Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Tsumihoroboshi-hen 1-2

September 14, 2006 | 8 Comments

Unfortunately, there wasn't anything new from these two episodes as these are just new permutations of the story. In addition to this, there are some cheese-tastic moments in episode 23. Having said that, I actually enjoyed the comedic parts of the story. The gun fights between the students at the start of episode 22 was exciting to watch. That was probably one of the few times when Keiichi actually looked almost cool. I was also amused to see Shion and Kasai's interaction in episode 22. They are quite an interesting pair to watch. I wish there is 'The Shion and Kasai story', featuring the duo on various comical scenarios. I'm sure it'll be more fun to watch than watching Shion obsessing about Satoshi. With only 3 more episodes left, I wonder if the writers can actually write a satisfying conclusion for the series.

Episode 22: Tsumihoroboshi-hen 1

The episode begins with Rena wondering how much effort does it take to make a person happy. As the camera zooms out of Rena, it is revealed that she's standing in front of the junkyard wearing a black leather outfit while the rest of her friends standing not far from her. Rena continues by saying that she thinks unhappiness spirals down like series of events. It is hard to get out once you're inside it. In order to get out, you have to put in your best effort which often causes other people think you've gone too far. As the camera zooms in on a hand belonging to a dead person crushed underneath the junkyard, Rena asking her friend if the time when you eventually able to take control is called 'Happiness'. Rena seems to believe this but she understands that she must not be complacent and thinks that everyone will accept her reasoning. She then climbs onto a trailer park and asks her friends if she should start her first and final lifetime achievement story.

After the credit, Keiichi is seen having a watergun fight with Mion which ends with Keiichi as the winner when he manages to evade Mion's attack and shoots her face with the water. Elsewhere, Satoko is in the middle of gloating about how a pro should be able to know the number of shots her target has left. She believes that Rena only has one last shot remaining and that shot lacks the range that Rena needs. In response Rena reveals that she intended to come to this area when her gun is empty because she has another spare gun hidden. She then jumps out of her hiding, pointing her gun at Satoko. Satoko then reveals that the gun Rena holding was also part of her plan. She knew that Rena won't show up if she only has an almost empty gun. The truth is, she already filled the gun with a little sand so that the gun will be clogged and unusable. While Satoko gloats like a bad villain, Rena reminds her that those who get hit by a water from the gun will lose.

All of a sudden, Rena breaks her own water gun and splashes its water towards Satoko's face. Satoko immediately loses so Keiichi, as the only remining survivor other than Rena, proceeds to attack Rena right away. The two end up in a lockdown so Rena tells him that she knew it would come down to a one on one between the two of them. Keiichi admits that he has more respect for Rena after she show her guts back then. Rena, however, thinks that instead of respect, she'll be happier if he loves her more. In retaliation, Keiichi tells her that he wouldn't mind if she were to lose. The two seem to be getting off from the tension and proceed to run towards each other with their gun drawn out. In the end, both parties got splashed by the water so Satoko wonders which one is the winner. Mion decides that today's battle is a draw and will be settled on at a later date. Keiichi and Rena are fine with this providing that the losers get to receive some penalty game.

As it turns out, the penalty game that Keiichi and Rena have in mind involve the losers dressing up in skimpy outfit while serving foods at Angel Mort. Rika gets to wear that skimpy Angel Mort outfit, attracting Keiichi's lecherous attention and Rena's tendency to bring everything cute back home. Mion ends up wearing cat tail, complaining about the fact that she wanted Keiichi to wear this instead of her. Satoko, on the other hand, gets to wear a simple maid outfit. Rena once again mentions how she wants to take everyone back home but she is interrupted by Dr.Irie. He thinks that Rena has to go through his dead body first because the one who gets to take Satoko home is him. Rena is not happy about Irie trying to take her possessions so she starts beating him up and they all have a fun little cat and mouse game. While this happens, a customer expresses her disappointment because she's unable to secure a seat inside the restaurant.

As it turns out, the customer is an acquintance of Rena called Rina. Rina asks the restaurant owner if she can buy a cake since she can't sit inside the restaurant. The restaurant owner doesn't mind this so Rina choose some and asks Rena to choose one for herself as well much to Rena's delight. Later on, Keiichi and Rena go home together and Keiichi told her that he had lived in big cities before but he never lived each day to its full extent. Ever since he moved to Hinamizawa, Keiichi feels that he's been happy. Rena feels the same way since she moved to Hinamizawa 1 year ago but she still can't believe the fun and the happiness she has every day. Keiichi is afraid that since everyday has been so much fun, one day it may fall apart. Rena, on the other hand, is of the opinion that if things are going to fall apart, they are going to fall apart. Because of this she feels it's more important to just enjoy the day to the fullest. Rena then claims that she's going on a treasure hunt again and asks Keiichi if he wants to come.

