Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Tsumihoroboshi-hen 3-4

September 26, 2006 | 16 Comments

Well, this has been a fun series to watch and I'm quite satisfied with the explanations provided thus far. Unfortunately, there is only one episode left and there are some mysteries that have not been explained properly. I really hope that the next episode won't end in a similar manner to the other ending but since this is not the final arc in the series, I doubt it'll get resolved in any manner. Another downside about this series is the occasional cheesy lines that the characters get to deliver. I understand what the writers try to accomplish but I think those scenes would have been better achived if the characters actually do something instead of saying things outloud. As a side note, I was quite amused after I watched these episode because they remind me a lot of Biohazard 4. Even though I don't think that was the intended idea, Rena's explanation in episode 25 certainly brings back memory of the game.

Episode 24: Tsumihoroboshi 3

The episode opens with Ooishi and Dr.Irie examining the dead body of Tomitake, who apparently was found with slashed throat. Judging from his bleeding hands, Irie deducted that the injury is possibly self-inflicted. However, when the police finds a wooden block and bruises on Tomitake's body, they believe that someone may have beaten the guy to death. Irie suddenly remembers that Takano was once seen with Irie. Because of this Ooishi asks the police to look for unidentified corpse. He believes that if she can't be found then this will mark the 5th year of 'Oyashiro-sama's curse'. The next day, Keiichi and the gang are in the middle of playing a murder-mystery card when their teacher tells them that someone is looking for Rena. That someone turns out to be Ooishi, who wants to know when she last saw Tomitake and Takano. Rena explains to Ooishi that the last time she saw the two of them was at the Watanagashi festival.

Rena remembers how she met Takano in the library and how Takano told her about the bizzare 'chain of death' that happened and is still going on in Hinamizawa. Takano believed that these incidents are caused by a sect which worships Oyashiro-sama and wants to maintain its power. Takano also told Rena that when the village name was changed into Hinamizawa, several customs which were practiced in Onigafuchi village also ceased to exist. Takano was convinced that the sect, which includes the three house of Hinamizawa, tries to revive the customs and fear of the Onigafuchi village. She told Rena a story of demons who emerged from Onigafuchi marsh and attacked the village. However, Oyashiro-sama intervened and calmed the demons, giving them human forms, allowing them to live in co-existence with humans. When Takano asked Rena what she could conclude from the legend, Rena admitted that she's met Oyashiro-sama before.

Rena explained that she lived in Hinamizawa until grade school. However, due to her mother's work, they moved to Ibaraki. Takano understood what Rena tried to say. She believed that Rena broke the Oyashiro-sama's taboo about leaving the village. Rena admitted that's the truth and because of that, many bad things such as her mother getting a divorce happened. Rena herself also did a lot of bad things in school and at one point tried to kill herself by slicing her wrist. When she did this, however, a bunch of maggots came out with the blood. In addition to this, the maggots squirmed around, trying to re-enter her body through the inflicted wound. In shock, Rena scratched her own hand because it became itchy. Rena explained that was when Oyashiro-sama appeared to her, saying that there is only one way for her to survive and that is to return to Hinamizawa. Much to Rena's surprise, Takano believed her and gave her her research notes.

Having said that, Takano wanted Rena to keep the note a secret since she believed 'they' will try to erase her if they found out about it. Back in the present time, Rena remembers that Ooishi told her in the car that Takano and Tomitake were found dead. Because of this, Rena decides to read Takano's note which contains information about 'Homing Instinct' and 'Homesickness'. The next day, Keiichi is on his way back home when he sees Rena waving her hand from the bush. When Keiichi gets closer, he gets pulled in by Rena. She explains that lately she feels that she's been followed by someone. Keiichi wonders if it's the police but Rena is not sure. She only knows that it started since the Watanagashi festival. She also tells him that both Takano and Tomitake were probably killed because of Takano's research. Their conversation is interrupted when a van passes by. Keiichi asks Rena if the van is the one who's been following Rena.

