Old Friend (故旧 Kokyuu) is the eleventh chapter of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Oni.
Summary[]
Dr. Takano examines Souhei after he wakes up. The doctor tells Souhei to treat him like a regular doctor so he doesn't get nervous, and asks Souhei if he's ever passed out like that before. Souhei explains he once had a fever bad enough to make him pass out, but got better the next day. It happened in fall of 1938, the year he returned to Hinamizawa. Dr. Takano is intrigued at this mention of him returning, and Souhei explains that he moved to Tokyo for a while with his grandfather and came back when he passed away. Dr.Takano mentions that other Hinamizawans never leave the village unless they're drafted, and Souhei says he was away for 15 years after the great earthquake.
Dr. Takano asks the nurse Zhao Yuhuan to bring Souhei to his room. He asks Souhei to refer to him as just Dr. Takano and not Captain Takano, and to only worry about proper address when near the Colonel and Chief. Dr. Takano says the Chief is in charge of the supply depot and can't deal with the factory next door, so the doctor's been asked to handle it; he believes Souhei can help out there. Souhei accepts the offer, and Zhao leads him away.
Souhei asks Zhao if she's a resident, and she explains she's a Manchu, the same as her emperor; Zhao jokes about being nobility. She came here because she saw a posting for a factory subordinate, and somehow became a nurse. Souhei notes her similarity to Oryou.
Another soldier Takeshi Nakamoto reaches out and greets Souhei, asking if he remembers him. Souhei indeed remembers, and they explain to Zhao that Takeshi's family sold charcoal in Yagouchi and would sometimes go on trips to Hinamizawa. Takeshi played with Souhei and his friends one time as a kid. Takeshi bids farewell and promises to see Souhei again after dinner. Souhei keeps staring at Zhao and notices how mature she seems compared to Oryou. The nurse asks why he's staring, and he says it's nothing. Zhao puts him to bed, and Souhei falls asleep wondering how Oryou is doing.
Souhei sends a letter to Oryou talking about his reunion with Takeshi, whom Oryou also remembers. Ritsuka appears and comments on Souhei's horrible handwriting, which Oryou likens to a secret code. Oryou tells Ritsuka about Takeshi, and she remembers that he was sent off before Souhei returned to the village. Oryou hopes that Seiji would also send a letter telling how he's doing, and Ritsuka is silent for a moment before saying that the Kimiyoshi family should be in contact with him. Ritsuka goes off to do her business with Okai. In Souhei's letter, he expresses how much he wants to see Oryou again, and she resolves to also do her best.
Ritsuka and Okai meet in an underground prison. Ritsuka looks down upon Seiji, who's sleeping locked inside of a ritual storehouse.
Characters[]
- Hifumi Takano
- Souhei Origuchi
- Zhao Yuhuan
- Takeshi Nakamoto
- Oryou Sonozaki
- Ritsuka Furude
- Okai Sonozaki
- Seiji Kimiyoshi
Gallery[]
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