Onikakushi:
Rena:
====|4
Mion:
==|2
Satoko:
==|2
Rika:
===|3
↓
Watanagashi:
Rena:
====|4
Mion:
====|4
Satoko:
==|2
Rika:
====|4
Shion:
==|2
Keiichi:
===|3
↓
Tatarigoroshi:
Rena:
====|4
Mion:
====|4
Satoko:
=======|7
Rika:
====|4
Shion:
==|2
Keiichi:
=====|5
↓
Himatsubushi:
Rena:
====|4
Mion:
====|4
Satoko:
=======|7
Rika:
=====|5
Shion:
==|2
Keiichi:
=====|5
↓
Meakashi:
Rena:
====|4
Mion:
=======|7
Satoko:
=========\\=|A very high number
Rika:
======|6
Shion:
====|4
Keiichi:
======|6
↓
Tsumihoroboshi:
Rena:
========|8
Mion:
=======|7
Satoko:
=========\\=|A very high number
Rika:
========|8
Shion:
====|4
Keiichi:
=======|7

Notice how the numbers don't drop. :heh:
Noticable mention is probably that "very high number" thing for Satoko in Meakashi. I don't care what anyone else says, Satoko's final moments in Meakashi drove a nail into my heart and my "Satoko stock" through the roof.:(

First of all, The text color thing, that was an ingenious trick. I think I first noticed it after Rena finished her first readthrough of Takano's scrap book. (I'm quite slow :heh: )

Second, Rena's phone conversation with Keiichi about Takano's scrap book, that was a brilliant scene. The background music at the time was called "Sheep Counts", and it really gave me a "this is it! The pieces are all falling together!" feeling. :heh: ←Keiichi No.2

Third, the "triangle misunderstanding" portion of the story between Rena, the police, and Keiichi (and the gang), that was just... m(_ _)m

Fourth, the scene where Keiichi hugged Mion, that made me （つДＴ） (And shock, "he... 'remembers'!?") (as well as amazement at Satoko and Rika's understanding of sins and forgiveness, "are these people really children!?"). So I was touched, shocked, and amazed. Not something you usually feel from entertainment media.

Finally, the "school siege" scene... I was literally expecting a digital clock to pop up with that unique "beep, beep, beep, beep" sound because this was more than fit to be an episode of "24". :heh: Also, Rika's über cool line "遊んであげるわ、おいで鉈女" together with the hi-tempo background music change ("彷徨いの言葉は天に導かれ") and my imagination of a Rika taking battle stance against Rena, while Keiichi races off against time to find that all-important "timer"......... Wow, I'm still excited just from thinking about it, the entire scramble was just incredible.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...1025780782.jpg(Yu-ji-san's concept, カッコよすぎだよ!)

Of course, Keiichi and Rena's final scene was strangly exciting and touching at the same time. Again, rare feeling if you think about it.

When the chapter ended, I was happy but confused. Then I read the final tip "Demon's Script" and I wasn't happy or confused anymore...... damn it!

I definitely have to agree with you on that red text changing scheme. It was a brilliant way to show Rena's descent into madness in a way that only a visual novel can.

And that Takano's scrapbook is really a source of all troubles ain't it? Man, Keiichi was falling for it and the TIPS scene that related to "contagious madness to people close to you" was great as well.

That school siege had me in a upbeat as well. Both Rika and Keiichi were kick-ass, especially the final showdown on the roof... that was just awesome.

And just when you thought everything was done and it all turned out happily...bam! The last TIPS screws you over. Oh man, the feeling from "yeah! Keiichi and them finally beat the system!" to crashing your ass down to the floor and beyond with a BIG "awww, fuck! That ain't right man!!"

inside the classroom during the siege, Rika said to Satoko "Satoko should be able to understand too...... That there are times where you can't stop the demon within your heart from going berserk no matter how sad it is...." And Keiichi thinking (I couldn't understand what Rika-chan and Satoko were talking about. ....But, .......It might be..........)