Rena is not sure but she's certainly has seen it several times on a quiet street. Keiichi wonders if those people were the ones who killed Takano and Tomitake but Rena is not sure either. Having said that, Rena believes that the people who killed Takano are the Hinamizawa great houses or rather, Mion's family, the Sonozaki. Rena thinks that Takano got killed because she learns a secret which threatens to destroy the villagers' belief. When Keiichi asks Rena about this secret, Rena asks him to give her some more time until she can verify this a bit more. She also asks Keiichi not to tell anyone else about this. After Rena left, Keiichi wonders if Mion is involved in this but he rejects the idea right away. He then comes out of the bush and realises that the van he and Rena saw before is now parked not too far from where he is standing. As Keiichi passes the car, a guy dressed in grey uniform asks him if he just comes back from school.

The man wants to know if Keiichi happens to see a girl while walking throgh the road. The description that the man gives to Keiichi clearly matches to Rena's profile. Keiichi denies of seeing Rena so the guys tell him to forget about it because they are just wondering if they passed the girl. They also admit that they are not here often and asks Keiichi about the school's whereabouts. That evening, Keiichi asks Rena about what is written in Takano's book that caused her to be 'erased'. Rena tells Keiichi that if what's written in the book is correct then it's likely that the village's 'God' will be discredited because Oyashiro-sama isn't a God. There are severals teaching of Oyashiro-sama but they all pointed out to the same things: "Don't leave the village, don't let outsiders in". She also tells Keiichi that the belief that Oyashiro-sama descends to save the villagers from the attack of Onigafuchi marsh's demons was incorrect.

The truth is demons didn't emerge and attack the village but if one becomes a victim, the person will turn into a 'demon' who attacks people. What actually emerged was simply parasites. Apparently there was a contagious disease that emerged from the marsh and when a person was infected by it, they'd go berserk. In a way, the symptom was akin to a virus. Keiichi tells Rena that this explains the legend very well and wonders if it means that Oyashiro was actually a doctor from another country. Rena is not sure about this but she believes Oyashiro was trying to cure the contagious disease. However, because Oyashiro couldn't provide a cure, it simply produced a preventative measures. This is why there is a rule not to leave the village and not allowing the outsiders to come in. The intention was so that the disease does not spread to other people. Besides, the parasites can only survive in Hinamizawa because of the temperature and climate.

Because of this, when the infected host tries to leave the area, the parasite produces side effects. This effect is the truth behind Oyashiro-sama's 'curse'. Keiichi points out that he doesn't know about the past but lately it is uncommon for people to walk in and out of the village. Rena agrees with this and that is because things went the way Oyashiro intended. The reason that they sealed the village for so long was to prevent the spread of the parasite. That means, if a person went berserk and attacked someone, that person will be caught and killed along with the parasite. As a result, the only parasites that remain are those that are compatible with their human host and rarely causes berserk. Rena also reveals that in the olden days, there was a tradition to eat the intestines of the berserked individuals. However, the truth is, they simply used the intestines to create vaccines to increase the resistance of the villagers.

Keiichi thinks the entire revelation sounds scientific and interesting. Rena agrees with him but tells Keiichi that to those who worship Oyashiro-sama, the revelation is unacceptable. Keiichi realises that if someone reveals this pathogen to the entire world, then the faith will be crushed. Rena believes that the sect who wants to revive the glory of Oyashiro-sama tries to review a highly dangerous parasite. Keiichi is shocked to hear this and wonders if they plan on unleashing the parasite on Hinamizawa residence. Rena believes that since the sect's ultimate goal is the revival of Oyashiro-sama that is a possiblity. Upon hearing this, Keiichi wonders if the Sonozaki family is involved. Rena doesn't know if Mion or Rika are involved but if they hear about this, they could be in danger. When Rena tells Keiichi that she's glad that she has an ally in Keiichi, he assures her that it's okay because they are friends.

