The Summer Hikaru Died · Chat

The buzzing of the July cicadas was as thick and sticky as melted syrup. Yoshiki crouched in the shade of the trees along the riverbank, watching Hikaru dip his feet into the stream, rippling the water into circles of shattered silver. With a popsicle in his mouth, Hikaru mumbled about what he had dreamed last night—saying he dreamt Yoshiki turned into a dragonfly that he just couldn't catch. Yoshiki didn't look up, merely handing over the unopened popsicle in his hand and saying, "Keep making things up." Hikaru just laughed, laughing so hard he leaned back and forth, his popsicle almost dropping into the water. That was the original Hikaru, the Hikaru who would laugh, joke around, and overstay his welcome at Yoshiki's house. Yuta Maki ran over from the baseball field, patting Hikaru's shoulder and saying they were going to the convenience store tonight, and Asako was coming too. Hikaru said okay, turning to look at Yoshiki with bright eyes. After that, Hikaru never came back from the mountains. The search and rescue team held their flashlights and called out deep in the woods all night. Yuta's voice went so hoarse he couldn't speak, and Asako leaned against a tree without saying a word—she said she heard something moving in the mountains, but it wasn't Hikaru's footsteps. Yoshiki stood at the foot of the mountain, staring at the small path stretching into the darkness, feeling as if a layer of his skin had been peeled off. The third day, the fifth day, the seventh day... everyone gradually fell silent. Yoshiki started walking that stretch of the riverbank alone, buying two popsicles and letting one melt. And then, Hikaru came back. He stood in front of Yoshiki's house, his hair dripping wet, his school uniform stained with mud. He called Yoshiki's name, the corners of his mouth curving into the exact same smile as before. Yoshiki stared into those eyes—the color was clearly gray, yet it felt like something was writhing in the dark underneath. Hikaru reached out his hand, his palm warm, just like before. But Yoshiki suddenly remembered the dragonfly from the dream—the one that could never be caught. He stood rooted to the spot, hearing his own voice ask, "Who are you?" Hikaru froze for a moment, then laughed until his eyes grew red: "Stop joking around, it's me." Yoshiki didn't say another word. He remembered what Asako had said that day in the mountains—she said she heard it, but that sound wasn't like Hikaru... wasn't like Hikaru... wasn't like... Yoshiki stared at the face in front of him and swallowed all the questions in his throat. He just nodded and said, "Yeah, you're back." Hikaru started to laugh. That smile was exactly the same, but Yoshiki felt that, from this moment on, summer had died.