Nonhuman Childhood Friend Bids Farewell... Emotional Clashes Bring Tears: "The Acting Was Too Realistic"—Final Episode of "The Summer Hikaru Died"

The final episode of the horror anime "The Summer Hikaru Died" began airing sequentially from September 27. Viewers were deeply moved by an intense scene in which Hikaru (voiced by Shūichirō Umeda) and his close friend Yoshiki Tsujinaka (voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi), who care deeply for one another, have a conflict that borders on a fight. Comments flooded in, such as "I can't stop crying..." and "I can watch it over and over, and I'll cry every time..."

Hikaru Indou, Yoshiki's childhood friend, went missing in the mountains and was replaced by something that is no longer human. Although Yoshiki knew that Hikaru was no longer human, he continued to spend time with him, until suddenly, he was attacked by Hikaru, who had lost control.

In the final episode, Episode 12 "A Place to Belong," the two visit the seaside. There, Hikaru confides in Yoshiki, "I'm thinking of going back to the mountain." He explains his reason for wanting to disappear: "The monster will be gone, you'll accept Hikaru's death, and you'll live your life as a human. And that's the happy ending."

However, Yoshiki presses him, saying, "You really want to stay here, don't you!" and "You're just giving up, aren't you!" Hikaru shouts his true feelings, "I don't want to leave either!" and pushes Yoshiki away. In turn, Yoshiki pins Hikaru down and, clinging to him, confesses, "You're not just a replacement for Hikaru. I'm just a terrible, selfish jerk who doesn't want you to disappear..."