Hinamizawa Hell
Ch.7- Disseminating Truth and Courage
The day wasn't pleasant at all for the young, light-brown haired child known as Rena Ryuuga. It wasn't the fact that it was cold weather chilling her to the bones, or the fact that the homework questions she and the rest of the class had been arduously working on for the past two hours wasn't being completed, but the fact that the newest person to the group was somewhat eating away at her thoughts the entire day. The man known as Komoto Hagara, the mysterious new arrival to Hinamizawa, had been driving into her mind constantly since the previous night.
"Tell me…and don't lie…but who does Oyashiro-sama need to be forgiven by?" she looked at him with some anger in her eyes, but was only stupefied by his small response.
"Me…"
Komoto Hagara was something new to Rena. He had not only given off different and unpredictable vibes to her, but as well had the audacity to even defy Oyashiro-sama. She knew all too well in her life and her dreams that defying a god was a death warrant to be signed, but for her she luckily received the chance to erase her name on the dotted "x" line.
Rika was the only one to have noticed Rena's unusual attitude that day in school. Rena wasn't in her usually ecstatic and cheerful mood today, but kept herself occupied by looking out the window and sighing a lot.
"Mii…Something wrong Rena-san?" Rika looked at her worryingly, as if Rena was depressed by some unseen event by the previous night.
Rena knew well enough to never lie to her friends. Too many mistakes were created through lying, and for that she looked down to the little purple-haired child with honesty in her eyes.
"Hagara-san said he didn't believe in Oyashiro-sama, but he said it with such hate in his voice and an idea that it was Oyashiro-sama who had to be forgiven by him…I don't understand him, I don't…"
Rika looked troublingly at her, her eyes narrowing a bit in disdain. Komoto seemed fine when he left, but now that the thought came to mind, she realized something from the first night she found him. He muttered words whilst he was sick, and from that Rika thought hard to bring the words to her mind.
"Twilight…Evil…Oyashiro…"
--"What do you mean, Komoto-san? Is there something about Oyashiro's existence that trouble's you, even in these peaceful times? Hanyuu, is it possible Hagara-san may have played some role in our previous worlds?"--she mentally communicated to Hanyuu, who was across the room with Satoko and Satoshi, working on the same homework problems.
--"Rika-chan, he was never in Hinamizawa during those times. If anything, when you died in those worlds, then everyone else infected with the syndrome would have received the same fate, auu…"—Hanyuu replied.
"Hmm…then now it seems we're playing another game somehow. Only this time, it really is a fair game for every player. But, if so, what are the goal, the objective, the strategy, and the real design…or can I be overestimating all this…" Rika murmured. Rena looked over at her with a look of confusion. "Nippah! Rena-san shouldn't be sad, but her usual self. Fly away sadness, fly away!" Rika pointed with her finger and made circling motions in the air, which seemingly made Rena feel better for some odd reason. She smiled like her old self, and then began to concentrate on her homework.
"So Mion, what's this I hear about a new festival coming before the Watanagashi Festival?"
Keiichi, Mion and Rena were walking their usual route home after school. Club activities were cancelled due to rumors of another storm approaching Hinamizawa, but it didn't seem likely thankfully.
Apparently, Shion had told Keiichi about a new festival during this upcoming New Year, one that she hoped to spend with Satoshi. Keiichi's interest was sparked, especially since festivals in this quiet village never went normal.
"I haven't been informed a lot about it, but apparently it's to help cleanse the entire village of any evil energy. My grandmother calls it the "Crimson Lotus Festival". It's actually going to be taking place of the same month of Watanagashi. Very few in the village know about it right now, so you all need to keep it a secret, ok?" Mion asked her friends, to which, they nodded.
"Hmm…it doesn't seem any different than the Watanagashi Festival. Who knows, maybe we'll have another set of murders and a new puzzle to look forward to, heheheh…" Keiichi laughed at his own joke, but looked back at the others, noticing that no one else was laughing, and ceased it. He knew there was still some tension about the past in the present, so he stopped for the time being. He tried to change the subject, at least, for the remainder of the walk. Somehow, the idea of Komoto came to mind.
"So what do you all think about him, Komoto-san that is?" he asked.
"He's ok in my book. Though he's a bit weird with the blindfold and the stuff he needs to inject straight into his neck, he seems pretty shy is all. How about you Rena?" Mion looked to her companion, but noticed something odd about her.
