Disclaimer: I do not own When They Cry Higurashi no Naku Koroni, it belongs to its original creator.
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When They Cry Higurashi no Naku Koroni
Tachiagari-hen
Hyakunenmai no Hatsukoi
Chapter 5 "Breakdown"
Although it had only been a day since the newest Watanagshi's tatari, everyone still carried on as usual and that included Ryuguu Rena.
That day, Ryugu Rena walked down the street cheerfully as the sun began to set while she carried the shopping bags that contained tonight's dinner for her and her father.
Despite the fact that her father had finally started seeing someone regularly, she was far from happy about it, because she did not like that woman, Mamiya Rina.
Her father met her at a bar, where Rina worked at, and according to what he told Rena, she comforted him and thus eventually they became involved as he visited the bar more often.
Still, it did not matter as long as her father was happy, as she truly wished for her father's happiness.
And after deciding to give the unpleasant matters no more thoughts, Rena decided that she would grab some snack at a coffee shop nearby before heading home.
Therefore, Rena quickly entered into the coffee shop that she had visited frequently when she came into town and was taken to a seat near the center of the shop. And after she finished ordering, Rena thought of the pleasant taste that she would soon enjoy, but she was brought back to reality as she heard a familiar voice.
"It is Rina-san." Rena thought as she recognized the voice. Despite her dislike of her, she was still her father fiancée and thus she decided to at least say hello for the sake of formality and manners.
However, just as Rena approached the older woman, she realized that Rina was not alone and was speaking to a man who appeared to be violent. Thus, Rena decided to save the greeting for another time, but just as she was about to leave, something caught her attention.
"So how is everything proceeding?" The man asked Rina as she took a sip from her glass.
"Well, everything went as planned." Rina replied as an evil grin appeared on her face.
"He is so down because of the divorce that he is not guarding against anyone." Rina continued and at that moment, Rena knew they were talking about her father.
"I should have access to all of his wealth pretty soon." As she finished, Rena knew that this was not good and that she needed to do something about it.
And without any hesitation, she left the store unnoticed by the pair and made her way back to her secret base.
"What am I going to do?" Rena said to herself as she sat in the old van that had become her little hideout from all the troubles of the world.
Although not as big as a regular house, the van, after being cleaned and refitted inside, became a very comfortable room and its isolated location had given her the quietness that she needed to think.
"I must do something quick, or else they are going to hurt dad." Just as those words came out, an idea formed in Rena's mind.
Several days passed and during those several days, Rena acted normally in school while she devised the plan to save her father from hands of evildoers. Eventually, that day came.
Rena slowly entered the junk yard as she knew that she still had an hour or so before her target arrive; thus, she had more than enough time to ready everything as she had planned.
Very soon, everything was ready and now the only thing left was execution of the plan. Despite its complexity, Rena was calm as she had thought through every step during the past few days. And with only a few minutes away, she left her secret base and stood in the center of yard, waiting for the plan to be realized.
Finally, the target came.
From afar, Rena could see Mamiya Rina approaching and Rena then subconsciously squeezed the handle of the machete hidden behind her with her right hand.
Every second seemed to have slowed down as Rena watched the woman, whom had lied to her father, walking closer to her while inside her, Rena felt sick as she noticed the heavy makeup on the woman and the intense smile fragrance.
"Rena-chan, so what is it that you want to talk about?" Rina asked in a friendly voice, but Rena could tell that it was all an act, an act to destroy her family.
"Stop acting, I know what you are trying to do." However, Rena would take none of it, she knew that the happiness of not just herself, but her father also depended on her.
For a moment, Rina seemed shocked and before she could say anything, Rena continued.
"You are just getting close to my father so you can steal away his money." Rena said coldly and she looked straight into Mamiya Rina's eyes as the next part came out.
"I want you to go away and leave my father." Then there was silence as Rena awaited for the other side's response.
"If not?" The expression on Rina's face by now had changed into a mischievous one, but Rena showed no sign of fear as she looked straight back at her without any reserve.
Hearing that, Rena sighed, in disbelief about how evil and stupid someone could actually be.
"If not, you will face severe consequence." Just as Rena finished, Rina lunged at her, but this however did not take Rena by surprise.
Immediately, without any remorse, Rena used the machete she had on her right hand and slashed across the woman's body and the blood came out. Despite the fact that she wanted to feel her enemy's blood, Rena had no time.
Thus, she quickly loaded the body onto a wheelbarrow she had found in the site and covered it with a black plastic sheet. Rena then scratched her throat on a regular interval due to itchiness as she pushed the wheelbarrow towards the swamp.
"Everything will turn out okay. After this, father will be happy." Rena said to herself as her hand moved from scratching her throat to pushing to wheelbarrow.
