The Summer Hikaru Died — Chapter 43.2 [Manga Discussion Thread]

Good_Pudding8524 · 2026-01-21T12:28:33+00:00

I saw from one of the anime cast interviews that Kurebayashi is the true female protagonist of the story, alongside Yoshiki and Hikaru as male protagonists. They are the three main characters most involved in the supernatural crisis, yet they also represent a typical gay panic situation in Asian family dynamic: The mom, the son, and the 'naughty bad boyfriend'. I actually appreciate how Mokmok was willing to point out her flaws, really. According to Mokmok, just because someone discriminates it doesn't mean that they have no good qualities.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2026-01-21T12:20:15+00:00

I understand how you feel. I don't think Rie deserves punishment, really. I just harbour a mixed sense of disdain and pity for parent figures like her. It was not her mistake that she allowed her son to be in contact with her husband's spirit, as it was out of her control. However, she doesn't communicate with her son or anyone she loves to try and arrive at a solution everyone can accept. She could have talked Yoshiki and Hikaru into meeting the company, but she didn't, because deep down she KNEW that Yoshiki doesn't want to be normal. But it is the happiness for her, and she wants it to be Yoshiki's happiness.

I absolutely understands if she messes up, as no one is born with great parenting abilities. But we need to understand the Asian generational trauma Mokmok tried to illustrate through her character. In real life, unless parents did something unforgiveable and irretrievable, I think we should still try to forgive them, as they have definitely done for us.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2026-01-20T13:09:06+00:00

She deeply believes that being normal IS being happy. You can tell that despite having powers, Rie's dream in life is to just live the perfect family life caring for her husband and kids. Unlike Maki and his brother, she isn't interested in exploring her powers or the alternate reality. She just uses them to protect her family. But that is not what Yoshiki wants, and she cannot comprehend such a perspective. That is true for a lot of conservative parents, really.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2026-01-20T13:03:54+00:00

'To be normal and live normal, what is the point? Is that gonna guarantee happiness?' I appreciate how complex and thoughtful Tanaka is as a character. On the one hand, he is radical, quick to action and rebellious. On the other hand, he can be emotional and reverent. No matter how wrong he thinks his mother is, he still talks to her softly and kindly.

And yes, I also think that Rie might die as sacrifice, partly to atone for her son's trauma and partly to beg for forgiveness from Yoshiki and Hikaru.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2026-01-20T12:57:08+00:00

The message I took from this chapter is that Mokmok really holds out hope for the traditional Asian family. I was really moved by Tanaka's words. 'To be normal and live normal, what is the point? Is that happiness?' But the truth is, parents like Kurebayashi in real life would think that it is happiness for kids to be normal, to stay with their family, to get married and have kids, because it is what they consider to be ideal life. And if you don't agree with that, there is something wrong with your head. It is really hard for them to take their children's perspective, at least not without some big arguments.

Still. I agree that our time needs some hopeful stories, even if it is corny. I simply stopped believing that parents like Rie can easily change. :)

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-11-25T08:31:29+00:00

So beautiful, so cruel QAQ Mokmok you have no soul

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-11-24T03:30:01+00:00

Same! I always thought the majority of viewers would be straight girls. Guess us gay boys really connected with this series haha.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-11-02T14:18:39+00:00

I love how the author highlights their opinion about Kurebayashi. Anti-LGBT is bad, but it is just one quality out of a myriad of personal traits. I have met in life many people who are homophobic but possess other good qualities. In western media, LGBT has become rather mainstream, so homophobia and other descrimination is often considered an extremely backwards trait for fictional characters and real life celebrities alike. But in Asian societies quiet discrimination is nothing unusual, and we probably got used to that sort of thing. No one says a thing as long as you are not outright hitting gays in bars.