Minagoroshi-hen disc shown on NHK... Higurashi Himatsubushi-hen
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...0/higurasi.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10.../higurasi2.jpg

Higurashi figurines
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...urasi_fig1.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...urasi_fig2.jpg

ｷﾀ━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ)━━━━!! NHK aired this scene of Rena!!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...oda_on_nhk.jpg


The man Ryukishi07 himself
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...ukishi07-a.jpghttp://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...ukishi07-b.jpg

Scripter/Programmer Yata Zakura was Ryukishi07's younger brother!?
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...yatazakura.jpg

Ryukishi07's dad, Ichiro-san: marketing and market research
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...dad_ichiro.jpg

Ryukishi07's mom, Aiko-san: internet and research
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...0/mom_aiko.jpg

It seems 07th Expansion is largely a family done effort! Wow!!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/kj1980/family.jpg

Wait a minute...Ryukishi's father is named "Ichiro" and mother is "Aiko?"
Oh! Maebara Keiichi's dad is named "Maebara Ichiro" and mom is named "Maebara Aiko!"


Man! Ryukishi07's family rules!!! His dad is hella funny! I was busting out laughing when dad began talking

The story takes place in a small Japanese rural village called Hinamizawa, the year is the 58th year of Showa (1983). The primary main character, and also the primary narrator of the story (that is, the "player"), is a young boy named Maebara Keiichi. Keiichi has only recently moved from the city to Hinamizawa together with his parents, the move was considered a good change of environment for the family.

Away from the convenience of urban life, Keiichi felt a little uncomfortable with life in the countryside at first, but as he attended to the local school branch (which didn't even have it's own building, instead, a section of the local forestry office building was borrowed, even then, there was only one classroom and one teacher in the entire school, with children of all grades in the same classroom), Keiichi soon met some individuals who soon became his close friends and helped him learn the ropes around this new environment.

One of them was Ryuugu Rena, a classmate who also moved to Hinamizawa recently herself, and lives close to Keiichi. With a bright and cheery personality, Rena is a honest, straightforward, and reliable girl who always actively offers her help to others. Rena was a great help to Keiichi in teaching him the way around town on their trips together to and from school. Rena loves cute things, although her taste can only be said to be eccentric. However, when Rena spots something she think is cute, she tends to fall into "Kaaii-mode" (a degeneration of "Kawaii", cute), and would say "Omochikaeri~" (take home~) while attempting to bring the said object home (regardless of what it is, even if the object is another human being), anyone attempting to stop Rena while she's in "Kaaii-mode" will be floored with an unblockable lightning fast jab called "Rena-pan".

Another was Sonozaki Mion, the class president of the only class in Hinamizawa. Mion is an active and energetic girl who always takes charge in decision makings. A leadership type who gets along with everyone well, Mion was the first person to greet and become friendly with the newcomer Keiichi. Mion also joins Keiichi and Rena on their trips to and from school and offers a good source of jokes and fun gossips compared to the slightly more quiet Rena. Mion loves all types of games and plays (except videogames), and formed a club specifically for members to gather and play out these games (all of our main characters are in this club). The kicker of this "club activity" is that the loser of the game must accept the "punishment game" imposed on him/her afterwards, no matter what kind of request it may be. As the club leader, Mion rarely loses (and hates losing), and always have embarassing punishments waiting for the her next unfortunate victim.
Mion is the daughter of the Sonozaki family, one of the three main houses of Hinamizawa, which appears to be quite a big presence around the area, although Keiichi doesn't seem to notice it yet.

Next is Houjou Satoko, a young classmate who loves to play pranks on others. Satoko is always trying to get someone to fall into one of her traps, and nobody suited that role better than our new transfer student, Maebara Keiichi. Always speaks in a polite manner, but perhaps because she's still young, her grammar is odd in places. Unlike her manner, Satoko's actions can only be described as "brat-like". Against a girl like Satoko, Keiichi takes no reservation. However, most of the time when Keiichi trys to give Satoko a good whopping, she falls back to crying, which in turn triggers Rena's "Kaaii-mode", who promptly knocks out Keiichi with renapan while comforting Satoto, who is now enjoying the view of a splayed-out Keiichi on the ground. Satoko's parent both passed away in an accident 3 years ago, and she and her brother, Satoshi, were taken in by her uncle's family. But an event last year saw to the death of her aunt and her brother going missing, and her uncle leaving the village. Satoko currently lives with her close friend, Furude Rika.

