Another year.
The boy, who was almost a man, had many adventures with the fairer sex. He kindly left the girl alone in that respect, which she silently thanked him for. It wasn't that she didn't like him. On the contrary, she liked him too much, and it frightened her.
This was also the year the girl's parents died, leaving the girl and her brother to be cared for by their friends and neighbors, the Higurashi's. The girl tried to be strong for her brother, but when nobody was looking the boy held her in his arms as she cried.