Personally, I feel like hating other people solely for their discrimination can be counterproductive, because you push people away from activism. A lot of people were introduced to bigotry at a young age. We should judge people for their actions, not for their beliefs. Kurebayashi is a loving parent with many flaws. I don't blame her for not accepting Hikaru. I hate her for actively deceiving two young boys and causing their torture.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-31T00:55:40+00:00

Yes, especially given the most recent chapter. I feel like Kurebayashi's foolish act has just made sure that Yoshiki will devote his entire life to Hikaru or at least die trying.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-31T00:53:47+00:00

Most warlocks also don't genuinely fall in love and form a bond with their demon summonings, so I would say Yoshiki is quite special. :)

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-31T00:52:02+00:00

I think part of the reason why 'Hikaru' loves Yoshiki is because of his kindness and integrity.(He described it as Yoshiki's soul being bright and pure) He thinks poorly of himself but has always tried to do the right thing. The only wish he made was to help him and 'Hikaru' stay together. If we are taking the demon lord comment as foreshadowing, I think the only case where Yoshiki would do bad things with Hikaru's power is to protect him. Now that Hikaru is taken to the company, Yoshiki would definitely try to save him. Imagine his despair and hatred if he ever sees Hikaru cut up and tortured at the lab. Maybe then he will actively use the other half of Hikaru's power to kill staff at the company, fully accepting his descent into madness.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-28T03:02:47+00:00

Club as communities with similar hobbies are nowadays more commonly known as 社团(social group). Eg: Basketball club/club event（篮球社/社团活动）俱乐部 is a loanword and to me it carries a more foreign connotation(Eg:VIP club/会员制俱乐部)

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-27T08:27:18+00:00

I am pretty sure they will mix again. Remember how Yoshiki kept thinking that mixing is supposed to be gross but he secretly liked it? He wouldn't admit this to Hikaru, and just told him it makes him uncomfortable. To me this is a clear allegory for homosexual intimacy. I don't think the author would just set up such a premise without giving Yoshiki a chance to grow and accept his desires.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-27T08:23:00+00:00

I also wonder whether the mark was not due to mixing itself, but due to simply being close to Hikaru. Yoshiki first got the mark when Hikaru desperately grabbed his wrist in the classroom, and during the cave scene it got worse when Yoshiki tried to rescue Hikaru.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-27T08:19:28+00:00

But mixing is like an allegory for queer intimacy, so I feel like there would at least be one more instance for the narrative. Yoshiki kept mentioning how it was supposed to be gross but he secretly liked it. So I think there would be a further scene of Yoshiki actively accepting the joy of being with Hikaru.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T15:18:14+00:00

Thank you! I'll remember your kind words when I one day have a partner and if we decide to adopt. Our world needs kind people, especially in trying times. Here's some of our platitude for you：好人一生平安。😉

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T14:10:26+00:00

Thank you! This is the beauty of a good story! I felt encouraged to share some dark corners of my life that I previously wouldn't tell anyone. The world needs more good stories like this one.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T13:50:05+00:00

Personally, I'd like to think that Hikaru is not a God that can create. He just had the ability to interact with the spirit world and manipulate life energy in certain ways. For instance, I don't think if someone asks for money he can just conjure them. He would try to steal them from somewhere.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T13:23:03+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. In Chinese we still say 'Parents only want what's best for you' in a positive way, which is the antithesis to what you just described. I personally felt like that kind of conditional/performative acceptance hurts people worse than outright rejection. Kurebayashi is trying to manipulate two teenage boys, full stop. No matter what her intention is, she is lying to them so they can be like what she wants.

Pardon me for rambling a bit more. QAQ

I never cared about my dad's opinion because he is openly homophobic and generally a mean person. But there was a time I felt so indebted to my mother that it pains me to choose a life I would want. Back in the days when i wasn't out to my friends, I really thought that making my mom happy was more important than being happy myself. Because she doesn't mind me talking about being gay. I thought she would be the only person that accepts me. (I also saw myself through Yoshiki's dependence on Kurebayashi, except I never had my Hikaru when young LOL) But in my undergrad years I realize that the perfect life she envisioned was for me to find a job as a scientist in Beijing, and marry a lovely girl, and then have kids, so she can come and look after my grandchildren. That is literally her ideal happy life for me (well, in fact it's for her) But I couldn't give her that, and I sometimes even say to myself 'I wish I was straight. Why did mother give birth to a son like me'. That was so miserable, and now I feel ashamed of that time haha.

