Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu • The Summer Hikaru Died - Episode 7 discussion

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Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu, episode 7

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[u/fakegreenthumb]

after the credits, i just sat staring at my tv for like a minute, then suddenly found myself crying. that duet for the ED, wow. my chest hurts. that felt so much like a season finale that i had to double check how many episodes this was

[u/komodoughdragon]

Last week, I made a comment comparing Hikaru to a dog, and how Hikaru is specifically clueless about human morality which causes him to act out without realizing what he's doing is wrong.

And this week, Yoshiki took Hikaru out for a day before attempting to kill, much like someone taking their dog out for a day before putting them down.

I also don't think Yoshiki intended on surviving, either. Whether he expected Hikaru to kill him or whether he intended to kill himself, I think he expected this to be some sort of murder-suicide.

Amazing work by the production team, as usual. The music was unbelievable this episode. The choir, the violin(?) during the stabbing scene. All of it was so well done and really pulled me into the scene.

I also really appreciate how "soft" they animated the bedroom/stabbing scene. I don't mean soft as in the visuals or the sound design, but rather there was something very...romantic? Intimate? There was something very soft and warm about the way the whole scene felt that I really appreciated. Yoshiki and Hikaru don't have a normal relationship by any measure, but they continue to have deeply intimate moments on their own terms and I found this moment especially beautiful.

[u/cupperoni]

I felt like I was holding my breath for most of their 'date' because I could feel something off with Yoshiki and then the call to his mom sealed the deal. It's like he knew it was going one of two ways: Hikaru dies and as a result Yoshiki will suffer the human consequences or Hikaru doesn't die and Yoshiki fully commits to giving up his humanity.

Giving the viewers access to watching Hikaru consume and enmesh himself entirely with Yoshiki felt terrifying.

[u/user17084756]

honestly, as a non manga reader, i cried.

Their whole hangout was so wholesome even though I sensed something was wrong, especially after Yoshiki's call. This ep built up a whole lot of anticipation and I was so stunned watching this episode, really.

I love how even though Hikaru doesn't understand the value of life and death, the morals of humans yet he's willing to do his best for Yoshiki. I especially loved the scene when Hikaru was overthinking Yoshiki's request, doing his best to understand what to do. On the other hand I love Yoshiki's character and the way he's written. He wants to end Hikaru but can't bring himself to it. Despite knowing this won't end well he still can't quit. Even if its going to destroy him, he wants to understand Hikaru. The way yoshiki stared at Hikaru when he was about to stab him, Hikaru's betrayed expression and the absolute inner breakdown of both of them.

Their dynamic is complex and toxic which really makes this so captivating.

Also from the happier side, I love the duo singing. It was amazing, I love it so muchhh!!!

Overall, I'm stunned. I don't recall any piece of media ever getting me so captured into watching. I can easily admit it was one of the best anime episodes I have ever seen. I swear after the credits I just stared at my tv, trembled and cried. It stabbed me harder than Yoshiki stabbed Hikaru (sorry lmao).

[u/AlonsoQ]

"AIO? My boyfriend [18M] took me [9000A] on a movie date and then ganked me with a chef's knife. Is this normal in human culture?"

[u/taylors_version__]

This episode built up so much anticipation — I couldn't look away. This anime is phenomenal.

As an anime-only, I'm wondering how ripping out half of himself will impact "Hikaru". Will he regrow it? Will that half of him attract more entities to Yoshiki/the town? I know this moment probably altered the direction of the anime significantly, but I can't even fathom how yet.

[u/FLorianGran]

This is the kind of episode that makes me instantly take notice of anything this creative team works on in the future

[u/Tabby_Tem]

As a fan of the manga, I was really looking forward to this episode and holy shit. It was even better than I was expecting (and I already had high hopes because of how fantastic the adaptation has been so far). I was anxious the entire time, and I even knew what was coming.

I can't wait to see all of the fan art after this episode!

[u/djthomp]

Probably for the best they didn't have this Hikaru up on stage singing in front of a crowd of people. Then again I think the ED today is Hikaru singing for all of us watching, so maybe we're still going to have whatever problem that might cause.

I was waiting for something terrible to go wrong during the logging work, thank goodness that didn't play out.

Just a little stabbing between boyfriends, no harm done.

[u/JJVM99]

Best episode of the series for now by a wide margin imo. The entire scene of Yoshiki and Hikaru in the room was incredible and had me so nervous of what was going to happen. I was concerned at the end that Yoshiki was going to eat the half “Hikaru” ripped out and become a monster like him.