The next day at school, Keiichi is teaching Mion math and ends up getting :3 as a thank from her. While Keiichi and Mion are busy arguing, Rena notices that the white van she saw before has now parked itself in front of the school. Meanwhile inside the teacher's office, the guy who was seen inside the van is now talking to the teacher. He then gives an envelope to the teacher, saying that his office asked him to hand it to her. Rena who sees the conversation between the two hide in another room and then enters the teachers' room after the two left. She notices that the envelope comes from a company called 'Okonogi' landscapers and decides to call in the number written on it. However, she quickly realises that the number on the envelope simply leads to a dead number. Meanwhile inside the class, the teacher asks if anyone saw Rena but no one seems to see her. That day, Rena doesn't return to the class so Keiichi has a bad feeling about it.

Episode 25: Tsumihoroboshi-hen 4

Continuing from the previous episode, Rena finds out from Ooishi that Sonozaki clan has been performing large-scale search on her. Rena also informs Ooishi that the group is probably planning on performing large-scale biological terrorism. In return, Ooishi tells Rena that Takano's corpse was actually found 24 hours after its death. That means on the day of the Watanagashi, Takano was already dead. Upon hearing this, Rena tells Ooishi that she's going on a hiding for now. From another detective, Ooishi finds out that the person who's been looking for Rena is Kasai Tatsuyoshi, Sonozaki Akane's right hand man. He believes that Rena is holding something important and to top it off, she has stolen hundreds of her family money and has disappears from her house. Later on, Keiichi finds out from Mion that Rena has disappears and the police is looking for her. Keiichi wonders if this is because the police found out about the body that they hid.

Much to his surprise, Mion admits that she asked her family to dispose the body in a secret place. She tells Keiichi that there is a big plan to deforest that mountain forest this summer because of this, she went ahead and handled the situation. Upon hearing this, Keiichi wonders why Rena ran away. Mion doesn't know the answer but she claims that she asked her Okinomiiya family to find Rena before the police find her. Keiichi wonders where Rena could be hiding but he suddenly remembers a place. Meanwhile, Rena is seen hiding inside the trailer park when she suddenly hears a car stopping nearby. She immediately spots two people looking for her and decides to dim the light so she won't be spotted. She, however, is horrified when she hears someone on the phone informs the guys that they've spotted her at granaries. She immediately remembers how Ooishi once said that the Takano that walked around in the Watanagashi could be a zombie.

Rena believes that Takano's theory is correct but unknown to her, her neck shows a sign of redness. When she scratches it, she realises that she's bleeding and the maggots are coming out of it. Not long after this, Keiichi arrives at the place but Rena ignores him, saying that she wants to move to another area that no one, including Keiichi knows. Keiichi is concerned about Rena and wonders why her neck is bleeding. Rena, however, is not interested to answer him and instead tells Keiichi that she just went to the place where they buried the 2 bodies but couldn't find the bodies. Rena knows that Mion was the one who took them and believes that Mion betrayed her. Keiichi tries his best to explain that Mion dug up the body because she found out about a plan to deforest the area. Rena, however, refuses to believe this and thinks Mion lied. She also decides to dish out a revelation on Keiichi: the fact that these parasites are actually aliens.

Basically by attaching themselves to a human body, the parasite can control the body. However, as time goes by, a perceptive person was born and tried to reveal this truth. She believes that person was Takano and that is why they eliminated her, created her copy, and now they also have created a copy of Rena. Rena promises to fight them and swears to never forgive Mion. Keiichi snaps and tells Rena to stop saying nonsense. He reminds her that this is the place where they made a promise but she's not interested to follow her promise anymore. All of a sudden, however, Rena gets a headache and falls on her knees. A concerned Keiichi tries to help her but Rena slaps his hand and instead wants him to confirm that friends don't keep secret from each other. When Keiichi confirms this, Rena laughs and tells him that she knows what he did prior to moving here. She actually asked Ooishi to do a background check on everyone. Because of this, Rena knows that Keiichi was a 'bad person' before he moved here.

