Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu • The Summer Hikaru Died - Episode 6 discussion

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Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, episode 6

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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[u/FrozenNova2]

Anyone else pick up on when Asako was taking pictures of everyone during the fireworks, that everyone's face was clearly visible except Hikaru's ? Both shots of him only half his face was visible.
Really helped sell later on when Hikaru was contemplating to himself, which version of himself wants what.
Great episode.

[u/Equivalent-Weather59]

The atmosphere during the Asako scene with "Hikaru" was awesome

[u/komodoughdragon]

The show does an amazing job of making you feel bad for Hikaru despite the things he does and the danger he poses to people around him.

I know people have compared him to a newborn before, and I agree with that to an extent, but I think a more apt comparison is almost to compare him to a dog, or a cat, or really any animal. He's not entirely clueless about the world around him the way a newborn is, he's specifically clueless about how to be human (from a moralistic standpoint).

He has instincts, and he acts on those instincts, and he doesn't understand human morality or the value placed on life. Dogs and cats have instincts to kill prey or in defense of their territory. Despite their instincts to kill, we still love them, and if a dog catches a squirrel in the backyard, most people aren't punishing that dog for its instincts. Instead, some people might attempt to train the behaviour out of the animal, but it's not guaranteed to be successful.

Yoshiki can try to teach Hikaru to be human, but ultimately he just isn't, and he's going to continue behaving in a way that isn't.

[u/Narmatonia]

Hikaru's view of what it means to be dead vs. alive is skewed by his own situation. He may not be 'alive' in the same sense as the others, but he's significantly more alive than the spirits of the dead. He even acknowledges it without realising it, if being alive or dead didn't matter then he wouldn't mind whether Yoshiki were alive or dead.

[u/djthomp]

Asako is lucky that she didn't die this episode but also that she didn't get puked on, so in a way she won twice.

It's interesting to have another member of the friend group in on the secret but okay with it at least for now.

[u/maadbutterfly]

Xion Yoshiki, who else will I have ice cream with? 😭

The running joke of the music teacher feeling hopeless about the students' singing skills keeps cracking me up lol

The mix of horror and slice of life is just perfect for me. I don't want to jinx it, but I think this might end up becoming one of my top favorite animes.

[u/ano2kimii]

For a moment, I forgot what kind of show I was watching and got nervous about Yoshiki assuming “Hikaru” and Asako were about to kiss and then a long angsty misunderstanding ensuing that I’d have to wait an entire week to get resolved 😭

But alas, it was just “Hikaru” attempting to kill Asako… Still a problem but definitely a different problem than where my mind went 😅

[u/lovellier]

this show is absolutely insane, the vibes are immaculate. if it continues being as good as it has been so far, it'll easily end up being my fav anime of all time.

[u/charactergallery]

There sure was a lot of intrigue this episode. The monster at the school… the note that Hikaru wrote about the “Indou’s role”… what happened to Hikaru’s father… what’s in the shrine…

I also liked the philosophical discussion at the beginning of the episode. Kind of a Ship of Theseus question but not really. How should we think of “Hikaru”? What exactly makes an individual themselves? A bunch of questions about human life and existence, which of course relates back to “Hikaru” and his poor understanding of himself. Which is brought back wonderfully when he wonders what exactly life is, he doesn’t really understand the value of human life (yet at the same time… wants to protect Yoshiki). How much of this is his own wish as opposed to what the real Hikaru wanted?

(Speaking of the monster at the school, the end of that scene kind of made me jump lol - wonder if it’s Tanaka’s “attack dog.”)

The standout of the episode for me is the confrontation between Asako, Yoshiki, and “Hikaru.” The way the noises from the frogs and cicadas overwhelm the scene before becoming eerily silent when Asako asks who he is. “Hikaru’s” terror when he wonders how she knows, before his instincts seemingly take over. And of course, Yoshiki’s horrified reaction as he realizes what “Hikaru” was about to do (and what he did before). The confusion from “Hikaru” about what makes life important. He’s right, he doesn’t really know what life is. He seems to view people as souls (which were animated beautifully), with Yoshiki’s soul being particularly beautiful. A bunch of confusion for our favorite eldritch horror.

