The Summer Hikaru Died continued its chilling narrative with Episode 10, aptly titled “Truth,” which aired around September 2025. This pivotal installment plunges deeper into the mysterious folklore of the village and the increasingly complex relationship between Yoshiki and the entity inhabiting Hikaru’s body. The episode delivers shocking revelations following a dramatic cliffhanger, pushing the characters further into the heart of the supernatural enigma surrounding their town.
The Immediate Aftermath of a Horrifying Cliffhanger
Episode 10 picks up directly from the shocking events of Episode 9, where Hikaru was seemingly beheaded by the mysterious Tanaka. The episode opens with a frantic Yoshiki attempting to reattach Hikaru’s severed head, a scene that left many viewers stunned and in a state of panic. As Yoshiki desperately tries to reassemble his friend, a mysterious, oozing sludge pours from Hikaru’s neck, only to surge back into his body, successfully reattaching his head. This traumatic event causes Yoshiki to collapse and lose consciousness.
Upon waking, Yoshiki finds himself in the hospital, with Hikaru in the next bed, his head miraculously reattached. However, Hikaru is noticeably weaker than before and now experiences pain, a new and significant development for the entity. This newfound vulnerability is attributed to a body part Hikaru previously gave to Yoshiki.
Delving into the Village’s Dark History
As the group tries to process the recent attack by Tanaka, the narrative shifts to uncovering more about Kibogayama’s dark and unsettling past. Much of the exposition regarding the village’s history of human sacrifice and the “Unuki-san” legend comes through various conversations and discoveries.
The Legend of Unuki-san and Ancient Rituals
Maki, a friend of Yoshiki and Hikaru, shares a chilling historical account of “Unuki-san.” This was once a secret code word used when food shortages forced the village to reduce its population through a mercury-based drug called Uronuki Medicine, which caused abortions. It’s revealed that human bones, specifically torsos and arms, but notably without skulls, were found in various “haunted” areas of the village. Miraculously, after Unuki was enshrined on the mountain, the village’s fortunes improved.
Yoshiki, pondering the fate of “Nonuki-sama,” wonders why their town is the only one that still maintains a shrine dedicated to such entities. He and Hikaru decide to investigate the shrine that night, discovering walls covered in wooden carvings of human heads. Touching these carvings triggers Hikaru’s memories, revealing that real human heads were once offerings to Unuki-sama to aid the impoverished villagers, with the wooden heads honoring those who were killed. This twisted history suggests that the villagers had engaged in mass murders in the past, offering heads to Nonuki-sama, a practice the Indo family was seemingly involved in.
Tanaka’s Agenda and Kurebayashi’s Involvement
Tanaka, the mysterious man who attacked Hikaru, also has a significant role in this episode. It’s revealed that he isn’t just a random investigator; he’s part of a company and possesses specialized glasses that allow him to see things ordinary people cannot. While he claims to be on humanity’s side, his motives appear murkier, as he seems to have personal objectives beyond his company’s mission to find something from “their world” – the world from which Hikaru’s entity originates. He expresses thrill at the entity having weakened itself by gaining an identity.
Kurebayashi, who previously allied with Yoshiki and Hikaru, continues to offer her support. She investigates Tanaka and cautions Hikaru not to involve Yoshiki further, hinting at the increasing danger of their situation. Her personal history, having once housed an “impurity” (her husband) and dedicating herself to studying spirits, makes her involvement deeply personal and her insights valuable.
Yoshiki and Hikaru’s Deepening Bond
Amidst the unfolding horrors, the emotional core of the series—Yoshiki’s relationship with the entity Hikaru—continues to evolve. Yoshiki, grappling with his trauma, tries to maintain a semblance of normalcy, though the underlying fear is palpable.
Hikaru, after his near-death experience, is now more vulnerable and feels pain, a significant change that makes him “more human” in a sense. The two friends share silent, haunted looks, and when Hikaru seems to lose control, Yoshiki draws him back, offering comfort and warmth. Yoshiki even creates a small grave for the original Hikaru, honoring his lost friend while still accepting and protecting the entity that now inhabits his body. He explicitly states that he doesn’t want “this Hikaru” to change and is ready to accept and protect him as he is.
The episode also features Hikaru confessing an unsettling urge: to swallow everyone to fill its emptiness, though it’s unsure why, leading to questions about whether this is the village’s curse or something born of human cruelty.
Looking Forward
“The Summer Hikaru Died” Episode 10, “Truth,” significantly advances the plot by revealing more about the village’s sinister past and the true nature of the threats facing Hikaru and Yoshiki. While some viewers found the exposition heavy, the episode was crucial in building the lore and deepening the emotional stakes. The mysterious motives of Tanaka and the continued exploration of Hikaru’s evolving existence leave the audience eager for the final episodes of the season, which consists of 12 episodes in total.
