Four Seasons: Summer

Enter the alien world of a cicada as it experiences this strange and wonderful thing called life.

Told in short sentences and simple grammar, this story introduces slightly more challenge than "Spring" due to the unfamiliar subject matter, but our notes will help you navigate the tricky parts. (10 episodes)

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Episode 1
The main character's journey begins.
Notes: This episode contains a note on alternate ways of writing a word that means "sibling," one on a pattern for saying that movement occurs "toward" a particular place, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 5005
Voice Only Unread 790
Episode 2
The siblings go through a change.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using the particle で to mean "in such a group," a breakdown of a potentially tricky sentence, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 1626
Voice Only Unread 201
Pro
Episode 3
As the cicadas continue to grow, the narrator makes a shocking discovery.
Notes: This episode contains a note on two different ways to use the word みんな, one on a pattern that means you thought something that you now realize is mistaken, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 991
Voice Only Unread 119
Pro
Episode 4
Concerned for their safety, the cicada family makes a decision.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the difference between two words for "move," one on a pattern that means "without (verbing)," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 672
Voice Only Unread 74
Pro
Episode 5
The three arrive at a strange opening. But is it safe?
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern that means that a sensation spontaneously occurs, one on a pattern that means a thought or a realization occurs without conscious intent, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 528
Voice Only Unread 57
Pro
Episode 6
The cicada siblings take stock of their present situation.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using は for contrastive purposes, one on a word that means "rejoice," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 447
Voice Only Unread 46
Pro
Episode 7
The narrator feels a peculiar new urge that he cannot ignore.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the pattern for saying you must do something, one on another use of the ~ず negative, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 459
Voice Only Unread 35
Pro
Episode 8
The narrator discovers a sense of liberation he had never imagined.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a use of つもり to mean a belief, one on a change of the particle が to の that can happen inside relative clauses, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 375
Voice Only Unread 29
Pro
Episode 9
The narrator savors his newfound freedom...but is something missing?
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern that means "How...it is!", one on a common shorthand in relative clauses, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 343
Voice Only Unread 26
Pro
Episode 10
The narrator completes his story.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using the word すぐ as a prefix, one on the word もと to mean a person's location, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 315
Voice Only Unread 27