happy 20th anniversary to higurashi!
Kids at Heart
With the full moon gleaming overhead and casting silver rays on the water, the cotton drifts down the stream. Hundreds of pieces glide to the river's rhythm. Villagers have gathered around the edge and watch, marveling as their sins are cleansed. Rika stands among them, her hands neatly folded in front of her ceremonial robes. Next to her, Rena bows her head, deep in supplication, but Mion throws her cotton in the water like a softball pitcher, clapping her hands together with a snicker.
"Mii-chan," Rena warns, her cheeks puffing, "try to be more respectful to Oyashiro-sama's ritual."
Mion itches her nose, grinning at her. "In that case, let's kneel together and offer our prayers. Nothing more respectful than that, right?"
Rika smiles as Rena bobs her head in agreement. They huddle together, shoulders pressing. Mion whispers, but she's only heard by Rena.
Rika peers at their surroundings. Hinamizawa is in full spring. Everyone has gathered by the riverbed, chatting and worshiping, offering thanks to their guardian deity. As the villagers she has loved for decades don their smiles, Rika listens to the flowing water and the song of the cicadas buzzing in the nearby woods.
Naturally, she is older. The years that have passed since 1983 have been plentiful and joyous. She has seen the globe, engaging with locations most do not have the luxury of visiting. Many of the villagers preferred their quaint town, which she has come to understand why, but her worldliness is something she wishes to further expand. She's already booked two tickets for a Shanghai flight leaving tomorrow evening.
But always, she returns for the festival. She wears her robes and performs her dance, much to the awe of the villagers. She has never, not once in a hundred and something years, missed a step, and she would be remiss to ignore her duties to the village she adores.
Her attention draws away from Rena and Mion, who giggle like they're schoolgirls again. Nearby, Keiichi helps Satoshi kneel next to the water. Shion is by his side, holding his other arm. Satoshi, despite his suffering, still requires the occasional hospitalization, but for the festival, he is momentarily released to Shion's care. He's thinner than their friends, but he certainly is not lesser.
Keiichi finds Rika's eyes. A twinkle shines in his gaze, which, although no longer boyish, contains his youthful spirit. He parts from Shion and Satoshi, both of whom toss their cotton into the river.
"Hey, Rika-chan," he says, his presence earning smiles from Rena and Mion, "great dance as always."
"Thanks, Keiichi. It's secondhand nature to me," she replies, tilting her head.
"Of course!" Mion proclaims, shooting to her feet. She swings her arm around the shorter woman's shoulder. "Our priestess is the best priestess to ever grace Hinamizawa. There's no chance she'll ever mess up."
Rena latches onto Rika's other arm, her bubble of laughter popping. "Hau! No matter how many times I see Rika dance, I just wanna take her home with me."
"Yeah, you'll be asking to take her home with you when you're a hundred years old, too," Keiichi deadpans, scratching through his hair.
She clenches her fist, determined. "You bet I will!"
Rika beams, allowing Mion to take control of the conversation. Their indomitable spirits are always a blessing to her ears. If she could, she'd like to chat with them for eternity.
But although Shion and Satoshi join their happy group, their final member is missing. Rika's gaze flits to and fro, side to side, searching for that particular, somewhat calloused hand in hers. Her fingers curl inwards, the corners of her twisting into a slight frown, and subdued worry drives her to peer over her shoulder.
She isn't one to forego the cotton drifting. These years later, there are quiet moments when she insists her sins will sink instead of float along in the stream. Rika's assurance soothes her, nonetheless momentarily. Oyashiro-sama has forgiven and loved her for years; Rika wishes she could thoroughly accept it.
But as it turns out, she needn't worry in this miraculous world.
"Oh, there she is! Satoko!" Keiichi calls, his arm shooting up in a wave.
Rena follows suit. "Over here, over there!"
A smile quickly adorns Rika's face. In casual slacks and a buttoned-up vest is Satoko, her short hair blowing in the sudden breeze. A toothy sneer stretches on her face, her typical laughter booming. At her age, she has become the fine adult she emulated as a child.
"My apologies for keeping you all waiting. There was a lost child by the vendors, and I escorted him back to his father," she says, cotton in hand.
"You're always so considerate to children," Satoshi remarks, and he quietly rubs her head, his sister snickering.
"Obviously! Only a boar would ignore a kid's wailing." She steps closer to the river, adding, "Now, let me finish my task, and we can - hm?"
Rika's shadow crosses over her. She smiles as Satoko gazes at her with wide eyes and puckered lips. She could kiss those features in front of everyone, but Satoko, forever bashful, will blush and flail. Instead, Rika retrieves her cotton from her kimono sleeve, wordlessly asking if she could join Satoko.
She nods. Their hands met, fingers lacing. Warmth pulses through Rika's palm to her heart. Crouching, they set their cotton in the water, and off they sail, their sins purified, Rika's chest full of love.
She says a silent prayer. It's the same request she has made every year. Remaining with everyone, hoping for the best in their futures, strings of fate forever woven together. And Rika has the power to grant it, beaming at Satoko as she finishes, her fanged tooth slipping over her lower lip when she returns Rika's delight.
"Everyone, let's hurry to the booths. The Sonozakis have set up never-before-seen prizes in our new games corner," Shion announces as Rika and Satoko stand.
Mion gawks. "Wait, huh? How do you know that?"
She sighs. "Onee, one of us has to pay attention during budgetary meetings."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Why, because it's money that goes toward the festival preparations and new prizes! That was the obvious answer. Stupid Onee."
Her face darkening, Mion feebly cries, "You're stupid!"
Keiichi barks out a laugh. He slings his arms around Rena and Mion's shoulders, exclaiming, "Break it up, break it up! Let's get going already! The night is still young, and we club members haven't played enough yet! There's still the ohagi eating contest, the shooting gallery, and much more!"
"Let's fight on!" Rika shouts, pumping her fists in the air. "Nipah!"
As expected, Satoko tacks on, "Ohoho!"
A chorus of agreement rings out. They leave behind their sins, marching toward the swarm of lights and chatter, booths and streamers. Keiichi, Mion, and Rena hurry ahead, holding hands and swinging one another around. Shion fusses over Satoshi, but he smiles, linking their arms together as they follow behind.
Satoko and Rika take a moment for themselves. Their eyes drift upward at someone who has been with them the entire time. Rika reaches and feels a smaller soft palm return her blessing.
"Happy Watanagashi, Rika," Hanyuu whispers, her form unseen to all but her. "Enjoy yourself to the fullest."
"As I always do," she says, letting her hand fall back to Satoko. "Shall we?"
Satoko squeezes back. "We shall."
And off they run to where happiness awaits them.
(They each share wrinkles and skin that sags in places hidden by clothing. Stray strands of gray hairs have taken root. But they are still the club members, still treasured friends, and no matter how many decades pass, their bonds are unshakable.)