However, unknown to her, everything would go terribly wrong.
Hours later…
"Darn it." Rena cursed under her breath as she could hear the sound of more police arriving.
Had it not been that one man who spotted her near the old construction site of the dam, everything would have gone as planned. Regardless, she was pinned down here in the school. But to her advantage, she had planned for this and thus had planted a bomb in the school. She hoped that she would not have to use it, since it would harm her classmates, but now she had no choice or else she would never make it out.
"Ryugu Rena, let us work this out peacefully." Rena could tell that it was Oishi on the megaphone, as he was the officer in charged of Hinamizawa.
Despite how unwilling she was to negotiate, this was her only way out. To succeed, she must trade the safety of her classmates for a passage into the mountains, since she had based her escape plan largely on going through the mountain.
On the other hand, Keiichi and the rest of the club members sat quietly in the classroom as they tried their best to stop Rena from her rampage.
"We got to stop this." Mion said as she tried to free her hands from the rope tied around her wrist.
"Onee, what are you going to do?" Shion then asked as her face showed a undecipherable expression.
"Stop Rena, of course." Mion said as she got on her feet and moved towards the back of the classroom.
"We have to find out why she is doing this." Mion said as she rubbed the rope against the sharp corner of the steel cabinet.
"I want to protect everyone. I want to keep our happy days." Mion continued on as she tried to hide the pain from rubbing against the sharp corner from her face.
"Onee, do you really think that everyone want to keep it as it is? Do you think everyone is happy now?" Shion then asked coldly, which caused Mion to pause to look at her
Then before anyone else said anything, Keiichi spoke up.
"Shion, I don't know the answer to that." Keiichi said as he was took out a scissor from a desk near where he sat. "But if we simply do nothing, we will be simply viewed as cowards, who are afraid to even help our friend."
Hearing what he said, Satoko and Rika nodded as Keiichi handed the scissor to Rika and had her cut the rope that was around his wrist. Very shortly afterwards, all of the club members were freed from their bondage.
"So what do we do next?" Satoko asked as the other club members went on to free others held in the classroom.
"We need to first find the bomb that Rena talked about." Keiichi said as he finished untying another one of his classmates.
"Then we will get everyone out of here." Hearing that everyone nodded, which included Shion.
"Also, as a precaution, everyone will act in groups." Keiichi then continued as the club members gathered around.
Soon after he was done, Rika and Keiichi formed into a group, while Shion, Mion, and Satoko grouped themselves up. And after deciding their search areas and rules of engagement, they went on their separate ways.
"Keiichi, boku dachi do suru no?" Rika asked as she and Keiichi began to move towards the faculty office.
"Well, we have to figure out what Rena intentions are, then we can figure out where she planted the bomb." Keiichi replied as Rika nodded with a slight worried smile.
Although Rika was scared, but she knew that everything would be alright if she was with him. Despite the fact that they had only being in a relationship for such a short time, she knew that she could trust him with everything, even her life.
Thus, they continued on their way towards the faculty office.
"Keiichi, why do you think Rena is doing this?" Rika asked as they slowly walked holding hands.
"Well, I don't know why, Rika-chan." Keiichi replied after taking a couple second to think.
"But regardless, we have to stop her, for our sake and her sake as well." Keiichi added with confidence as he looked ahead.
Very soon they arrived at the faculty office. Upon entering the room, they looked around, searching for anything suspicious as well as items they can use.
"This might be useable." Rika said she picked a long stick at a far corner of the office. And without saying anything, Rika swung it around and practiced with it.
Seeing that Keiichi smiled a bit, before he turned around and found an object that caught his attention.
"A baseball bat?" Keiichi said as he picked it up and examined it.
Then something caught his attention. It was something inscribed onto the end of the bat.
Without any hesitation, Keiichi then attempted to read it as he held the part the writing was on closer to him.
"Satoshi." Those were the words he was able to make out and seeing that Keiichi was deep in thought, Rika approached him.
"That baseball bat was used by Satoshi, Satoko's older brother, who disappeared a year ago." Rika said as memories of the past flooded her mind.
She could still remember the days that when she spoke to Satoshi before he embarked on his acts to save his younger sister. She could still see the determination in his eyes, but soon Rika returned to reality as she looked at Keiichi.
Then as Rika turned and faced him, Keiichi could see sadness in her eyes, a sadness for that was unseen before.
Thus, without a word, Keiichi patted Rika's head and said, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
Hearing that, Rika felt warmness in her heart and nodded while a smile formed her face.
After that, Rika and Keiichi looked around for a bit more, but to no avail and thus they decided to rest here to prevent Rena from seeing them.