Finally, we have Furude Rika, a girl similiar to Satoko in age. Unlike Satoko, Rika is very quiet and calm for her age. Although she doesn't speak much, her behaviours always leaves a lasting impression in people (that is, the reader), from her favorite phrase "Mi----" (like a little kitten), to her wall-shatteringly cute smile complete with her own sfx "nipa~☆", and from the fact that Rika seems to KNOW the powers of her own cuteness, we can say that perhaps she's the scariest one of the bunch. Rika seems to enjoy providing consolation to suffering people by petting them on the head. If there aren't anyone around who's suffering, she goes to find people who are and offer consolation to them. Rika is the sole survivor of the Furude family, operator of the local shrine and also one of the three main houses of Hinamizawa. However, since the death of her parents 2 years ago, Rika has been officially taken under the care of the village head and lives together with her friend Satoko. Rika also works as a miko of the shrine.

The happy times continue until one day, by chance, Keiichi learned of certain stories about this village of Hinamizawa. A dam construction project years ago that threatened to sink the village underwater, the "war" that broke out between the villagers and the government, and the dismemberment murder incident 5 years ago that forced an end to the project.

Not only that, but in June every year after, on the day of the local festival "Watanagashi" that honors the local god, Oyashiro-sama, one person would die, and another disappear. Some villagers calls it "Oyashiro-sama's Curse", while others refer to it as the "Hinamizawa Serial Mystery Death Case".

Keiichi just remembered, isn't this year's Watanagashi festival only a few days away...?

...How many time does a game make you seriously want to just absolutely KILL the bastard who just so deserves to die, like, 100 times?

A, ahem, I wanted to make some general comments that doesn't spoil this chapter, but that's kinda hard this time for obvious reasons (which you'll know if you read it), except maybe:

- Keiichi is now my hero (not only for what did for Satoko (+many other things he said and did in this chapter), but also for his selfless display near the end during the "time freeze", I seriously felt my heart torn there)
- Most mysteries were answered in this chapter... but the scale of the truth is just... and the obstacles that these 6 children (7?) have to fight against to beat fate and obtain happiness... Auauau...
- The music was, again, beautiful in this chapter too. There was quite a good number of piano tracks this chapter, some did more than deliver the feeling of sadness, but also the helplessness and cruelness of fate in some scenes. dai's 虚(the symphonic arrange of "thanks") left the most impact on me. Really, when it played after the end of the "time freeze", there was nothing left for me to do except bawl...)
-
Minagoroshi:
Rena:
=========\\=|∞
Mion:
=========\\=|∞
Satoko:
=========\\=|∞
Rika:
=========\\=|∞
Shion:
=========\\=|∞
Keiichi:
=========\\=|∞
It's pointless to keep points anymore, in this "best possible" world, everyone deserves top points. Chapter rank wise, Minagoroshi would take place near the top along with Tsumihoroboshi as my favorite (Tatarigoroshi was my favorite question chapter, so it's obvious I'd love Minagoroshi too)

Ever since Rika's suicide in Meakashi, I've always wondered if she's actually the "same" Rika from all the other chapters (In the otsukaresama-kai of Watanagashi-hen, I remember one sentence from Rena very well, and that's "no matter how different the worlds are from each other, remember that the characters are always the same, the hatchet-swinging berserk Rena in Onikakushi-hen is the same calm Rena you see in Watanagashi-hen"), and that Rika takes it one step further by being able to retain the memories of all the worlds she had experienced. In Tsumihoroboshi, during Rika's goodbye scene to Rena in the junkyard, saying "I'm done with this world, pray that the next world will be a good one", it pretty much confirmed my suspicion there.

In any case, I think Minagoroshi can be split into 3 sections, "best possible world", "saving Satoko", and "Rika's death fate".

"Best possible world" actually had a lot of bases to cover, if Rika has had so many "resets" in her lifetime, then the possibities of changing fate would've been close to infinite, and that she should've been able to figure out a way to a happy future. (Of course, now that we know that everybody's berserk is caused by the Hinamizawa Syndrome, and that it's trigger is simply "doubt", and the one aiming to kill Rika is that nutjob Takano, who unfortunately commands an entire team of commandos, it's understandable why Rika has never been able to live past June with all her friends intact)

"saving Satoko" (or as I call it, Operation Satoko Freedom), what can I say, long live Keiichi, this guy deserves to have a school named after him or something. Keiichi's recuit at Angel Mort made me laugh so hard I pulled a muscle. And that Sonozaki super lawyer made me laugh so hard I almost felt bad for Oishi and that consultation center clerk.