"Umm…well…I don't know…" Rena looked down, and kept walking straight. She didn't make eye contact with her friends.
"Come on Rena, he wasn't bad or anything. I mean, we all creamed him in a game of Zombie, and he's a mercenary with mad field skills above it all. He's harmless in my opinion." Keiichi smiled, but still, noticed Rena not changing any opinion.
"I…don't understand him. That's all…" Rena and the others got to the point where Rena separated in the road. She murmured a goodbye, and from there continued walking towards her house. Mion didn't separate earlier, for she had planned to spend some time with Keiichi. Having both sets of parents out of the houses for the week was liberating, but even so, she and Keiichi kept it responsibly to a reasonable amount of time for each other.
Walking home was just another conversation of how Rena acted unlike herself. It worried them, but they concluded that with time she'd probably come to grow on Komoto like she did everyone else.
Back at Keiichi's home, Mion had made tea for the two, and then sat on the couch to work on their homework before watching t.v. and making dinner. Everything seemed pretty normal and peaceful for them at the time, but from Keiichi's perspective, it seemed like Mion had other things on her mind.
"Something wrong, Mi-chan?" Mion looked flustered at his words, growing as red as a beet.
"Umm…well, it's nothing really…"
"Really? Then why are you so fidgety with your pencil there?" Keiichi pointed out for Mion that she was performing acrobatic tricks through the openings of her fingers, proving her hesitant and confused state.
"Well…Keiichi…in my family, there's kind of a tradition where if one of the Sonozaki daughters is seeing a suitor, that the male has to come before the family and formally introduce himself to the household…"
Surprisingly, Keiichi didn't seem worried about any of this. He smirked.
"So you're afraid of me going before your Grandmother, right?"
"Y…yeah…she's intimidating, you know. As well, Kasai had saw us and both Shion and Satoshi doing our own things and he had to report to my mom who then reported to my Grandmother on the matter. If you and I are going to stay together, we'll need to go before our family and have a discussion with them. Luckily, it won't be as bad as if we suddenly brought it up on them. Our parents had already known about Shion and Satoshi, and for us they pretty much have expected it…so we're not going to get tortured or anything…"
Keiichi laughed at her remark, not understanding that she was being serious about the torture. He shook his head, and filled Mion with a bit of courage.
"Mion, we've faced worst things in our lives. Besides, I've already stood up to that Grandmother of yours so I'm not worried at all!" Keiichi kept laughing.
"Umm…you're going to need some good clothes. Like a traditional men's kimono…"
And at that, Keiichi spit out his tea; a look of despair on his face. He hated dressing up like that, especially if it was traditional in the sense of a full on kimono get up. He eventually passed it off, knowing he'd been through worse.
"Eh…I've had to wear a maid costume, how bad can this be…"
The week was nearly over and the new weekend approaching for the group. Club activities were cancelled for the entire week since the teacher and principal had worried that another storm was on the horizon. The sky grew darker every day since the end of the first storm, but thankfully by Friday the sun finally came out again, giving Hinamizawa a new, bright image.
For the most part, Keiichi's and Mion and Shion's parents arrived back home. Keiichi, sitting down with his parents and announcing to them what had happened previously with Mion and he, was assailed with his father's joy. When it came to his father, an entire broadway show could have been performed just by him, for his sheer dramatic poses and speech put Keiichi on the verge of sickness.
"Why, my SON has finally become a Man! And what a catch too! Ah, to think that he and the fair Mion Sonozaki are on their way to being betrothed. Oh how I await such a day, to see my own son marry such a woman!" Tears of joy and drama fell from Keiichi's father's eyes. However, Keiichi, in a fit of anger, just knocked his father with a bit of sense, via a punch to the head. Keiichi's mother smiled, sharing in Keiichi's sentiments for happiness and understanding. His parents for the time being were all for the formal introduction their son had to undergo on Sunday.
But for the Sonozaki twins, things were somewhat…unusual.
"Grandmother…we made our choices the moment we even mentioned their names to you!"
"Satoshi and Keiichi are good people. There's no question in that! But even so, our generation won't fall into lapse with old traditions…"
Mion and Shion both stood before their mother and grandmother in a private sitting room within the Sonozaki estate. They had asked their respective parent and elder to discuss their intentions with their boyfriends.