"Where could have Rena hidden that bomb?" Keiich said quietly as they sat on the floor.
Rika, dressed in her school uniform, arched her leg up as those words came out of Keiichi.
"Mii, I wish I know." Rika replied as she leaned her head against her knee trying to rest.
Then after a few seconds, Rika quickly got up and said to Keiichi, "the roof."
Hearing that, Keiichi immediately understood what his younger girlfriend meant and got up.
Without any hesitation, the two dashed out of the faculty office and made their way to the stairs and just as they arrived at the front of the stairs, she appeared before them.
"Rena…" Keiichi said as Ryugu Rena stood before them.
"Let us pass, Rena." Keiichi said forcefully as his grip onto the baseball in his right hand tightened.
"Sorry, Keiichi, that is not possible." Rena said as she raised the machete while Rika also readied herself to fight against her club mate.
"Why Rena? Why are you doing this?" Rika asked, begging the elder girl for answer.
"I am doing this for the sake of my father's happiness." Rena answered as she slowly approached the two of them.
As Rena stepped closer, Keiichi position himself in between Rika and Rena, as he swore under his breath that he would protect Rika.
"Rika, I will stall her here and for the mean while you can go find the bomb." Keiichi said quietly to Rika who was standing close to him to his right.
"Keiichi…" There was unwillingness in Rika's voice; but before she could do anything the situation changed.
"Kei-chan, Rika-chama, go." Shion shouted as she swung a steel rod towards Rena and Rena quickly parried it. Without any hesitation, Keiichi took hold of Rika's left hand and dashed forward.
"Shion, let me pass." Rena said as she readied herself to launch another attack.
"Sorry, I can let you do that." Shion said as she licked her lips. "I can't let you blow this place up." Shion then bit her lips as she lunged forward again.
Meanwhile Keiichi and Rika made their way up to the second floor of the building and as they ran Rika became worried about Shion.
"Will Shi be alright?" Rika asked in a small voice and Keiichi assured by giving her hand a light squeeze.
"Shion will be alright. Afterall, she is also a member of our club." Keiichi's words made Rika smile, but then just as she was to reply someone else's voice caught her attention.
"Rika, Keiichi-san, over here." Satoko shouted as she waved her hands signaling to the young couple that she was right ahead of them.
"Satoko, have you found it?" Rika said as she and Keiichi came to a stop before her.
"Not yet, we've looked everywhere on the second floor." Satoko said as they started again making their way around the corner.
The second floor was primarily used for storage, thus most of the spaces on the second floor was used as penthouse, and in order for anyone to reach the roof, they must first go through the dark storage spaces.
"This way." Satoko said as they made their way to the end of the storage room. Just as they were to exit out the window onto the roof, they could hear the steel clashing sound drawing closer to where they were.
"Hyaku Keiichi-san, Rika." Satoko shouted and just then the clashing sound stopped. Seconds later, the door bursted open.
"Keiichi, Rika-chan, and Satoko-chan hide and seek is over." Rena as she slowly walked in and behind her was Shion who laid on the floor bleeding.
"Don't worry about Shi-chan, I only incapacitated her." Then Rena raised up the machete as some blood dripped down the blade.
"Now, will you all go…" Before Rena could go on, something caught her attention.
"Masaka!" Just then, the younger children began to rush out of the building with Mion guiding them.
Seeing that her plan was jeopardized, Rena turend back and attempted to make her way back downstairs, but Rika stopped her as she swung the stick she had while positioning herself before her.
"Keiichi, Satoko go get the bomb." Rika said as she readied herself for the fight against Rena.
Keiichi was about to say something, but decided against it. And soon, he and Satoko exited the room and stepped onto the roof.
As all of this happened, Rena did not do anything but remained where she was and watched Rika with her glare. And just as they finished exiting the room, Rena spoke.
"Keiichi, I will be right over, after I am done here." Rena's words were then followed by maniacal laugh, which sent shivers down Rika's spine.
"Don't worry, Rika-chan. I will take care of you… slowly and gently." The smile on Rena's face brought fear into Rika's young mind, but still she knew that she had to stand firm here.
And so the battle began.
For the meanwhile, Keiichi and Satoko searched for the bomb on the roof. However, their progress was significantly slowed down by poor visibility of nighttime.
"Have you found it Satoko?" Keiichi asked as he finished looking through the part of the roof before him.
"Not yet… Keiichi-san, it's right near the edge." Satoko's voice brought Keiichi's attention back towards the direction where he had just searched through.
And near the edge of the roof, the bomb sat there and Keiichi immediately made a dash for the bomb, but just as he was about to reach where the bomb was, he heard one loud clashing noise followed by silence.