Satoko's final scream for help was actually pictured in my head very clearly, if this scene ever gets animated, it could be one of the most emotional scenes ever. Everything that everyone went through was all just for that one single cry of "save me!".

"Rika's death fate" begins after Watanagashi, I suppose. When Takano and Tomitake returned to the clinic, and start going off about "Hinamizawa Syndrome", L5 class, H173, Tomitake is a lieutanent, Takano is a major, betrayal, etc., that was like "whoawhoawhoawhoa, wait what? whawhawhat? wha?"

When Rika explained the whole truth about the syndrome and "Tokyo" to Keiichi and the others, it feels as if "finally, everyone's on the same page, sharing the same fate". Which is why Oishi's little sidetrack that got himself killed kinda pissed me off ("finally everyone's fighting together, and you go and get yourself killed first!?")

I think the "time freeze" was a very emotional scene, Takano's bullet stopping right in front of Keiichi, and everyone's panicking, trying to find a way to save him, yet Keiichi himself realizes that he's going to die, and tells everyone to give up on him and focus of saving themselves. I mean, Keiichi literally was faced with an "unchangable fate", that the moment time moves again, the bullet would hit him and he would die, yet he just sort of chuckled and acted like "oh well, forget me, save yourselves". And when time moves again, Keiichi's slow-motion death along with that damn (good) music "虚"... (つДT) 終わった．．．くそ．．．くっそぉ．．．．．(If this scene ever gets animated... I'd die crying)

Watching Rena, Mion, Shion, and Satoko get executed one by one was even harder to watch... Add to that Rika's determination to see her own death to the very end so that she could burn it into her memory... (滝涙)

To finish it all off was the extermination of all 2,000 residents of Hinamizawa... It was hard just to read through it...

From the spectator's point of view, things that we know that Rika doesn't at the moment of her death are, obviously, the things that happened after her death.

For one thing, we know that Rika's death = Hinamizawa gas disaster... I don't remember well, but did the gas disaster happen in Watanagashi and Meakashi-hen? That is, the two chapters where Rika died during her fight with Shion rather than getting killed by Takano? The research says that after the queen (Rika) dies, all the other infected people would show L5 symptoms within 24 - 48 hours... I don't remember seeing any of those near the end of those two chapters... Or did I?

Ahaha, my head's burned out after spending the whole night finishing Minagoroshi, I guess I'll add more comments later when I can think better.

Not "hopefully", if fate doesn't change next chapter, we're screwed, it's the last chapter. ^^;

But that is the point in the end - murder isn't the answer no matter ho despicable the bastard is. Trust me, my mind synchonized with Keiichi/Shion. What really touched me, however is how much Shion is taking care of Satoko in Minagoroshi. Hmm...Ne-ne-?

One thing that I visually imagined and teared is when Rika mentioned that one time she attained the "longest time alive" record until early July by hiding in the woods on self-survival. To see a child like that to go such extreme is very disheartening...

And I highly agree with you on Satoko's final plea for help. I literally jumped out of my bed in joy.

As for Watanagashi/Meakashi, I wouldn't say that Rika's death triggered the Hinamizawa Syndrome. At the end of Watanagashi there was a ending scroll that listed the various characters such as Rena and other members in Hinamizawa (including that bastard Teppei!!) well alive to this date. Takano must've had to abort the plan as Rika was murdered/committed suicide in a situation which wasn't expected. My theory is that the Hinamizawa Syndrome isn't vested in Rika, but actually through Ha'nyu which holds a special place within the Furude household. Rika's death doesn't cause the L5 symptoms to show - it's probably something that Takano came up with? Hmm....

But seriously, what the heck is Akasaka (or as many would say, BAKAsaka) doing!? He shows up to make Rika (and many of us readers) optimistic and he did jack!!! I sincerely hope that this is Ryukishi07's way of torturing us by having Oishi's death adverted in the next chapter when he teams up with Akasaka.

And the way the lives ended for the Bukatsu members with one cheap head shot by Takano's handgun was very hard to look at....after all this, it only takes a bullet to the head. That just sucks big time....that ain't right.

