When they cry

~Neji-Gurashi No Naku Koro ni~

Prologue

"Where there is light there is darkness...where there is peace there is misery...where there is life there is death..."

These are the words that continued to echo through "young" Rika Furude's mind.

"Why are you so upset, Rika?" asked the shy little Hanyuu, in a worried manner. They

together, had just broken Rika's fate...they had found their way through to the end

of the repetitions of June 30th, 1983. It was now July 1st, yet the young blue-haired girl continued to remain solemn, silent, through all of her new found "joy"..."

Rika..? Rika what's troubling you..? We've broken the dreaded fate! We're free now! Hau auau!" the purple-haired girl exclaimed with much delight, hoping to cheer her twin sister up.

Her efforts failed, as Rika looked up at her sorrowfully, with tear-filled eyes.

"How can I be happy...when it's happened to another..?"

Her voice was low and shaky. Hanyuu looked confused and uneasy at seeing her sister like this, after a miracle had taken place.

"Another...? What do you mean? Who is it?" She paused. "...What...happened to them...?"

Rika made no reply. Her long hair blew in the soft wind, revealing more of her tear-stained face.

"Why is she crying?" Thought Hanyuu. "Why now of all times...?" Finally Rika spoke.

"Someone...someone else...has now beeh trapped in the fate of June 1983 in my place..."

Silence. The only sound that could be heard was the kind drifting of the wind, gently caressing the leaves of the trees, and the song of the cicadas. Hanyuu's cheerfulness had faded along with her smile, and she now stood completely still, listening to the small little creatures sing their mournful melody.

"Wh-what...? She started. "N-no...! That can't be! Not again..I won't acknowledge it!"

Her voice sounded almost as fearful as it had been the first time she lost Rika to death. Rika slowly nodded.

"But...! B-but how...? How do you know this...!? It surely cannot be the truth!"

Another tear fell from Rika's eyes and onto the ground beneath them.

"However...it js true...Hanyuu...no one's told me, I simply know..."

Hanyuu's eyes widened with the return of fear and sorrow that she thought had been eternally abandoned. Her own eyes too, began to well up with tears.

"But...who is it? Where are they?" inquired Hanyuu, fully believing her twin now.

"They are coming here...to Hinamizawa, from another village in which they dwell."

"Here...?" Oh no...Rika we have to stop them before-!"

Rika only shook her head, implying it was already too late.

"They're traveling here, right now, as we speak, and I haven't any idea exactly which village they've headed out from in the first place..."

Hanyuu trembled. "R-Rika..."

Rika looked away. "We have to find them...I'll do anything and everything in my power to save this person from the miserable fate of June, 1983!"

Hanyuu herself, truly wished to help, but found herself doubting anyway to save the poor, currently unidentified victim.

"B-but Rika, they don't have help from someone like me...how will they continue to restart their life in different worlds repetitively as you did...?"

The little, blue-haired girl looked up at Hanyuu.

"It's you.."

"M-me...?! Wh-what do you mean me...?"

Rika's eyes narrowed.

"You will be the one to repetitively restart their life...over and over again, no matter how frustrating it is, no matter how tiresome, no matter how many times it takes!!!"

Hanyuu stepped back upon hearing the frustration and seriousness in her sister's voice.

"They will constantly restart, only to have every single one of their dreams shattered on the night of the Watanagashi festival, June 30th, 1983!"

Hanyuu's voice rose slightly, but not enough to match the tone of Rika's.

"But why!? How did I become involved..!? WHY!?!?"

Her twin said nothing.

"You...you have to help. It isn't a choice...it's a regulation. Or are you that selfish..?"

Hanyuu said nothing, looking her sister deeply in the eyes.

"Well? ARE YOU!?"

The sudden outburst caused Hanyuu to jump back.

"N-no! Honestly Rika! I really do want to help!" She sighed. "I promise...I'll do anything."

Rika's eyes met with Hanyuu's.

"Hanyuu...you're their only chance..."