Rena then mocks Keiichi saying that he only goes after little girls. She admits she never thought that a dangerous person like him is nearby. Keiichi tries to explain that was just happening by 'chance'. Rena, however, doesn't believe that Keiichi by chance serial shoot little kids who were walking with his model gun. However, Keiichi's conscience eventually couldn't bear the weight of his crime and he admitted it. Because his parents are rich, they simply paid off the settlement money and Keiichi only got off with a probation. Rena asks Keiichi why he keeps quiet about this all of these times. When he doesn't answer, Rena tells him that he's not her friend and leaves the area with her big cleaver. The next day, everyone wonders about Rena's whereabouts. They also notice that Keiichi looks gloomy. Eventually, Keiichi can't keep quiet and tells his friends about what he did in the past. He then apologises to them for hiding it before.

When Mion wonders why Keiichi goes out of his way to tell this, he tells her it's because he thinks he's not being a good friend by keeping secrets. Rika wonders what Keiichi hopes to accomplish by confessing to them. Keiichi tells them that he's not hoping for anything, he just believes he shouldn't keep secrets from friends. Upon hearing this, Mion wonders if there is something wrong about keeping secrets from friends. She believes that everyone has stories of pain, sadness, or mistakes that they don't want to remember again. However, if you can't call someone a friend without revealing all of that, then she doesn't need friends. Rika believes that there is a difference between things that he doesn't need to and things that he must disclose. Satoko agrees with this, saying that if he's a good person now then there is no need for him to feel ashamed. Keiichi cries upon hearing and gets flashback of his life from other arcs!

He remembers being cruel to Mion in Onikakushi-hen, causing her to cry at school. In addition to this, Keiichi finally realises that there wasn't any needle in the Ohagi and the syringe Mion carried was just a marker. Mion was actually saying that she hopes it'll make him feel better. Keiichi also remembers how in his other life, he kills both Rena and Mion even though Rena asked him to believe in her. In this life, Keiichi keels over in morbid and sadness. Everyone is confused about this especially when Keiichi tells them that he killed Rena and Mion. Mion tells Keiichi that she's still alive but a teacher then passes by so she and Satoko tries to distract the teacher. Rika, however, stays and asks Keiichi if he remembers that he killed Rena and Mion. Keiichi confirms that it's not in this world but in a similar world. Rika tells Keiichi that she will forgive his sins. She thinks it's good that Keiichi can realise his own sin but no one will understand what he's talking about.

Rika realises that Keiichi now understands what Rena is going through. Keiichi confirms this, saying that he believes Rena is going through what he went through back then. Keiichi understands that back then, in Onikakushi, Rena tried to open his eyes even at the last moment before she lost her life. Because of this, Keiichi won't give up. He thinks fate can be avoided and future can be shaped by their own hands. Rika's voice suddenly changes and praises Keiichi's determination, promising to fight alongside him no matter how long it'll take until they reach the future that they want. When Mion returns with Satoko, Keiichi proceeds to give Mion a hug much to Mion's and Satoko's embarassment. He then apologises to Mion, who doesn't understand what he's talking about. Keiichi assures her that he's okay even if she doesn't know. One way or the other, he's sorry for what he did and promises never to doubt Mion or his friends again.

A few days later, Ooishi pays a visit to the Sonozaki residence. However, the head of the family, Sonozaki Akane, refuses to let the police interfere in Rena and Mion's problem. When the police insists on placing Rena under their protection, Mion asks them why Rena needs to be under their protection to begin with. Ooishi plainly states that it's to protect Rena from the Sonozaki family. Mion's mother is offended to hear this and wonders why the police thinks they'll go after Rena. She asks Kasai to show the police all of Takano's scrap books that they found and tells the police ethat the only ones missing from the collection are the ones that were given to Rena. Upon reading the books, The police is not sure anymore about the importance of the book's content since they sound like occult novel. For example, in one book Takano was actually talking about the clash between dark realm and reality which produces influx of spirits.

