It has Hikaru’s face. It has Hikaru’s voice. It even has Hikaru’s memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn’t Yoshiki’s best friend. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed―as if Hikaru isn’t gone―would be crazy...but when it looks so very like Hikaru...and acts so very like Hikaru...

When Yoshiki struggles to accept the new Hikaru, he’s given a glimpse of what’s lurking inside his best friend. But will that be the final straw that drives Yoshiki away for good?

A strange man arrives to investigate the strange occurrences that seem to be happening more and more frequently around the village. Everything seems to be linked to the mountain where Hikaru died and “Hikaru” came from...

While “Hikaru” is not the Hikaru he once knew, Yoshiki must admit that this new entity has become a friend in his own right. But his true identity remains a mystery…even to the impostor himself! When their research into the town’s history brings them to the library, the boys discover an unsettling clue about the mysterious happenings in the region. Though, the question still stands of what “Hikaru” and the Nounuki\-sama mentioned in Hikaru’s note might be—and whether they aren’t in fact one and the same...

Yoshiki has resolved to walk alongside the “something” that replaced his friend, Hikaru. But changes begin to appear, not just in the village, but also in the impostor himself! As they sense their current lives moments from crumbling down, the boys continue their investigation into “Hikaru’s” identity. The history of Kubitachi, the truth of “Nounuki\-sama,” and the “Indous’ sin”...what will the answers to these mysteries mean for “Hikaru” and Yoshiki?!

お前は、本当は何がしたいん？ ある集落で共に育った少年、よしきと光。 光にすり変わった「ナニカ」と共に歩み出したよしきの前に 突如として現れたタナカ。 彼から告げられたのは、ヒカルの正体についてだった。 二人の決意が問われた時、それぞれが見つけた本当の気持ちとは――。 一方、二人の成長を待つことなく、あの世と繋がる「穴」は拡大を続けていた。 「穴」の調査を行うため、巻の住むアシドリへ向かうことになるが――。 巻末には、友人である巻との出会いが語られる 描き下ろし短編も収録。

だって、おれから目を逸らさんでいてくれたやろ ある集落で共に育った少年、よしきと光。 光が「ナニカ」とすり替わってから、各地にケガレが増え始めていた。 ケガレが蔓延するのを防ぐため、よしきたちはあの世と繋がる複数の「穴」を閉じるべく動きだす。 向こう側からしか閉じることのできない「穴」。 ヒカルは、「ナニカ」から目を逸らさずにいてくれたよしきとの「つながり」を利用して、自身が「穴」を閉じて戻ってくると提案する。 一方、朝子とタナカは、ケガレに穴を閉じてもらうため、ケガレとの交渉に挑む――！