Episode 12 is the final episode of Season 1. It concludes the battle in Akira’s hometown while delivering an emotional message about friendship, dreams, forgiveness, and living life without regrets. The episode adapts Chapters 20–22 of the manga.

Beginning of the Episode

The episode begins by revealing the past of Kanta Higurashi, the main villain.

When Higurashi was a child, he enjoyed playing with friends, especially swimming together. However, as he grew older, he became shy and isolated. He struggled to make friends in school and college.

During college, he noticed Akira.

Akira was always smiling, energetic, and surrounded by friends. Higurashi became jealous because he believed everyone eventually becomes lonely, but Akira never seemed to lose his happiness.

Instead of trying to become Akira’s friend, Higurashi allowed jealousy to grow into hatred. That hatred eventually shaped the person he became.

Akira Refuses to Give Up

Back in the present, Higurashi surrounds the farmhouse with zombies.

Akira’s father, Teruo, tells him not to open the door because doing so would endanger everyone.

Akira, however, refuses to watch his family die.

He tells his father that he still hasn’t repaid everything his parents have done for him. His mother reveals that Teruo has several health problems, making Akira fear he may soon lose his father.

Instead of blaming Akira, Teruo encourages him to continue following his bucket list and live a meaningful life.

This conversation becomes one of the most emotional father-son moments in the entire series.

Akira’s Clever Plan

Everyone believes Akira is making a reckless decision when he opens the door.

The zombies rush inside.

A few moments later…

Akira walks out.

But he looks like…

A zombie!

Higurashi laughs, believing Akira has been infected.

However, this is actually a brilliant trick.

Nagisa and the others used makeup from the storage shed to make Akira look like a zombie. Akira disguised himself so he could safely approach Higurashi without raising suspicion.

Suddenly, Akira grabs Higurashi and pulls him off the construction vehicle.

It is one of the smartest plans Akira has created throughout the series.

Higurashi’s Defeat

After Higurashi falls, the zombies begin attacking him.

During the chaos, one zombie bites his ankle.

Higurashi realizes that he has been infected.

For the first time, his confidence disappears.

He understands that his own choices have led him to this tragic ending.

The Saddest Conversation

Instead of celebrating victory…

Akira asks Higurashi a simple question:

“What did you really want?”

After pretending to be strong for so long…

Higurashi finally admits the truth.

He never wanted power.

He never wanted revenge.

He never wanted destruction.

He simply wanted…

Friends.

He missed the days when he laughed with others at the swimming pool.

Akira tells him he had actually tried to become friends with him years ago, but Higurashi always pushed everyone away because of his own fears.

To show compassion instead of hatred, Akira hugs him.

This fulfills another item on Akira’s bucket list: “Give someone a free hug.”

Higurashi’s Final Decision

Knowing he will soon become a zombie, Higurashi decides to perform one final good deed.

He runs directly into the zombie horde.

The zombies chase him away from the village, giving everyone else time to escape.

Eventually, he reaches a river.

As he closes his eyes, he imagines himself swimming happily with friends again.

With peace finally in his heart, he lets himself sink beneath the water.

It is a tragic ending, but also a moment of redemption.

Escape from the Village

Even after defeating Higurashi, hundreds of zombies continue chasing the survivors.

Beatrix arrives riding the giant water wheel, smashing through obstacles and creating an escape route.

Just when it seems everyone is trapped because the suspension bridge has collapsed, Kumano appears with a newly built bridge.

Thanks to everyone’s teamwork, the villagers successfully escape into the forest.

Akira Finally Understands His Father

Later that night, Akira sits beside his exhausted father.

His mother tells him something he never knew.

Although Teruo rarely showed affection, he constantly worried about Akira while he lived in Tokyo.

Akira breaks down in tears.

Then he asks the serious question:

“What illness does Dad actually have?”

The answer surprises everyone.

His father isn’t infected with the zombie virus.

He simply has…

Hemorrhoids.

The emotional tension immediately turns into comedy, perfectly matching Zom 100’s style.

A New Dream

Inspired by his father’s words, Akira creates a new goal.

Instead of simply surviving…

He wants to:

• Find a cure for the zombie virus.
• Make the world better.
• Convince his father to finally have surgery.

His friends also expand their own bucket lists.

Together they grow their dreams from 100 goals into many more, showing that life always offers new possibilities.

Goodbye to the Village

The villagers thank Akira and his friends for saving everyone.

Kumano decides to remain behind and rebuild the village.

Shizuka rediscovers her dream of becoming a doctor.

Kencho renews his goal of making people laugh.

Beatrix decides to help restore Japan’s natural beauty.

Everyone has found a renewed purpose.

Ending Scene

The four friends climb back into their camper van.

Although Akira has absolutely no idea how to cure the zombie virus…

He smiles anyway.

Rather than worrying about the impossible, the group decides to continue their adventure by heading north toward Hokkaido.

The season ends exactly how the series began:

Not with fear…

But with excitement about living life to the fullest.

Main Themes of Episode 12

Friendship is priceless. Higurashi spent years chasing revenge, only to realize that what he truly wanted was companionship.

Life is too short for regret. Akira continues adding dreams to his bucket list instead of letting fear control him.

Family love isn’t always expressed through words. Teruo seemed strict, but he cared deeply about his son all along.

Everyone deserves a second chance. Even Higurashi finds a measure of peace by making one final selfless choice.