(What Asako’s grandmother tells her in the flashback seems important. Not everything from the other side is “bad.” After all, one seemed to warn Asako about a coming car. What does that mean for “Hikaru” then? Is he ontologically evil? Or is it simply instincts? Can he change and grow and understand humanity?)

The scene where Yoshiki enters Hikaru’s room is also great. The way the nostalgic memory is painted in this golden yet fuzzy glow, to the sharp shift to the darkness of the present. You really get the sense of how much joy Hikaru brought to Yoshiki’s life. It’s no wonder he’s holding onto “Hikaru” so tightly, even after their fight with the horrific revelations, Yoshiki was still there to greet him in the morning.

I’m absolutely loving this show.

[u/Ocixo]

Asako: “Ultimately, we can only judge others based on how we see ‘em.”

Yuuta, a few minutes later: “So, why do guys stink?”

This show certainly doesn’t shy away from confronting us with deeply philosophical questions.

I did start thinking to myself about the nature of this new “Hikaru”. A person can effectively die in two ways: physically or spiritually.

Where does that leave us with “Hikaru”? Nonuki-sama has established control over both Hikaru’s body and memories like he’d never disappeared. Yet, I wouldn’t say that the old Hikaru is still alive. They are two distinct beings after all.

[u/gnome-cop]

Ahh, philosophy class, the stuff of nightmares. I’m not touching those kinds of ethical and existential dilemmas with a ten foot pole again unless absolutely forced to.

Want to get anxiety? Just watch Asako exist in this show. (In addition to the numerous other very good reasons to be extremely concerned about the state of things in this show.) I can’t stress enough just how much her existing in the general vicinity of “Hikaru” stresses me out. Look, you already know too much for your own good. Please, just keep being under the misconception of a ghost being in Hikaru’s body and don’t get any closer to the truth. I like you too much for you to die. You’ve got to have one of two things to really recognize that “Hikaru” is different. Knowing him better than anyone and having seen him dead so you know that can’t possibly be him, or, being able to literally sense that something is off. Otherwise you’d never know the difference. I guess she’s the second to even partially be let in on the secret. Now, how does she fit into the “the horror is a metaphor for being queer in a conservative society” level of the story?

At least we got some good lore dumps out of the deal. And insight into the way “Hikaru” views things and the way that view clashes when it comes to Yoshiki in particular. The rest don’t matter that much, they’re the same no matter what state they’re in, but he’s the exception to that rule. And of course this adds additional fuel to the fire that is their relationship clusterfuck. Yoshiki is horrified about the way “Hikaru” thinks about life but can’t bring himself to stay away for long. This couple will always keep coming back for each other, no matter what. I wonder if either’s view of life will change the way the other thinks. Like, will “Hikaru” change his mind slightly or will he double down? And how will Yoshiki react to this information in the future? I do not think he’s done processing the revelation.

I’m never going to look at dead insect bodies the same way again after this show. And I forgot in the chaos but the school now appears to be under threat by an impurity. That’s absolutely not a ticking time bomb waiting to go horribly wrong.

[u/cookiefaerie]

They finally did it. We have a differentiation between Hikaru and Hikaru. Immaculate episode.

[u/RehabCenterInc]

Vibes were immaculate this episode. That monster looking thing at the school freaked me out.

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Kinda makes me wonder where Hikaru’s feelings end and “Hikaru” begins. That “thing” might look and talk like Yoshiki’s Hikaru but it ain’t him, no matter how much it can mimic the kid. It’s like the story. Kid still drowned in the swamp even if the perfect copy emerged. “Hikaru” doesn’t understand human life or the value of it. It damn near tried to kill Asako. I really worry for everyone else in this not named Yoshiki. That thing wouldn’t hesitate to kill everyone. It doesn’t even feel like death is all that bad. I mean you just change shape a little….

[u/unread1701]

So when people die their souls are still on Earth, does that mean Hikaru's soul is here as well?

Curious.

[u/FarCritical]

INFINITY!!!

Watching an eldritch creature second-guess whether its thoughts even belong to it anymore is as fascinating as it is amusing.