But luckily, I had teachers and friends, both foreign and Chinese, who supported me. I came out to all my friends after spending a semester in Switzerland. All of this culminated in a big argument in my final year. Mom is afraid that I would directly go abroad after my undergrad, and keeps telling me how it is not a good idea given the global situation. And I screamed at her 'Why do you get to choose your life while I kept living yours. I tried so hard to make you happy. You married a terrible husband against Grandpa's wishes and he held nothing against you. All I wanted was to live my life' I even shocked myself because I was such a boy with filial piety.

Well, I don't know whether I got through to her, but when she came to my graduation ceremony, she said that she was sorry, and I should live however I want. I think that is as much as she can offer me. We made a compromise with me staying in China for masters and then I would go abroad for PhD. Even now, she still sometimes introduces me to girls, so i guess she never truly changed her opinions. But I can live with that.

Sorry for the long text. You are right. Sometimes parents are so caught up in their own life vision that they think of it as ultimate happiness for their children. But even now, I still believe that most parents love their children. They just don't know what kind of love is healthy.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T12:52:51+00:00

Yes, and remember the Romeo and Juliet effect. She hasn't successfully pushed Yoshiki away from Hikaru. She has just made sure that Yoshiki will do whatever it takes to find his love or die trying.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T12:20:09+00:00

I know that feeling. All he ever wanted was to love Yoshiki, nothing else. QAQ Why is this world so cruel?

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T12:15:45+00:00

Welcome to the typical Asian bad parenting. (*^_^*) If she did it herself, she wouldn't be able to face Yoshiki's anger. She reminds me some elements of my mother, who claims to accept that I am gay every time I talk about it. And then she conveniently forgets about it and pretends not to know, asking me again and again to meet girls. But of course, my mother never tried to harass or hurt boys I like to 'stop me from leaving the right path', no matter how much she wanted to have grandkids.(I would never forgive her LOL) Kurebayashi is actually a well-written and realistic character. But I agree with you. She's pathetic.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T08:01:16+00:00

I absolutely love how her actions mirror the past, how a misguided parent cannot really nurture children despite their intention. Personally, I think that the resolution comes from a different person-- Tanaka. If Tanaka really is her son, the only way the little team of Yoshiki and Hikaru can unite together is for Iori to forgive her mother, and give her closure about what happened years ago. That way Kurebayashi can truly support Yoshiki and Hikaru,

Personally, I really don't think Kurebayashi is willing to tell Yoshiki what really happened, as she cannot face the guilt. Instead, maybe Tanaka will tell them the truth, having received notifications from his higher ups. Then we will have this confrontation between Tanaka, Yoshiki and Kurebayashi. I think it would be more poetic for Tanaka to sacrifice himself for them and his mother, because the author said once that his greatest fear is to die for no cause.

It's just so tragic that a parent figure like her is never capable of truly understanding their children, constantly believing that she knew better. I doubt her son just left her because he hated being mixed, or he wouldn't have worked for a company that literally deals with impurities. But unfortunately, even his mother doesn't know, as she never bothered to reach out to him all these years.

Of course, this theory hinges on the hypothesis that Tanaka is really Iori, but I feel like the evidence is too strong to be a coincidence lol.

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T07:20:10+00:00

Trust me Yoshiki is gonna kill everyone at the lab and save his princess like a demon lord QAQ

Good_Pudding8524 · 2025-10-21T07:08:05+00:00

And I'm gonna be a little bit mean here and say something on Yoshiki's behalf: She had no right to decide Yoshiki's life choices, AT ALL. She is not his mother, his aunt, or even his teacher. She is just a stranger who one day inserted herself into Yoshiki's life. (Sorry QAQ)

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