The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 is set to air in a week, and anime fans are already bracing themselves for what could be one of the most emotionally charged and terrifying installments yet. As the series moves closer to its finale, the stakes have never been higher for Yoshiki, Hikaru, and the cursed village of Kigobayama.
Fans won’t have to wait long to continue this haunting ride. The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 will be released on Saturday, September 27, 2025. As always, the new episode will stream exclusively on Netflix, which has been the home for this folk-horror-meets-BL drama since its premiere earlier this summer. With only one more episode left after this, Episode 12 carries the heavy responsibility of setting up the finale while also delivering revelations of its own.
Recap of Episode 11

The episode shows us that Hikaru’s sudden loss of strength stems from the fact that he gave part of his body to Yoshiki earlier. This act of sacrifice left him unstable, torn between his monstrous essence and his attachment to Yoshiki. This act of sacrifice left him unstable, torn between his monstrous essence and his attachment to Yoshiki.
Yoshiki confronted his father and unearthed the horrifying truth about the Indo family’s original sin. Long ago, a family head made a grotesque bargain with Nonuki-sama, offering the lives of villagers in exchange for reviving his dead wife. The result was catastrophic: a third of the village perished, and the wife returned only as a severed head.
Hikaru and Yoshiki discovered the Indo family shrine, adorned with disturbing wooden effigies of human heads. When Hikaru touched them, traumatic memories surfaced, suggesting his deep connection to the curse and the mountain’s dark god.
Perhaps the most devastating moment came when Hikaru lost control, almost harming Yoshiki. Realizing the danger he poses, Hikaru considered retreating to the mountain, believing isolation might be the only way to protect Yoshiki and their friends.
What to expect from The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 (Speculative)

From previews and leaks, The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 will likely explore:
- More about Nonuki-sama: While villagers believed rituals appeased the god, Episode 11 hinted that Nonuki-sama never cared for their offerings. Yet the disappearances and massacres still stopped after sacrifices. The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 might explain this contradiction.
- Deepen the mythology: The show has spent much of its runtime dropping cryptic lore without fully resolving it. Episode 12 needs to tie many of these threads together: Nonuki-sama, the Indo curse, and the role Hikaru plays in the cycle of death.
- Push Hikaru to his breaking point: Hikaru’s inner conflict has been building since the beginning. Episode 12 will almost certainly force him to choose between staying with Yoshiki and retreating to the mountains.
- Set up the finale: With only one more episode after this, The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 has to balance exposition with action. It cannot afford to be just another lore dump; it has to create emotional stakes for the showdown.
- The Indo family’s sin is unfinished: What if the sacrifices weren’t truly enough? Episode 12 may reveal that the curse is ongoing and that Hikaru’s presence is part of its continuation.
- Asako’s role: Viewers noticed that Asako briefly saw Hikaru’s monstrous side. Will she stay silent, or will she expose him? The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 might give her more significance.
The Summer Hikaru Died Episode 12 will essentially determine the finale’s direction. Will Hikaru embrace his monstrous side and sacrifice himself? Will Yoshiki stay in the village or choose to follow Hikaru into isolation? Will Nonuki-sama finally be revealed in full? For better or worse, Episode 11 has set the stage for a finale that could either resolve the mystery of Kigobayama or leave fans begging for a Season 2.