Akane, their mother, was completely for their relationships with Keiichi and Satoshi. She herself had married outside of the family's wishes, and for that lost her inheritance to the Sonozaki family. But in this case, she had to remain silent before her own mother, in fear of being scolded and put back in her place.
However unusual it was even in that moment of tension, no scolding came to light this time. Their grandmother was completely fine to the idea. Mion and Shion looked at each other, seeing for once a smile on their grandmother's face.
"I'm happy that you felt obligated to talk to me about your boyfriends. It's the respect that becomes old tradition, not the tradition itself. As least, you're keeping to the formal introduction part so far. Therefore, I accept your proposal to bring Keiichi Maebarra and Satoshi Houjou to meet with the family. But fair warning, girls, I promise you that if either of you ever act in such a disrespectful manner to this family's image then inheritance is far down on your list of worries…" Her smile, by this point, turned to a meager frown. Shion and Mion, their hearts racing like they had just ran around Hinamizawa three times, started to relax from all the tension upon being given permission to leave. They bowed to their grandmother and mother, and began to leave the room; however, it was their grandmother who had the last saying.
"By the way, Mi-chan. If Keiichi remembers, I told him that I was going to chase him with a katana if he ever decided to talk up to me like he did before…" Mion turned to face her grandmother, sweat beading down her forehead.
"Umm…I remember that…umm…"
"He's reprieved for that time only. Just forewarning, heheheh…"
Their grandmother, no matter how old or shelled she was, was still a scary woman…
When her grandchildren left the room, Akane turned to her mother and spoke to her quietly.
"We've done as you asked, Mother. Our contacts have acquired information on the newest arrival to Hinamizawa, a one…Mr. Komoto Hagara."
"Good. Many of the villagers who have spotted him are becoming quite fearful with him carrying around firearms freely. On top of that, his blindfold isn't helping matters with settling into the village."
"There's no medical report stating he's blind in any way. But they are few and small. He has no prior medical record appearing for the last 5 years, and furthermore, he has had a record of confidential status with the military and classified document info on his history. We've taken all precaution in determining this history, but our searches lead to empty holes."
"Then it's for us to decide his intent and nature in Hinamizawa. We'll have him come on Sunday before the village chiefs and elders to discuss his intentions. We can have that meeting after Mion and Shion's introductions…."
*Sunday*
The cellar area of the Sonozaki estate's hidden caverns casted a low light level amongst all the participants in attendance. On the day of the formal introduction, the Sonozaki family congregated into one of the old torture rooms and sat on cushions before the 4 young teens. Mion wore a black kimono with a red sash, indicating her rank with the family. Shion wore a white kimono with a blue sash. For their men, Keiichi wore a white men's kimono with a black hakama, while Satoshi wore a black men's kimono with a similar black hakama. Though they took pride in their attire that day, however, the family member's looks showed no emotion, all except for Akane and a few of their uncles who bore small smiles. Their grandmother sat at the forefront, after having made sure that the other elders and village chiefs of Hinamizawa remained in another room until Komoto's introduction.
The dark room was illuminated by many lit candles around the 4 teens, who sat nervously before the Sonozaki family. Keiichi's courage allowed him to look directly into the eyes of their grandmother without fear, however, Satoshi found it hard to be before an entire group of people who condemned his family's existence since the Dam Wars. This time, Shion was beside him for support, giving him all the will to remain in the room for their sake.
"I, Mion Sonozaki, eldest daughter of the Sonozaki family, humbly come before my family today to introduce Keiichi Maebarra, the one whom I have sought relations with."
"And I, Shion Sonozaki, second eldest daughter of the Sonozaki family, come before my family today to introduce Satoshi Houjou, of whom I have sought relations with as well."
Their grandmother nodded to her granddaughters, accepting the introductions. From this point, she looked over the two men and waited for their own introductions. Keiichi, seeing this as his moment to represent Mion and himself, spoke up.
"I, Keiichi Maebarra, am pleased and most honored to come before the Sonozaki family today, with an intention to proclaim my relations with Mion Sonozaki." He stated. From this, Satoshi took his turn.
"And I, Satoshi Houjou, come before this family with respectful wishes to seek out relations with Shion Sonozaki."