Keiichi refuses since the weather looks like it's going to rain because of this, Rena goes on her own. She enters a trailer park and switch on the light inside it. She then sits inside looking out as the rain pours down. She has flashback to the time when her mother told her if she remembers a man that went with them to the movie. Rena's mother asked her daughter if she liked that man and moreover, she wanted to know if Rena likes her mother or her father more. Rena claimed that she likes her mother more. Her mother had a satisfaction smile upon hearing this and wanted to know this because if she and Rena's father were to live in different house, which house will Rena moves in? She told Rena that she thinks she's going to seperate from Rena's father and marry the man she mentioned before. She then admitted of being pregnant to Rena. Ever since then, Rena refused to live in her mother's house. She also does not want to see her mother ever again.

Rena suddenly tells herself to stop remembering those unpleasant memories because she's happy. Rena then returns home to her father who has a surprise for her: he has re-arranged the living room so that it'll look sunnier. He also pointed out that Rina was the one who chose the decor. Rena, however, becomes a bit upset when she notices that her father is about to throw away the KFC statue that she owns. Despite this, she doesn't show her unhappiness that long and even agree to help her father picking up a jacket from a shop in Okonomiya the next day. Rena asks her father if Rina was the one who picked the jacket for him as well and her father promptly blushed and admitted it. Unfortunately, when Rena comes to the shop to pick up the Jacket the next day, the shop owner tells her that it has not arrived. Apparently the truck which supposed to carry the jacket is caught in a traffic from an accident. Because of this, Rena decides to relax at a nearby coffee shop.

When she enters, she notices that Satoshi's uncle, Houjou Teppei, is in the middle of extorting money from 2 people. The men then give Satoshi's uncle an envelope containing money so he asks the woman sitting next to him, who turns out to be Rina to count it. Rina informs Satoshi's uncle that this is just the amount that they lend to them, causing Teppei to be pissed off. The men profusely apologise when Teppei tells them that those who make his woman (Rina) angry, will make him angry as well. Once Teppei goes to the toilet, Rina tells the guy to pay the rest of the interest today because at the very least they will then cut their ties off him. She offered to lend them more money but the interest will be higher. Teppei is happy upon seeing this and asks Rina, whose real name turns out to be Ritsuko, how much money they can squeeze out of her Hinamizawa 'husband''. Rina claims that his 'husband' has a lot of money in the bank they can squeeze out.

She plans on using Teppei to force Rena's father to pay money to cut ties with her. Teppei then leaves with the two men and on their way out sees Kasai, Shion's driver. Meanwhile, Rena herself is in shock when she finds out that the woman who was talking about deceiving her Hinamizawa 'husband' is Rina. Shion then enters the cafe and notices Rena. She wonders if she's here waiting for Keiichi. Rena denies this and asks Shion about the man sitting in front of her. Shion introduces Kasai as her 'bodyguard', she thinks Kasai will protect her if she's in trouble. Kasai, however, plainly tells her that he won't. When Rena asks him, Kasai explains that the two people who just left are Houjou Teppei and Mamiya Rina, a pimp and his showgirl. Kasai also informs her that the two are 'badgers', the woman will deceive a man and then another man will come in and asks the first man what he is doing with his woman so the second man can squeeze compensation out of the first man. Rena becomes angry after hearing this and storms out of the cafe, trying to follow Rina.

Episode 23: Tsumihoroboshi-hen 2

This episode begins with Rena returning to her house only to check her father's saving. She becomes angry when she finds out that there are a lot of transactions listed on the savings. It appears Rina has indeed asked her father to buy a lot of things. The next day, Keiichi complains how everything is so quiet and boring. Rena, however, tells him that she likes this calm and boring air. Upon hearing this Keiichi tells Rena that he envies how she sees everyday as a happy one. He wants Rena to tell him if she has a skill to endure this daily boredom happily. Because of this, Rena tells Keiichi that all he has to do is to pay attention. She believes that there is a limit to these happy days. Mion, however, laughs at Keiichi, telling Rena that Keiichi can't possibly understands her philosophy. Keiichi is annoyed to hear this and proceeds to chase Mion. That evening, Rena returns home only to be greeted by Rina, who wants to talk to both Rena and her father.

Rena, however, pretended that she has something else to do with her friends and proceeds to leave the house. Rina, however, relentless and decides to follow Rena to the junkyard. Rena points out that this is her hiding place. No one knows this place and no one can hear anything. Rina then goes straight to the point by asking Rena if she likes her. Rena wonders why Rina asks this kind of thing all of a sudden so Rina points out that she's been going out with Rena's father but now she wants things to be more serious. Upon hearing this, Rena remembers how her own mother once told her that he's been going out with another man. Rena snaps and tells Rina that she doesn't mind if they're just going out but she won't allow Rina to marry her father. Rina laughs upon hearing this. She suspects that Rena will oppose to this but she never expected the girl to tell it to her straight out. Because of this, she wants to know what is it about her that Rena hates.