Without hesitation, Keiichi continued to approach where the bomb was suppose to be and just as he picked it up and turned around, he saw a figure in the dark night.
"Keiichi, it's your turn." Keiichi could tell that it was Rena and seeing her there, Keiichi started to worry about Rika and sensing his worry, Rena laughed.
"Keiichi, don't worry Rika is fine, just unconscious." Rena said as the laughter continued.
"Why Rena?" Keiichi then asked as he gripped onto the baseball bat firmer.
"Why are you doing this?" Keiichi was sincerely in his words as he spoke, as he felt sadness for his friend. "If you are troubled, why don't you talk to us and let us help you?"
As soon as Keiichi finished, the laughter stopped and Rena then looked at him with a cold glare as the cloudy sky cleared up and showed the moon.
"If I told you, what difference would it make?" Rena said as she stepped forward.
"If I told you, would it stop her from taking away my happiness?" Rena's voice was full of sadness and anger.
Keiichi was silent for he knew not the answer to her troubles, but still he had to fight on, for the sake of the people dear to him.
Thus, carefully, Keiichi laid the bomb behind where he stood and stepped forward.
"Rena, maybe we can't help you by ourselves individually, but together we can figure something out." Keiichi then attempted one final time to reason with her.
However, Rena was silent as he looked at her with pleading eyes. Instead, she looked around as the flash from the squad cars that have surrounded the building shined, brightening the night.
"Why does it have to come down like?" Rena, who was on the verge of tears, then spoke with a soft voice filled with sadness.
"Maybe, I should have talked to you, but now it is too late." And as those words came out, tears flowed down Rena's cheek.
"Keiichi, let's end this." Then Rena readied herself as she attempted her best to smile.
Seeing this, Keiichi nodded knowing that this would be the end. Therefore, without a word, he readied himself for the final showdown under the moonlight.
Time seemed to have slowed as they waited for the final moment and for Satoko, who stood not far from them, she could only silently await the result.
Then suddenly, without any warning, they lunged towards each other at the same time.
What followed was one loud metal clashing noise and the figure of victor remain standing.
Rika did not know how long had passed when she felt that someone was shaking her and she slowly opened her eyes as she tried to fight off drowsiness and pain in her head while leaning against the wooden wall.
"Kei..ichi?" Rika called out the name of the man she loved softly as she recognized the figure that knelt in front of her was him.
"Rika-chan, you are finally awake." Keiichi sighed in relief as he sat down before her.
Then there was a moment of silence as Rika tried to recollect what happened before she lost consciousness. And when she remembered, she jumped up, worried about what had happened.
"Keiichi, what happened after I lost consciousness? Huh…" Rika then felt pain as rubbed her temples.
"Rika-chan, we can talk later, let's get you out of here so a paramedic can check you out first." Rika agreed to it and soon after that, they made their way back to the entrance of the school.
And as the exited out of the school, a sight came before them.
"Rena…" Rika quietly called out the name of her classmate as she watched her been escorted away by officers. As Rena was getting ready to board the squad car to be taken away, she looked back at Keiichi and Rika, who remained still in front of the school.
Then Rika saw Rena lips move, for a moment she could not make out what was said, but then she understood.
However, before Rika could reply, Rena was forced to board the squad car and soon after that, the car started and drove.
When the car finally disappeared from the school grounds, Rika could not take it anymore and broke down as she buried her face into Keiichi's face.
"Gomen ne Rena." Rika said as Keiichi then gently held onto her and patted her back.
"Sorry, Rika-chan. Maybe I should have trusted everyone more." Those were what Rena said as she moved her lips. "Gomen ne."
"Sorry Rena…there is nothing I could do, I am too weak." Rika said between the sobs as Keiichi looked up at the moon, wondering why it has to turn out this way.
"After all, we are too weak." Keiichi said as the wailing continued on, echoing in the dark night.
To be continued…
Completed: March 23, 2009
Edited June 5, 2009
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Author's note:
Sorry, for the long wait. I will let you know that actually this chapter was done a while ago. However, I have decided only to publish a chapter once the next chapter is done, and this time the next chapter took a while to write. Anyway, this thing has turned into a really long piece with the text over fifty pages in total so far. Onto the story, this chapter is really like the start for everything to follow. Anyway, my intention was to create a scenario similar to Tsumiboroshi hen and to somehow start the tragedy. Anyway, hopefully you have enjoyed it up to this point.
Translation:
["Keiichi, boku dachi do suru no?"] translates to "What should we do, Keiichi?"
["Hyaku Keiichi-san, Rika."] translates to "Hurry up, Keiichi-san, Rika."
["Masaka!"] translates to "It can't be!"
["Gomen ne Rena."] translates to "Sorry, Rena."