Ooishi wonders how the Sonozaki got the scrapbook but they quickly assures him that they had nothing to do in Takano or Tomitake's murder. As a goodwill sign, the Sonozaki even willing to hand in the scrapbook to the police. The police agrees to achieve amicable resolution with the family on the condition that they hand in the rest of the scrapbooks and hand in Rena if they ever find her. Sonozaki Akane agrees to the term but she tells them that in order to protect Rena's right, they will assign a lawyer from the estate to her. All interrogations with Rena must include the participation of this lawyer. She hopes that the police will honour their promise to do this. The police agrees to the condition although outside the house, Ooishi doesn't look happy with the way things unfold. Elsewhere, Rena is seen walking on her own carrying her hatchet. An up-close shot of her neck, however, shows that the red marks are now becoming even more apparent.

Summary of important points

1. Rena is the one that Ooishi approaches in this arc instead of Keiichi.
2. According to Takano, a sect is the one who's responsible for the bizarre strings of death.
3. The same sect worships Oyashiro-sama and wants to revive the customs from Onigafuchi village.
4. Takano told a legend about demons which arise from Onigafuchi marsh and were neutered by Oyashiro-sama.
5. Rena claimed that she once tried to cut herself and saw a bunch of maggots coming out of hands.
6. It was then that Oyashiro-sama appeared and told her that she must go back to Hinamizawa to survive.
7. Rena decides to use Keiichi as her confidant after Takano's and Tomitake's death.
8. The mysterious grey-suit men appear again and this time they are looking for Rena.
9. Rena revealed that what came out of the Marsh was not Monster but rather parasites which infect people.
10. Keiichi suspected that Oyashiro was actually a doctor trying to cure the village.
11. Rena believed that Oyashiro was the one who imposed the "not leaving the village and not allowing outsiders to enter".
12. Over the years, the villagers developed immunity to the parasite and those who don't were killed.
13. Intestines of the dead berserked people were actually used to create a vaccine.
14. Rena believed that the sect that wants to unleash the parasite into the Hinamizawa population.
15. One of the grey-suited people seems to know the teacher at the school.
16. Rena found out that the phone number listed on the envelope given to her teacher is fake.

17. Rena believes that the Sonozaki family are searching for Takano's scrapbook.
18. Ooishi informed Rena that Takano's body was found 24 hours after her death.
19. Mion tells Keiichi that she asked her family to hide the body because there will be a deforestation of the area.
20. Mion and Keiichi thinks that the police are after Rena because of her involvement in the murder.
21. Rena believes that there's a doppleganger of her running around in the village.
22. Rena refuses to believe Keiichi and thinks that Mion has lied to her as well.
23. Rena revealed that she knew about Keiichi's dark past where he used to shoot little kids.
24. Keiichi remembered his action from Onikakushi-hen
25. Rika believed the others probably won't remember the incident. But she forgives Keiichi.
26. The Sonozaki family revealed that Takano's scrap books sound like occult novel.
27. The Sonozaki family agrees to co-operate with the police as long as they can represent Rena with their lawyer.

Questions:

1. For whom do the men in grey uniform work for?
2. What is Oyashiro-sama?
3. How does Keiichi remembers the events in other 'dimension'?

Impression and speculations:

One consistent pattern finally emerged from all of the arcs and that is the death of Tomitake and 'Takano'. I purposedly put Takano in inverted comas because I am really sure now that she never got killed in any of the arcs. Having said that, I do think that some of the things that she mentions in the scrapbook are correct while others are probably false. I'll try to list them one by one and talk about it here.

Parasites are the things that come out of the marsh instead of Demons

I am not too sure if those maggots-like creatures actually exist in bloodstream or if that's just Rena's imagination. Having said that, I do believe that there is a disease that can cause the people of Hinamizawa to go berserk.

The Parasites are Hinamizawa-based and can't live outside the area

Although it sounds like a plot out of Biohazard/Resident Evil, there are known parasites which can only live in a specific area. I don't think that the parasites are capable of controlling the humans but rather, when they are taken out of their natural habitat, which is Hinamizawa, they die out and as a result, causes some kind of chemical imbalance in their host, resulting in the violent behaviour.

Oyashiro-sama was a doctor and not a God

I'm not too sure about this. It's definitely an explanation that makes the most sense though. It also explains why the villagers are not allowed to go out and why outsiders are not allowed to get into the village years ago. The purpose was to contain the outbreak.