Mion and Shion gratefully cheered their men on in their minds. They were doing so well off the bat, especially for their introductions to the family. Although it seemed perfect, however, it was all beginning to take a much harder path for the teens in terms of questioning before the family. Their grandmother directed all the questions to them.
"Maebarra-san, how long have you seen my daughter for in terms your relationship?" she asked. Satoshi expected a similar question coming his way, from which he prepared himself for.
Though Mion was worried for him, she knew deep down Keiichi could make it count where it was needed. And from this, he proved her right.
"We have pursued a relationship romantically for the past two weeks." He stated.
"I see. If that is so, then your time with my granddaughter has been short…"
"No, rather, quite long in fact. Since I've arrived in Hinamizawa, Mion and I have been close friends, and up until two weeks ago have we pursued more definite and titled relations as boyfriend and girlfriend." He replied. Their grandmother seemed to accept this second reply with a small smile.
"And for you, Houjou-san…"
Satoshi looked down to the floor, thought for a moment, then looked back into the eyes of those where were once against his family.
"Well…I've been in a coma for over a year, and in terms of how long I've known Shi-chan, its only been a short while…but in terms of how long we've been together, it can be seen as much longer than it actually is. Shi-chan watched over me while I remained comatose in bed, and I can say I remember almost every day she came to see me. And from the moment I woke up, she was the one I wanted to be with. Since then, she and I have become boyfriend and girlfriend for the past two weeks." He replied, confident in his answer.
"I see. Now, if you two are so confident in your relationships with my granddaughters, then I must question what made you fall in love with them? And this applies to all four of you, by the way…"
This question intrigued everyone in the room, especially Shion and Mion. They were curious as to what Keiichi and Satoshi would say and what they thought of them. As vague as their answers were, they were justified before the family.
"Mi-chan and I share a bond beyond no words of which I can relate to anyone in this room. I love her as my heart tells me I love her. I fell in love with Mi-chan for I fell in love in Mi-chan. I have nothing more to say." He said, closing his eyes with a smile.
Mion sat there, blushing profusely. He didn't give a straight answer, but at the same time it was the truest of all. She smiled, and reached out for his hand to hold in hers.
"I agree with Kei-chan. I love him because I feel like we're fated to be together…" she looked at her family before her "…My heart beats for him every time I see him, every time I watch him, and every time I think of him. If that isn't a feeling for love then I don't think I'll ever know it."
Her family sat there with wide eyes for once, looking at the two. They showed genuine truth in their feelings for one another. Her grandmother sat there, pleased with the answer. She looked over to Satoshi, ready for him to speak, but this time Shion decided to take the lead.
"The Dam Wars, as I have speculated, caused many people in Hinamizawa to outcast the Houjou family for their values. However, on the day Satoshi protected me from a group of street thugs in a back alley, he had no care for this family's involvement with the Dam War. He protected me for the sake of protecting me, and I know that that was the first day I fell in love with him. Since then, I've only thought of him and am glad to say I am with him." She stated.
"Shi-chan…" Satoshi said, looking at her and blushing. She blushed, and looked down to the floor, smiling. He looked at the family, with courage blazing in his eyes. "…I believe Shi-chan and I can be together, despite what happened between our families in the past. Shi-chan means the world to me, and if I can't be with her, then life almost seems dismal, as if being comatose would have been better. I love her, and I will die to protect her…"
His response instilled an end for some who hated the Houjou family. It felt repulsive in the depths of some family member's souls for outcasting the boy who cared so much for their own. For that, they let the past be the past…
But the elder of the Sonozaki household, at hearing these words, motioned for one of the members to bring forth a rather large device from a storage room. To the teens' horror, it was a torture device used in family matters; a device used to prove one's truth.
"I've accepted your introductions, and now your boyfriends must face a task to prove their worth. If you men are so willing to be with our family, then you must prove this through a test of pain. We do not let weakness infect our family traditions nor our family members. If you want to be with our daughters, then through this device…"
One of the Sonozaki members revealed a large, black, wooden box. It had two entry points where one arm would be placed from each male, and from there God only knows what could happen. They saw an iron gear with a lever at the end, a crank if you will, meant to do some unthinkable thing to the persons undergoing the process.
