"Bro is enjoying his vacation way too much lmao," fans go wild! Hikaru from "The Summer Hikaru Died" goes viral for enjoying a vacation in high spirits, a complete 180 from the main story

Manga artist Mokumokuren updated their X account to publish a brand-new illustration. In stark contrast to the serious developments continuing in the main story, the post features a rare sight of the character letting his hair down and going all out on a vacation, which has become a massive topic of conversation among fans.

The newly released illustration features Hikaru (VA: Shuichiro Umeda), a character from the popular horror manga "The Summer Hikaru Died" created by the author. Mokumokuren added the comment, "Hikaru hasn't appeared in the main story recently, so I drew a happy-looking Hikaru for no particular reason." In the illustration, Hikaru is wearing a red hibiscus-patterned Aloha shirt, sitting on a beach chair with sunglasses resting on his head. His inner T-shirt depicts a cat with a surreal expression (Menchi Aniki?), and he holds a tropical drink generously garnished with fruit. His bright expression and posing as he fully enjoys the summer are striking.

"The Summer Hikaru Died" is a story that begins when Yoshiki (VA: Chiaki Kobayashi), a boy living in a certain village, notices something is off about his childhood friend, Hikaru Indou, who returned after going missing. It depicts the twisted and heartbreaking daily life of Hikaru, whose appearance is the same but whose insides have been replaced by a "Something" else, and Yoshiki, who chooses to spend his days with him despite knowing the truth. It is a horror work that has garnered the support of many readers for its meticulous psychological descriptions and its expression of the alien presence lurking in everyday life.

In response to this post, there was a flood of delighted comments from fans, such as "This is so Hikaru! He's too cute having a blast," "The Aloha shirt suits him perfectly," and "Bro is enjoying his vacation way too much lmao." There were also reactions focusing on the character on the T-shirt Hikaru is wearing, with some saying, "I want that Menchi Aniki T-shirt." It seems that many fans are finding comfort in this sight that offers a fleeting sense of rest.

(C)Mokumokuren/KADOKAWA/The Summer Hikaru Died Partners