People who went berserk were killed and their intestines are used to create vaccine

As cruel as it sounds, during times of mass plague, it is a well known practice to kill the infected ones before they can infect the others. It also makes sense that the body of the dead will contain the dead parasites, which can be synthesized into a serum. If one thinks about it, vaccination is basically a form of weakened virus injected into a human body so that the body will develop an immunity towards the virus.

The people who worships Oyashiro-sama wants to revive their belief by unleashing the Parasite

I think this is an add-on lies written by Takano for the purpose of diverting the blame onto the Hinamizawa residence. I have no idea why she does this but I actually wonder if the person who wants to unleash the parasite onto the mass is actually Takano herself. I realise that this is crossing into speculation and conspiracy theory. Having said that, I always get the impression that Takano actually works for the government. What if Takano does not want the knowledge about the parasite to be known to the public? Because by keeping it a secret, she can probably use it and develop it as a biological weapon. And the best way to test this is to use villagers who were born with the parasite in them.

Rena thinks that Sonozaki family is after her

I think Rena is completely wrong about this. The Sonozaki family actually tries to protect Rena from the police, thinking that the police wants to capture Rena after she killed Houjou Teppei and Rina. On the other hand, the police thinks that the Sonozaki is after Rena because they want to get their hands on Takano's scrapbook. Unfortunately, Rena has gone beyond the point of sanity to know what is true or false. In her mind, anyone who opposes her is her enemy. She believes that the Sonozaki family wants Takano's notes even though that may not be the truth.

Rena thinks the parasites are alien

Rena is now basically Keiichi in the last two episodes of Onikakushi-hen. She's no longer an individual who is capable of thinking rationally. I think her judgement is no longer reliable at this point in the story.

Keiichi's memory of the other 'dimension'

This turns out to be the supernatural part of the story or is that science-fiction part of the story? Either way, Keiichi for some reason is capable of remembering his other self's action in Onikakushi-hen. As it turns out, there was no needle and the syringe was actually a marker. It seems that Mion and Rena were just trying to stall Keiichi until 'Manager', which is Dr.Irie, comes with a vaccination for him. Unfortunately they chose a wrong time to play 'batsu' game and paid the price for it.

Rena's "I'm sorry" in Onikakushi-hen

I think this arc explains why Rena apologised back in Onikakushi-hen. She was probably sorry for keeping a secret from Keiichi to the point that he refused to believe everyone. Rena's "I'm sorry" was likely one of the few clear points in Keiichi's already muddled mind back in Onikakushi-hen.

The Dam project and the Hinamizawa residents

It's finally clear as to why the Hinamizawa residents are opposed to the dam project. Because if the project is greenlighted, then they essentially have nowhere to go. They can't live in other cities without becoming berserk due to the parasite. Although the likelihood of this happening has decreased lately, I think there is a chance that one or two people like Rena can be set off due to circumstances.

The disease, the madness and its activation

Judging from the previous arc, I can only assume that the trigger to the madness is a distrust towards others. Keiichi's insanity began when Tomitake mentioned the dam murder, causing Keiichi to suspect his friends. Shion's madness was triggered when she distrusted her sister and everyone she suspected of killing Satoshi. And now Rena becomes insane as well because she is paranoid of her friends. I think Rena already experienced this when she moved to Ibaraki. The steps that she, Shion, and Keiichi heard are most likely the side effects to their madness. It also appears that the disease has an external indicator in the form of the red itch that develops around the neck area. It is likely that Keiichi died in Onikakushi-hen because he tried to scratch his own neck. I suspect that just like Rena's neck, the disease causes the cell tissue in the neck area to thin and easy to scratch.

Multiple permutations of reality

I am not sure how Keiichi is capable of seeing the different permutation of his life since he doesn't seem to have a special ability like Rika. However, this episode confirms that there are indeed different permutations of the incidents. This explains why some events are similar to one another while others are different.

© memento 2003