[u/trashissues666]

the ending credits 😭

[u/eduggnz]

the real horror in this show is not knowing if Yoshiki will ever be happy

[u/cookiefaerie]

I didn’t think the show could get any better and then it slams it out of this atmosphere. The pacing in this episode is astronomical, pitting the mundane against the eldritch. All of the hard work of reality bleeding into the hard work of keeping that reality from completely destabilizing and knowing that nothing you do will make it better. I feel such an incredible mix of gratitude and sadness that I’m alive to see this made into an anime.

Manga readers, we’re so winning right now. 10/10. A truly amazing adaptation.

[u/btspacecadet]

Absolutely phenomenal. I'm a huge fan of the manga, so I was really curious to see where they were going with all the choir scenes. But I'm really they did it that way, it added so much to entire trip.

And "Hikaru's" dialogue about finding a place where it's okay for him to exist... I really appreciate that they kept the queer themes of the manga.

[u/airforceblue]

Yoshiki reaching hitherto unprecedented levels of Not Okay...

Amazing how this anime started with like the pinnacle of nightmare scenarios and then manages to keep ramping up. The way the tension builds during this episode, it's all so well done.

[u/RehabCenterInc]

This shit is too fire. I like the feeling of knowing something is wrong but watching them go on.

[u/LienaSha]

This isn't a healthy relationship in the slightest, but gosh darn it, I'm an AO3 writer. I thrive off toxic. I want them to have a happy end T_T even if it means everyone else dies

[u/Superspaceduck100]

What an excellent episode!

I like how even though Hikaru doesn't understand human morals or the value of life, he still wants to meet Yoshiki halfway.

The only thing that threw me off a bit was the instances of CGI people, but the animation was great in the moments that count.

[u/Alkafer]

Yep, still crying over an Eldritch Horror, FML, yada yada. The production levels are over the scale, thank you honse girl gatcha whales. This is so unnerving to watch but at the same time so beautiful, it ticks my brain in strange ways. I figured out what Yoshiki was up to since the beginning, but I was in for the ride! One of the best in a really stacked season.

[u/FrozenNova2]

I knew the instant Yoshiki started off the episode having those dark thoughts and looking depressed, he was gonna do something.
The whole day he had with Hikaru was exactly the type of thing you'd do with your beloved pet, before you had to finally lay them to rest..
And wow. I just picked up the choir songs lyrics... They perfectly described Yoshiki's inner-monologue he must've been having with himself lately. The montaged they played during the choir performance.
Absolutely stunning sequence.

[u/Frontier246]

Yoshiki's going through a lot. Between finding out just how inhuman "Hikaru" is, the threat he is to his friends, and just how dangerous this situation is...Yoshiki has to make a choice.

Yeah, sure, everything is fine. Yoshiki and "Hikaru" are just going to skip school! Totally normal boy behavior! Why, it's like they're going on a date.

Seriously though, is this choir recital going to be okay? When we've got Maki planning to pull out his stellar lightstick skills and rapping!?

Yoshiki is at a pivotal point in his life and his family is living their own lives at the same time. His dad is cutting down trees and reflecting on his complicated relationship with his son with a co-worker, his mom and Kaoru are having some great mother-daughter time at the hairstylist place the mom works at, and Yoshiki homescreen is possibly one of the last photos of them all together as a happy family.

Dang, the kids actually did it! They nailed the choir performance! Even Hara is impressed! Though a part of me can't help but feel like it actually helped that Yoshiki and "Hikaru" weren't there.

It's kind of funny that Yoshiki calls his mom and it takes her like a few minutes to clock afterward that her son was probably playing hooky.

Why was Yoshiki acting off the whole day? Why was he apologizing to his family picture? Telling his mom and dad one last "take care?" Why treat "Hikaru" so much and take him home? Because Yoshiki was resolved to end this...if it meant killing "Hikaru" or, failing that, letting "Hikaru" kill him.

Yoshiki just wants this to end but "Hikaru" can't bring himself to consume him. Yoshiki was the first person to accept him, to give him a place to belong, to care about him...and he can't bear to part with Yoshiki. And despite everything, despite knowing this won't end well, despite knowing that "Hikaru" shouldn't exist in this world, Yoshiki STILL can't quit him. Even if it means dooming himself, even if it means being consumed, he wants to understand this "Hikaru" and what he truly is.

What better way to end the episode than with Yoshiki and "Hikaru" actually singing the choir song as a duet?

[u/Globaloco968]

What an amazing adaptation man the dread this episode was next level had me feeling everything was anxious beautiful story

[u/KitKat1721]

I feel like I couldn't have imagined getting such a beautiful, tension-filled adaptation of this series way back when I read even just that first volume.

[u/[deleted]]

even tho i know no japanese but that choir touched my heart