"…if you find this to your un-liking, then leave this room and never have relations with our members ever again. If not, then stick…"
"GRANDMOTHER!" shouted both of the Sonozaki twins. They were on the verge of tears at this point, begging their grandmother to not do such things. However, they only received scorn from their family.
"If they are worthy, they will pass this test…huh?"
Mion and Shion looked from the awed faces of their family members, staring in disbelief at some unseen spectacle. They turned their heads in the direction, and found their loved ones placing an arm into the device with no regret.
"It's ok; we'll do this if it means being with you…" Keiichi and Satoshi beaded sweat down their foreheads, ready for anything to happen.
Shion and Mion rushed to their sides, trying to talk sense into them. Whatever the device did, it wasn't going to be pleasant. They pleaded for them to stop, but their men only looked at them with smiles.
"We're men, we can take this. If this is what appeases your family, then so be it. We said we'd die for you to, and we meant it." said Satoshi. Shion looked at him, blushing, but with tears falling down her face. The girls stepped back, watching as their grandmother moved forward to work the crank.
"Are you two sure about this? You can still back out…"
"With all due respect, just do it or I'll pull it for you if it makes any difference!" Keiichi, for once before Mion and her family, had a distinct darkness in his eyes, almost frightening the old lady. At seeing this, Satoshi, taking the offensive with his partner in the matter, grabbed the lever from the old woman, and smiled with a similar darkness.
"We're not intimidated, and we're not afraid of you or anyone else! So be it!"
And with that, the crank was pulled, and a distinct click was heard. Gasps and awes were heard in the room, and Shion and Mion closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of what happened. Keiichi and Satoshi yelled out, just as the metal gear made a clank…
"HAH HA HA HA HAH!"
Keiichi and Satoshi opened their eyes, as did Mion and Shion, watching their grandmother laugh maniacally and hysterically before everyone else. They realized that nothing had happened once the gear turned on the device. The couples looked to each other confused, still sweating from all the previous tension.
"Splendid! Wonderful! Good show you two. With this, we accept you into the family!"
Their grandmother seemed pleased at their performance before the family. Not once did they complain about the test, and from that the men deserved nods and smiles from the other family members. Keiichi and Satoshi pulled their hands out from the device, still confused.
"Grandmother, what just happened?" Shion asked, confused.
"Shi-chan and Mi-chan, you know the ways of our family clearly. We do not allow weakness to be present in our lines. Your men proved to us today they are willing to do anything for you, and for those traits we find acceptable in our family. They've proven their worth to us today, therefore, you may continue your relations with them. For now, enjoy dinner at Angel Morte' with your men, courtesy of your uncle. Otherwise, that is all. You may leave."
Without another word, the couples left hastily, moving out of the room and through the main cellar door. They sweated profusely, still feeling their hearts racing and their adrenaline pumping. For now, Keiichi, Mion, Satoshi, and Shion were glad that it was all over.
But just as they opened the metal doors leading out to the other room from where the stairs were, they unexpectedly bumped into the next interviewee of the Sonozaki family.
"Ouch! Sorry, that was my fault…" said Mion, being the first to bump into the stranger.
"Well, if it isn't the sweet hearts of Hinamizawa. Fancy bumping into you, Shion…"
Komoto stood before the couples in his usual gear, carrying his pistols at his side. Kasai was beside him, holding his shotgun handy. It was as if Komoto was being watched, feared that he may suddenly start aiming his gun which way and that way.
Mion looked up to him, confused a bit.
"Sorry Komoto-san. But I'm Mion, remember? I know in a kimono I look a bit different…"
Komoto looked down to Mion, smiling awkwardly.
"Umm…yeah…right…Mion. Sure…" He grinned at her, as if knowing a dirty secret of hers. Mion and Shion looked at each other, a bit fretful now. They bowed, and moved past him, not wanting to grow on the conversation any more.
From there, Komoto moved with Kasai into the room where the Sonozaki elders and village elders and chiefs waited. He went in; making sure his presence was known to everyone. He seemed a bit darker today, as if he received bad news previously.
Author's note: Sorry this took so long to get out. I made like several chapters for seven, but some led off into no man's land. Otherwise, I feel this is becoming a good starting point so far for the story, and picking up in the next chapter will start making the story more interesting and insightful.
If any of you realize in this chapter, I put "keys" as clues to the latter parts of the story. If you can figure it out, then good for you. Otherwise, enjoy.