The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 ended with Episode 12. In the episode, Asako confronted Hikaru, making the latter realize what he had taken away from Hikaru’s friends and family. The creature decides to return to the mountains from where he came.
However, when he announced this decision to Yoshiki, he received an adverse reaction. Yoshiki did not care about anything else and did not want Hikaru to leave. On the other hand, Tanaka announces that Nonuki-sama never existed.
Spoiler Alert !!!The Summer Hikaru Died manga spoilers
Why Did Tanaka Deny Nonuki-Sama’s Existence in The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12?
Tanaka denied that Nonuki-sama existed | Credits: Cygames Pictures
In The Summer Hikaru Died episode 12, Tanaka confessed that the villagers don’t need to worry since Nonuki-sama didn’t exist. This means that the rituals being observed by the Indou Family for generations were useless. It also means that the real Hikaru died in vain.
In order to understand what Tanaka meant, one has to dive into the manga. In chapter 27 of The Summer Hikaru Died, Tanaka explained that the creature inside Hikaru was never the person who stole heads. He explains that there is no such thing as Nonuki-sama, and it is a mere fiction borne out of human minds.
The creature inside Hikaru is actually an ‘abnormal being’ who was believed to be Nonuki-sama when humans were first faced with it. In reality, he is an otherworldly being who slid into the world of humans and got mixed up. Since it was beyond human logic, humans had to employ some framework to understand it.
Apparently, the creature inside Hikaru might have emerged around the same time as the Indou family head’s wife died. These creatures are called Lost Children as they are innocent and mistaken, but they dig their claws into reality to bend it to their will so that they can grant a wish. These wishes mostly end in disaster since making a contract with a being beyond human knowledge is akin to inviting tragedy.
So, why didn’t Tanaka try to kill Hikaru in the ending of The Summer Hikaru Died season 1? That’s because he knew that the creature inside Hikaru was already walking towards its own ruin. It had already decided to go back to the mountains, without even Tanaka’s interference. So Tanaka has no reason to force Hikaru.
The Summer Hikaru Died Season 1 Ending Confirmed Yoshiki’s Feelings for Hikaru
Episode 12 showed Yoshiki rambling on about how he can’t let Hikaru go. He can’t bear the thought of Hikaru leaving him. When Hikaru tried to justify it by saying that he is a monster and needs to return to where he came from, Yoshiki admits that he himself is also a monster because he has always hidden his true nature.
Yoshiki thinks back to all the times when he felt isolated and alienated from the rest of the world. This seems like a subtle nod to his struggle with his sexual identity. The way he clings to Hikaru, it becomes instantly clear that he has always adored Hikaru.
It is yet to be seen if the anime is going to actually delve into the queer angle of the story or not. Episode 12 has already cut out the scene in which Hikaru confessed his adoration and love for Yoshiki. So it will be interesting to see how the anime handles such a complex matter.
Here is a table with more details on the anime:
The Summer Hikaru Died IMDB Rating8.2/10Season 1 Debut and EndingJuly 6, 2025-September 28, 2025Total Episodes12The Summer Hikaru Died Season 2 StatusGreenlit
What did you think about the finale of The Summer Hikaru Died? Do you think it was an apt ending? Let us know in the comments below.
The Summer Hikaru Died anime is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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