Summer Time Rendering (Volume 3) – Memento / Bloody Night

Shinpei and Sou find out what really happened when Ushio died and something even more unexpected happens. That leads them to the old clinic which holds even more secrets. Who is the Great Hiruko and what does she want?

Summer Time Rendering (Volume 3) – Memento / Bloody Night

What happened?

Shinpei, Sou, and the Shadow Ushio watched as Ushio explained everything that happened and what they had learnt. She revealed that the Shadow Ushio was an ally and could be trusted as much as she could be. That was the trigger that opened Shadow Ushio’s memories. She remembered how to fight and move as a shadow, but more importantly, she remembered what happened when Ushio died. Not only that, she showed them.

The memory was as harrowing as you might expect as the Shadow Shiori dragged her beneath the water. Ushio dived in to save her along with Shadow Ushio. They managed to separate them, but it was only for a moment. Shadow Shiori strangled Ushio and then consumed Shiori. Shadow Ushio was reduced to a blob and left to drift in the ocean. Shadow Shiori had tried to wipe her memories but ran out of time as Mio and Sou came to the rescue.

Then, as they watched in horror, Shiori’s shadow grabbed Shinpei’s arm and spoke to him. How was that possible, she was part of a memory and he was never there. They returned and decided to visit the old family clinic that was run by Sou’s father. There, they hoped they would find some answers but nothing could have prepared them for the reality of it.

Summer Time Rendering Volume 3 Shadow Shiori grabs Shinpei in a memory

What did you think?

The problem with reviewing these double-length volumes is that I barely touch on the details of what happened. Of course, as a reader, it’s spectacular. I get to keep reading without wasting any time putting down one book and picking up another. That might not sound like much, but when the story is this engrossing, any time away is painful. Seriously, this series is amazing. It’s brutal and horrific and so so good. It feels like this book was created specifically for me. I love it.

So, we found out more about Shadow Ushio and how she somehow copied too much of Ushio and erased all the memories of being a Shadow. As such she is not under the control of Haine, the original Shadow. We’ve also had it confirmed that there are effectively two Shadow Ushios in the timeline now. The one that is with Shinpei and the one that he will meet on the beach on the day of the festival. That is going to be crucial information by the end of this story, I have no doubts about it.

And the way Shinpei died this time was particularly brutal and then the moment that he woke up was amazing – standing in front of Hizuru and Nezu with Shadow Ushio who no doubt hadn’t been there a second ago. Given how little Hizuru and Nezu trust Shadows, it will make for an interesting opening to the next volume. I absolutely love this series and can’t wait to jump into the anime. I hope it does it justice.