If you could give advice to teenagers who may have feelings similar to Yoshiki, what would you like to share?
MOKUMOKUREN: Yoshiki grew up in a secluded rural town and has many difficulties in life. His mother's an outsider, his sister doesn't go to school, his parents fight, and the way people around him look at him. He's also concerned about his gender. He's by no means a particularly unfortunate character but a protagonist with problems that can be found anywhere. And when Yoshiki faces the monster called "Hikaru," he must also face himself.
There comes a time when almost every teenager, no matter where they live, must face themselves. They need to confront the parts they don't want to acknowledge and the contradictions within themselves. I'm sure that's the same for adults as well. I don't want Yoshiki to be an ideal hero, but a protagonist who is close to those kinds of realistic concerns.
Excerpt about Yoshiki from Small-town Horror: Interview with The Summer Hikaru Died Creator Mokumokuren by Lynzee Loveridge