Rena tells Rina that she hates everything about her from her clothes to her smell. In retaliation, Rina tells Rena that she hates her as well. She then proceeds to threaten Rena. Rena, however, is not afraid of Rina and tells the older girl to never return to her house again. Rina tells Rena to go ahead and tell her father that she opposes the marriage before the dropping the bomb: Rina claims that she's pregnant. Rena doesn't believe this and tells Rina that she heard everything that she said to Teppei Houjou. The fact that Rina intends to deceive Rena's father. Rina becomes angry and proceeds to slap Rena. Rina then tries to kill Rena by choking the little girl. Rena, however, manages to grab a broken glass and stabs Rina with it. Whle Rina recoiling from the pain, Rena grabs a lead pipe and proceeds to bash Rina over and over again until the woman is dead. Rena drags Rina's death body into a nearby freezer before going back to her home.

When she arrives back, however, she sees her father being bullied by Houjou Teppei, who demands compensation money. Rena decides to approach Teppei, telling him that Rina wants to see him. She then leads Teppei down into the junkyard. However, when they get there, Rena pretends that her flashlight stops working and is about to look for one. When Teppei uses her lighter to see where they are, he's shocked to know that they are in the junkyard. Before he can do anything else, however, Rena already sliced his head into two piece using a large machette. The next day, Rena excuses herself from doing club activity because she has 'things' to do. The 'things to do' involve her chopping up the dead body of her victims so she can throw them away easily. At the same time, the rest of her friends are getting bored playing Mahjong. Because of this, Mion suggested that they go find Rena at the junkyard. This is how they end up seeing Rena at the start of episode 22.

Rena explains how up until now, she was at the riverbanks, trying to find a place to hide the body but unfortunately she couldn't find a good place. Upon hearing this, Keiichi asks Rena why she didn't tell them earlier. He reminds Rena that they are friends and therefore, they'll be her allies regardless of the conditions because they are like family. Keiichi believes that if Rena had come to them, they could be of some help so that none of these would have happened and Rena wouldn't have to become a murderer. Upon hearing this, Rena asks Keiichi that supposed she told them about this, what could they possibly do? When Keiichi stutters to give an answer, Rena tells him that it's impossible for any of them to help her. She believes that friends are companions who'll only be there for fun, unimportant times. However, when painful times arrive, they are not going to be your ally. This is why Rena didn't tell anyone because no one will or can help her.

Keiichi begins to cry upon hearing this, asking Rena why she won't believe them. He admits that it's true that they may not be able to come up with a solution even if she told them about it. However, Keiichi believes that they would have reached a better future than where they are currently now. Rena doesn't believe that there is a better future than this. Keiichi doesn't believe this because he knows that right now Rena is crying inside her heart. Keiichi then proves his point by telling Rena that he accepts her no matter what. He believes that no one apart from them now anything about the dead bodies. If they all keep this a secret, they are going to be okay. Keiichi then climbs into the trailer park and extends his hand towards Rena. Rika and Satoko then proceed to place their hand on top of Keiichi. Satoko tells Rena that neither she nor Rika has family any longer but they never cry because they have a family in the form of their friends.

Mion is the last to place her hand on everyone else's hand, offering her support for Rena as well. She tells Rena that they all forgive her for not telling them about it. Rena starts to cry and reminds everyone that she's a murderer. She will be a burden for them. Keiichi, however, takes Rena's hand and places it on top of their hands. That day, all five help Rena to drop the dead bodies at a location in the forest. Rena then apologises to everyone. After everyone helped her, she realises that she did a terrible thing. If they didn't come to help her, she believes she won't be able to bear the burden of the murder on her own. Before the all go home, Mion tells them that it's best if they forget about this. She believes that if they forget about it, Rena will forget about it too. Fast forward to the Watanagashi festival, Rena is back to her cheerful self and meets her friend to have some fun. Unknown to them, Ooishi has been watching them from a far.

Impression:

I can understand what the writers are trying to emphasise in this episode but it's hard to believe that kids can actually be that calm when they see their friend in the middle of chopping up dead body to pieces. Aren't they afraid that they could get 'nailed' as well by Rena? And even if Rena herself is not a threat, what's the guarantee that none of them will spill the truth later on? Haven't they watched I Know What You Did Last Summer? Anyway, kidding aside, this shows that in this arc, everyone seems to trust each other, at least up until this point in the story. This is clearly a major departure from Onikakushi-hen where Keiichi distrusts everyone. In fact, in this arc, he's actually who tried his best to establish trust between all members of the group. He was the one who reached out to Rena and told her that he's upset that she didn't tell her friends about her problem. I am curious now if this will actually affects the ending.

Speaking of ending, it's interesting to hear Rena saying that there is no better future than this. It sounds as if she actually knows about the other arc's permutations. In addition to this, Houjou Teppei is actually dead in Rena's hand. This means that Satoko won't go through her suffering back in Tatarigoroshi-hen. Props to Rena for being an efficient assassin in comparison to Keiichi. I wonder where the story will go from here on. Ooishi looks like he's going to be the nasty character that he was back in Tatarigoroshi-hen instead of the friendly person that he was in Onikakushi-hen. Well, the kids did become accessories to murder after all. They really embody the spirit of Hinamizawa of 'bonding together' to fight a common enemy now. Having said that, none of these stories gave any answer as to why Keiichi became insane back in Onikakushi. Does it have to do with what Rena said when she was sitting alone in the trailer?

© memento 2003