Higurashi Oni Chapter 15 (第15話 Dai Jyuugo Wa) is the fifteenth chapter of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Oni.
Summary[]
Seiji wakes up and asks where he is. Ritsuka explains that he's been infected with an endemic disease and has been brought to the basement by Okai to recover so he won't infect the villagers. Ritsuka assures him that she's okay since Oyashiro-sama's priestess can't be infected. Seiji then asks if Okai has it, and Ritsuka quickly explains that she already caught it long ago and got better. Ritsuka says the disease is like measles and assures Seiji he'll get better soon.
Seiji notices Ritsuka's clothes and compliments them, and she says that she had Okai order them from the city. Okai herself then arrives and asks Seiji if he remembers anything. He replies that he doesn't, and might've lost his memories from before he was brought underground. Ritsuka whispers to Okai that he should regain them when he gets better and wants to keep feeding him, but Okai warns her that it's best that Seiji not recover his physical strength. As long as a person's body is weak, the demon can't do anything except lurk inside and watch; it might come out again if Seiji gets better, in which case they'd have to restrain his limbs and lock him in a cell. The shocked Ritsuka asks if Seiji has really become a demon and Okai affirms it, but says he's different than the other demons she's seen. Okai leaves with a reminder to keep watching Seiji and ensure he stays weak. Ritsuka weakly accepts, and gazes at Seiji as she notes that right now, she's just like how she was back then.
In December 1941, Dr. Takano sees that Souhei has refused another invitation from the Colonel to go home to Hinamizawa. The doctor says that being a soldier is a better way of getting ahead in life, and that with the Colonel's backing, the Sonozaki family could do business with the military. Souhei is annoyed that even he wants to get involved with the Sonozakis, and Dr. Takano replies that they're even more famous than Souhei thinks. Dr. Takano talks about how the Sonozakis could also help in researching Hinamizawa Syndrome, and that some people in the military are aiming to use it for military purposes due to people outbreaking and going berserk. Souhei can't believe that, and Dr. Takano says he disagrees with the idea since Hinamizawa Syndrome must be eradicated.
Dr. Takano asks Souhei if he still believes in Oyashiro-sama's curse, and Souhei replies that he can't say no. He remembers from his past many events that could only be explained as a curse, and even though grandfather his abandoned the village, he started praying to Oyashiro-sama in the later years of his life. Dr. Takano mentions how Souhei is guilty of both faith and distancing himself yet doesn't have symptoms of Hinamizawa Syndrome, and asks why. He asks about Souhei's life, and he explains that he went to Tokyo as a child and worked instead of going to school so he could bring money in. Though the import goods industry had people who took advantage of young inexperienced people, Souhei saw it as a challenge to compete with those people. Dr. Takano determines that his grandfather developed the disease while Souhei didn't, and wonders if it was luck or a difference in their mental states and physical constitution.
Dr. Takano says he was concerned about Souhei not being able to go home because he might have symptoms. Souhei then asks how Takeshi's doing since he also never reported symptoms, but Dr. Takano says that Takeshi actually reported symptoms himself. Souhei is shocked, and the doctor explains that the Chief's taken a liking to Zhao but Takeshi doesn't want to leave without her, and so he reported himself with symptoms; Takano saw through him but decided to classify him as "requiring further observation." Souhei can't believe the Chief allowed it, and Takano says that with him being responsible for the Hinamizawa natives, the Chief has limits on what can be done here.
A bell sounds. Dr. Takano sees that the Colonel has arrived suddenly and heads to the Chief's office. There, to Dr. Takano and the Chief's shock, the Colonel shows off a report describing plans for a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, as they can't beat the Americans otherwise. He adds that they're going to pull out of the base right away, and that reassignment is a possibility once the tide of war worsens. The Chief asks about the Hinamizawa Syndrome research, and Dr. Takano describes how he's taking care of onset patients. The Chief then asks about the medicine development, and Takano explains how patients with clear signs of onset all died after being given the drugs still under development, while other patients who did breathing exercises haven't required medication. As for the drug development, it was able to temporarily suppress the symptoms of patients with strong onset, but after being dosed a second time, they developed worse symptoms.
Dr. Takano says the drug needs to be tweaked but doesn't have any opportunities to administer it, and the Colonel suggests he make new patients then. Dr. Takano pleads that using that drug on patients who already experienced onset will die; the Colonel says he should thus use it on those who haven't onset, and then suggests using it on Takeshi. Takano objects but the Chief knows Takeshi is actually healthy, and the Colonel insists that making people develop the disease at will is the only way to overcome this illness. He says this is for the good of the country and threatens Takano to do it, otherwise they'll get Souhei to do it. The doctor reluctantly agrees to administer the drug.
Back in Hinamizawa, Kiichirou arrives at the Sonozaki residence and is greeted by Oryou to see Okai. Oryou asks if the town hall received any letters from Souhei recently, worried about how she hasn't gotten any letters from him recently, and hasn't even gotten any from Seiji. Kiichirou says they haven't gotten any letters from him, and figures it has to do with why Okai called him here. Oryou ends the conversation and sees Kiichirou in.
Characters[]
- Seiji Kimiyoshi
- Ritsuka Furude
- Okai Sonozaki
- Hifumi Takano
- Souhei Origuchi
- Takeshi Nakamoto (imagination)
- Zhao Yuhuan (imagination)
- Chief
- Colonel
- Kiichirou Kimiyoshi
- Oryou Sonozaki
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