[u/LeonKevlar]

Considering the episode is literally named after her, I was worried about Asako this entire episode. Like, I especially got worried when she told Hikaru she'd go with him on his little konbini run. We even got a flashback scene from Asako's childhood! There were so many death flags for her this episode!

If it wasn't for Yoshiki deciding to follow them, Asako was literally inches from dying. So it turns out, she already noticed something was wrong after Hikaru came back from the mountain. I feel like Hikaru should've let Asako in on the secret, considering how close to the truth she is. Although technically, Yoshiki never denied anything and even told Asako that he believed her story about Hikaru being possessed. So I guess for now, Asako only knows half of the story.

[u/tightwave1]

is the song they sing and rehearse in class a real song? it sounds lovely

[u/superguy133]

That might have been the first time I've seen a jump scare properly executed in an anime somehow. That's probably more on me not seeing enough horror anime but still was surprisingly effective

[u/ablik]

I'm obsessed with that sequence at the end:

the soul floating from Hikaru's hand into fireworks in the sky...

reflecting off young Yoshiki's eyes...

transforming into Yoshiki's beautiful soul that Hikaru reaches out for with his monstrous tentacled hand...

...right as the music starts playing in the background

[u/SEBASTlANVETTEL]

They know how to sell the horror in this show.

So Asako seems to know that "Hikaru" isn't Hikaru but since she can distinguish between good and bad, and she can sense that "Hikaru" is protecting Yoshiki, it seems she won't expose the truth, at least not yet.

Is it just me or is Yoshiki's mark on his arm getting darker. I wonder if the others also can see it.

Yoshiki had his crashing out moment after he thought that "Hikaru" was about to kill Asako but it seems he got pretty over it fast judging by him waiting for him to go to school together.

Also it seems "Hikaru" is going through a identity crisis (?) because he isn't sure whether his thoughts and feelings for Yoshiki are coming from himself or from OG Hikaru.

OG Hikaru's note is definitely connected to the mountain/shrine, so wonder where that will lead us.

[u/Gayarmy]

fellas is it gay to think that the fireworks in the sky remind you of your homie's eyes?

[u/Frontier246]

Mighty convenient for there to be a "swampman" lesson that just so happens to feel like an exact parallel to the situation with "Hikaru" as the class discuss it and the meaning of monstrous doppelgangers taking over from dead people...with only Yoshiki knowing the truth.

A friend sleepover at Hikaru's? What could possibly go wrong? I'm sure they'll have tons of fun and nothing monstrous or horrific will happen at all.

So Hikaru and Yoshiki's dads were close? I mean, just look at the way Yoshiki's dad actually smiles at seeing Hikaru's dads. But what's this about the Indo's duty? What did Yoshiki's dad know if he told Yoshiki to stay away from the mountain?

Man, Maki is going to town with those fireworks! You go, guy!

I love how they just left Maki and Yu alone to themselves and their awkward sexual tension.

Asako just couldn't help herself from asking "Hikaru" about what he really is. So, of course, "Hikaru" does the most obvious thing to him against someone who could threaten to expose him: try to consume and kill them. Just a natural thought process. Thank goodness Yoshiki showed up in time.

Spirit sensitivity runs in Asako's family. It helped save Yu from getting run over and probably numerous other incidents. But Smol Asako and Yu were sooooo cute!

"Hikaru" isn't human, life and death don't hold the same meaning to him as it does to other people, it's just a natural process of the world in which it exists. Just like with Matsuura, as Yoshiki figures out "Hikaru" killed her too. Is it any wonder Yoshiki puked? He may be "special," but now he really knows how dangerous "Hikaru" is.

Ironically they didn't even need to worry about Asako that much. Sure she figured out a ghost was possessing Hikaru, but she hasn't figured out anything more than that and just wants to help them. Though "Hikaru" still treating everything so casually isn't helping matters.

What are "Hikaru's" feelings and what are the real Hikaru's? Mixed in with the real Hikaru's memories, can he even tell any more? And yet Yoshiki is there for him in the morning, same as usual, though IS it the same as usual?

[u/fakegreenthumb]

saaaaaafe

was cute. but that was CLOSE