of emotional impact as the episode concluded.

The Special Ending: “Hibi no Kage” Leaves Fans in Tears

What brought even more viewers to tears was the special ending. The emotional impact of the original chorus song “Hibi no Kage,” with lyrics by Leo Imai, performed as a duet by Yoshiki and Hikaru, left many utterly heartbroken. Fans expressed sentiments such as “I wonder if things would have been different if they had participated in the chorus competition in another world” and “The line ‘My friend’ in the lyrics truly hits hard.” The duet by Kobayashi Chiaki and Umeda Shuuichirou garnered immense praise, hailed as “too precious.”

The music was composed by Umebayashi Tarou, known for his work on Yuri!!! on ICE and Space☆Dandy, and many viewers were undoubtedly moved to tears by his gentle piano melody. The class chorus in the show was actually performed by the Shounan High School Choir from Kanagawa Prefecture, adding an authentic touch.

Shounan High School Choir’s X profile

Episode 7 also garnered significant attention for its emphasized original anime elements. By meticulously building up the process leading to their decisions, the shocking climax in the latter half of the episode was made even more impactful. This has heightened anticipation for future anime-original depictions that only Hikkanatsu can deliver.

More Captivating Scenes from Episode 7:

Broadcast and Streaming Information

The summer anime Hikari ga Shinda Natsu airs every Saturday at 24:55 JST (effectively Sunday at 00:55 JST) on Nippon TV and other affiliated networks. It is also available for exclusive worldwide streaming on Netflix and exclusive free streaming on ABEMA.

Production Team

Cast

(C) Mokumoku Ren／KADOKAWA・”Hikari ga Shinda Natsu” Production Committee

《Sunakujira》
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