Episode 4 of The Summer Hikaru Died, titled “Summer Festival,” delves deeper into the psychological horror and emotional complexities surrounding Yoshiki and the entity inhabiting his best friend, Hikaru. The episode intertwines lighthearted festival scenes with a creeping sense of dread and significant revelations about Hikaru’s death and the village’s hidden history.
Unveiling Yoshiki’s Burdens and the Past
The episode begins with an almost comical scene of the imposter Hikaru attempting to pet a cat, highlighting his alien nature despite his human appearance. This moment sets a subtle, uneasy tone that permeates the entire episode. Much of Episode 4 focuses on Yoshiki’s internal struggle and the heavy burden of truth he has been carrying. It’s revealed that Yoshiki knew the real Hikaru was dead from the moment he found his lifeless body in the mountains, a secret that has been haunting him. Yoshiki had gone to search for Hikaru against his mother’s wishes, discovering Hikaru’s cold corpse before blacking out and falling ill for days. When he recovered, the imposter Hikaru had already returned, leaving Yoshiki to grapple with the terrifying reality that his friend was gone, replaced by something else. This personal revelation is a pivotal moment, showing Yoshiki’s profound grief and denial. His decision to remain with the imposter Hikaru, despite knowing the truth, is driven by a deep-seated fear of being alone and a desperate clinging to what remains of his friendship.
The Summer Festival and Village Secrets
The central event of the episode is the village’s summer festival, which Yoshiki attends with the imposter Hikaru and his younger sister, Kaoru. While outwardly a scene of celebration, the festivities are underscored by an unsettling atmosphere and hints of the village’s long-kept secrets. The elders of the community express concern over supernatural events plaguing their lives, including a recent death, and discuss ancient rituals meant to confine mysterious beings from the mountains. These beings are capable of imitating humans, directly tying into Yoshiki’s fears about “Hikaru.”
It’s disclosed that the Indo family, Hikaru’s lineage, has historically been responsible for performing a ritual to keep evil spirits confined to the mountain and away from Kubitachi village. Hikaru’s father, Kouhei, was the last to perform this ritual, and some elders suspect its failure led to the Mountain God’s descent and the haunting of their people. The revelation that only male members of the Indo family can perform this ritual adds to the growing unease.
Intensifying Mystery and Supernatural Encounters
The episode also highlights the continued investigation by Tanaka, the mysterious figure from “the company,” who is piecing together the supernatural occurrences. Tanaka sets up a spiritual barrier near the shrine, which the imposter Hikaru accidentally touches. This contact immediately alerts Tanaka to the entity’s presence, intensifying his search and adding to the overarching mystery.
Meanwhile, Rie Kurebayashi, the perceptive woman who previously warned Yoshiki, faces her own supernatural encounter. Asako Yamagishi, another friend, also senses something amiss near the train tracks and warns a friend away, confirming the presence of evil spirits in the area. The episode ends with Rie at the railroad tracks, encountering a supernatural being which she appears to push back, hinting at her own abilities and possibly her past experiences with such entities. There’s speculation that the imposter Hikaru, possibly out of possessiveness towards Yoshiki, might be sending other spirits to target Rie.
Emotional Depth and Thematic Exploration
“Summer Festival” deepens the anime’s exploration of identity, grief, and the terrifying ways love can distort reality. The episode emphasizes the unsettling emotional distance between Yoshiki and the imposter Hikaru, even as Yoshiki struggles to let go. Yoshiki’s confession of having seen the real Hikaru’s corpse is a profound moment, allowing him to process his grief and, paradoxically, deepen his bond with the imposter. The anime subtly portrays a complex emotional connection, resembling romantic love, between Yoshiki and “Hikaru,” further complicated by Yoshiki’s internalized struggles with his identity and the village’s conservative views.
The episode concludes with a haunting post-credits scene that finally reveals the real Hikaru’s last moments. He is shown slipping and falling in the mountain rain, fatally wounding himself. As he lies dying, his thoughts turn to Yoshiki, expressing a desperate wish not to leave him alone. It is at this vulnerable moment that the mysterious entity, referred to as “Unuki-sama,” approaches him and begins to consume him, fulfilling his dying wish to stay by Yoshiki’s side in some form. This scene confirms the entity’s origins and its profound connection to Hikaru’s final desire, pushing the narrative into even more unsettling territory.