This was the best possible world whey they beat all of fate...but it ended up the same. Just a little more effort by one extra member would've broken that thin wall.

Of course, we know that violence isn't the solution, it's been stressed very hard in this chapter.

And yes, I was happy to see Shion finally able to keep her promise to Satoshi and achieve the relationship she always wanted with Satoko. Of course, same for Rena and her family situation.

...All the more emotional it makes you to see Rena's bravery and Shion trying to protect Satoko even at the very end.

But of course, Rika's decision to stay awake for her own death, even knowing how horrible it is, is what really torn me up.

Satoko's final cry for help was a great joy, but it really shook me too, because then it was a race against time to save her from Teppei. Thank god for Oishi and the cops.

Speaking of Oishi, I think, for the first time, it's proven that he's really a reliable ally (just with some misconceptions). Throughout this chapter, he has been a big help in both Satoko's case and Rika's plead for assistance. He's strictly business when it comes to his duty as a police, but he really is on the children's side. Oishi getting killed in this chapter was regrettable, but if you think about it, even if he reached Rika's house and learned the truth (and calls reinforcement or something), chances are Takano's squad would still be able to carry out their job... I hope to see Akasaka finally stepping up to the plate in the next chapter.

The report about the queen's death triggering the L5 symptoms was written back in 1945... Rika mentioned that the syndrome has weakened over the years, so people could leave the village or go on travels without the symptoms showing, maybe by Rika's time, her death doesn't affect the villagers anymore? Well... no matter, Rika must not die in any case. :heh:

In the end, it all depends on how much Rika can remember, I guess, if she could at least remember that her true enemy is Takano, it'd be an easier run next time. If not, at least she knows that she could trust her friends to be there for her (even fight off an assassination squad for her :heh: ). The key probably lies in the disabling of Takano, the problem would be how. The next world would also have to favor Rika as well (none of the gang going paranoid). It'd be great if the next world is a "replay" rather than a "restart".

It's a bunch of kids against a national conspiracy and a nutjob woman with a bad costume, hey, it can't be that hard. :heh:

Although, I had to give hands down to Kei-chan as a truly a member of Hinamizawa. Throughout the question chapters, Kei-chan was a poor sap of an idiot. But as Kai came along, he gains so many personal points inside me that it makes me difficult which character I should vote as my favorite for...Mion or Kei-chan.

On a side note, I am kind of interested in one of the alternate worlds that Rika lived through; the one that she said it was the most boring - the world where Keiichi doesn't move to Hinamizawa. Man, that must be really boring...no bukatsu!! No Angel-Mote!! No, "K"eeeeiiiiii da man!!

By the way, Sushi-Y, do you recall the scene in Meakashi where Rika stabs her own throat? She was calling out "Hanyuu, hanyuu-" at that time. It's really interesting to go back and play "Higurashi no Naku Koroni" and the other "Kai" chapters once again after completing Minagoroshi. You find yourself reading at the subtle meanings and hints now that you know all the secrets.

And I highly suggest listening to the Watanagasahi drama CD... Ms. Yukino Satsuki does an excellent job in acting Mion/Shion - especially now that we both know which one was which at each scene.

[Big spoilers removed]

And finally some suppositions about Satoko/Satoshi (which may be obvious though, but then I'm pretty slow)
Satoko has gone to level 5 once. Which means that if she didn't commit suicide, she at least committed a violent act.
So she must have killed the aunt. But there are some couple issues with time tables (iirc, Satoko was at the Matsuri ?), but it sounds the most likely. Considering the Rika-Satoko exchange after Rika tells the truth about the Syndrome, it sounds believable.
After that, Satoshi tries to cover for his sister but as a result gets suspected by the police (I'll assume he was at the scene).
At this point the commando intervenes, pulls up the insane-gets suicided-hannin and onikakushies Satoshi (because he had seen Satoko kill the aunt, or because he was suspected by the police ? Had Satoshi not been suspected, they would have onikakushied Satoko ? Although that's doubtful because at that point research was still ongoing I guess. So they had to onikakushi Satoshi to cover all tracks.
But the one point that doesn't work with this theory, is that Takano refuses to reveal whether she killed Satoshi or not.