The Summer Hikaru Died OP - "Saikai" / Vaundy (Piano)

Ray Krislianggi here.

Vaundy composed, arranged, and wrote "Saikai" (再会), the opening theme of The Summer Hikaru Died (光が死んだ夏 / Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu). The madman had full control of the creative writing and created probably one of the most iconic anime songs of Summer 2025. He wrote the song based on the uneasy and unpredictable feeling he experienced while reading the original manga. The anime's opening premiered on July 5th, 2025, with full digital release on July 13, 2025.

It's a rather difficult piece to arrange and cover on piano, especially the verse, where you've got an independent bass guitar rhythm that's separate from the constant rhythm of the drums. My favourite part is the chorus, which gives an interesting contrast and a pseudo-optimistic vibe with its vocal harmony. That's the feel that I'm trying to replicate in this arrangement, and I'm very happy with the result. It's played at a different musical scale than the rest of the song, and is clearly audible during the transition from the chorus to the outro.

It's been a while since we got a decent horror anime, and The Summer Hikaru Died looks to be a fantastic horror anime that I'm definitely looking forward to watching.

Per MyAnimeList synopsis, the story follows best friends Yoshiki and Hikaru, who have been stuck together like glue for most of their lives. Living in a small village and being the only children their age, the two boys find solace in each other's company. Their friendship seems picturesque at first glance, but Yoshiki has noticed a shift in Hikaru's demeanour ever since one fateful summer. The "Hikaru" that sits beside him now is nothing like his friend.

Despite his physical appearance and memories remaining exactly the same, Yoshiki knows something is amiss and that the Hikaru he once knew is gone. When he brings this up, Hikaru partially transforms into an otherworldly being, threatening to kill Yoshiki if he cannot accept it—while also professing its love for him. Wracked with grief and unable to let go of his best friend, Yoshiki struggles to move on with his life as he finds himself getting closer to the new Hikaru. At the same time, strange occurrences begin to plague their village, bringing unsettling chaos.

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Much love from Indonesia, thank you for watching!