A Deeply Moving Climax in “Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu” Final Episode
The highly anticipated final episode of the horror anime, Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, began airing sequentially from September 27th. A particularly intense and quarrel-like exchange between Hikaru (voiced by Umeda Shuuichirou) and his best friend, Tsujinaka Yoshiki (voiced by Kobayashi Chiaki), deeply moved viewers, who proclaimed, “The tears won’t stop…” and “I can watch it over and over, and I still cry every time…” This emotional confrontation stemmed from their profound care for each other, making for a truly unforgettable scene.
Watch the intense emotional exchange between Hikaru and Yoshiki (from around 16:30)
The Unraveling of a Heartbreaking Friendship
The story of Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu centers on Kido Hikaru, Yoshiki’s childhood friend, who vanished in the mountains only to return, replaced by a non-human “something.” Despite knowing that Hikaru is no longer human, Yoshiki continued to spend his days with him. However, things took a dark turn when the entity, overcome by an unknown force, suddenly attacked Yoshiki.
In the climactic Episode 12, titled “Ibasho” (Place), the two friends find themselves at the sea. It’s here that Hikaru reveals his intention to Yoshiki: “I think I’ll go back to the mountains.” He explains his reasoning, hoping to convince Yoshiki: “The bakemono will be gone, and you can accept Hikaru’s death and live your life as a human. Happy ending, happy ending.”
Yet, Yoshiki, deeply hurt and understanding Hikaru’s true feelings, pressed him, “You want to stay here, don’t you?! You’re just giving up, aren’t you?!” Hikaru, unable to hold back his true emotions any longer, cried out, “I don’t want to go back either!” and pushed Yoshiki away. In turn, Yoshiki pushed Hikaru down, finally clinging to him and confessing, “You’re not a replacement for Hikaru. I’m just a terrible, self-centered jerk who doesn’t want you to disappear…”
This intense, quarrel-like exchange, where Yoshiki and Hikaru finally voiced their raw, honest feelings, resonated deeply with viewers. Online, comments flooded in, expressing profound emotion: “Damn it… the tears are already flowing…” and “I can watch it any number of times, and I still cry every single time…”
Voice Actors’ Powerful Performances Lauded
Beyond the gripping narrative, the stellar performances of the voice actors, Kobayashi Chiaki as Yoshiki and Umeda Shuuichirou as Hikaru, garnered widespread acclaim. Viewers praised their exceptional talent, noting, “Kobayashi-kun’s acting in the scene where Yoshiki unleashes his true feelings was so powerful I was completely engrossed,” and “Umeda-san and Chiaki-kun’s acting drew me in so much that my tears wouldn’t stop.”
| Character | Voice Actor |
|---|---|
| Hikaru | Umeda Shuuichirou |
| Tsujinaka Yoshiki | Kobayashi Chiaki |
A Second Season is Officially on the Way!
Adding to the excitement, it was also announced that a second season of the anime has been greenlit, sending fans into a frenzy of joy. Reactions like “Saiikou!!” (The absolute best!!) and “Ah, this is too much happiness” quickly became trending topics online.
About Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu
Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu is based on the incredibly popular manga by Mokumoku Ren, which has sold over 3.5 million copies. This unique series is a youth horror story that explores the complex relationship between high school student Yoshiki and the mysterious “something” that takes on the appearance of his childhood best friend, Hikaru.
Episode 12 “Ibasho” Synopsis
While the closing ceremony takes place in the gymnasium, Hikaru wanders through the deserted school building, retracing cherished memories. But then, Asako appears and confronts him, asking, “You’re not ‘Hikaru,’ are you?” It turns out she had witnessed Hikaru attacking Yoshiki on that fateful day. Meanwhile, Tanaka reveals a shocking truth to Takeda: “Nounuki-sama never existed from the beginning…”
(C)Mokumoku Ren／KADOKAWA・「Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu」Production Committee
By ABEMA TIMES
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