『Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni』

Yukidomarishi-hen

{Chapter 1}

For a moment, there was a bright flash... Then everything went dark...

I feel no gravity in the darkness, and I lose all of my senses. I bang my head on the floor with a dull thud.

The darkness begins to fade away, and color returns to the world.

Oh. That's right. I had fallen off of that cliff. My body starts to ache all over.

"Au au... Au au au..."

I hear Hanyuu's scared voice. Hearing her voice suddenly brings my memories back to me.

Now I remember. I am "Furude Rika"... I am the miko of the Furude Shrine... And... I am fated to die in the June of the 58th year of Shouwa.

"Hanyuu...! What day is this? What month and what year?"

I ask the same question that I ask every time something like this happens.

"Um..."

Hanyuu hesitates a little. It's so annoying. I don't have any time to waste; I'm in a hurry. I raise my voice to shout at her.

"You came here before me! You should know!"

"Auau... It's the June of the 58th year of Shouwa... The Watanagashi festival is two weeks away..."

Two weeks?! I only have two weeks to defeat fate?! Is that enough time?!

"This is June of Shouwa 58... I see... I was killed again..."

My memory is vague. It's the common characteristic of a violent death. When my life ends, the memory before death becomes vague. It's like a torn piece of toilet paper... That's what my memory is like, but I know that's not be the best way to put it.

I don't know who killed me or how I was killed. I have journeyed for over 100 years, and in each world before this, I have been murdered violently. And yet, not once have I discovered the answers I'm looking for.

I finally stand on my feet. Hanyuu is looking at me with her usual worried look. Has she already given up on this world?

The area around me is quiet in this morning. I had fallen off of that cliff, and no one was around to witness it. My friends aren't anywhere in sight. Where could they all be?

"Au... Au au..."

The only voice I hear is Hanyuu's. It's so annoying at this time.

"Hanyuu...! Where is everyone?! Are you sure this is June of Shouwa 58?!"

"Au... Yes... But... I don't know where everyone is... Au..."

When Hanyuu speaks, I can hear that she's already given up on this world. She fears that we won't be able to avoid the tragedy of this year.

My body aches, and I start to feel numb.

"Rika..."

Hanyuu's worried voice tells me that I should move from this spot before the pain worsens. I'm already on my feet, I just need to walk. I start taking small steps while observing my surroundings.

I can see the Furude Shrine in the distance. Just behind that is my house. I live there with my best friend Satoko. However... I know nothing of this world I was thrown into. I just hope it hasn't changed too much from the Hinamizawa I know.

• • • • • • • • • •

When I arrive at the shrine, I feel a strange sensation. Well... can I even call it a sensation? It's more like a bad feeling. And yet, I also feel the warmth of home here. I don't understand why I'm feeling this way. Did something bad happen here...and I just don't remember it? I stand still for a minute and let this feeling pass.

I walk around to the back of the shrine. There, I see a small house. It's small, but it's comfortable. This is the house where I live. I approach the building. I unlock the door, and enter the house.

When I walk inside, I am suddenly greeted by a loud yell.

"Rika!?"

It's Satoko. In this world, me and Satoko live together in this small house. It's the same as the Hinamizawa I know.

"What happened to you, Rika?! You're covered in mud and scratches!"

"Mi-. I fell off of a cliff."

I smile to show that it's not really a big deal. Falling off a cliff is nothing compared to the endless cycle of death I experience.

"Well, you should go see a doctor! Falling like that causes a lot of pain!"

Satoko worries over me, but not in the same way as Hanyuu. I decide to just agree with what Satoko's saying.

• • • • • • • • • •

At the clinic, the doctor examines the injuries. He tells me they're not that bad. This gives Satoko a feeling of relief, though Hanyuu still looks scared.

"Au au..."

No one knows about Hanyuu's existence except for me. I'm the only one who can see her. Perhaps she only exists inside of my head. Anyway, she is only visible in front of my eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay, Rika. But you should be more careful!"

Satoko sounds bossy, but she's actually just trying to look out for me.

"Mi-."

"Anyways, if you're okay, then we should get going! We have a club meeting today, remember?"

I wonder what the club activity will be this time around?