光が死んだ夏 [Hikaru ga Shinda Matsu]

A quiet, unsettling horror manga from Kadokawa, Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu follows a young man whose childhood friend, Hikaru, has been replaced by something that wears his skin and mimics his smile. As the protagonist struggles with grief and the eerie, affectionate entity now living in Hikaru's form, the series explores identity and loss through a lens of slow-burn dread. Written and illustrated by Mokumokuren, it has earned a devoted following for its haunting atmosphere and delicate, unnerving character work. With only eight issues so far, it stands as a modern standout in psychological horror manga.