Rena's mother

	This article is about a character in Higurashi When They Cry.

Overview

Sprites

Rena's mother, named Reiko Ryuugu (竜宮礼子, Ryūgū Reiko) in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sotsu^[1], is Rena Ryuugu's mother. She cheated on Rena's father Yasunori with her colleague Akihito and later divorced with Yasunori.

Appearance[]

Reiko does not have a sprite in any version of the visual novels. Various manga and anime adaptations give her different appearances.

Personality[]

Reiko was described by Rena as a highly ambitious and talented career-oriented woman. Full of energy and passion for her job, Reiko was lauded for her leadership and determination, earning her many promotions and tremendous financial success.

Background[]

Reiko began her career as a fashion designer by working for a small clothing factory in Okinomiya, where she met fellow designer Yasunori and soon married him. The couple later moved to Rena's grandmother's house in Hinamizawa when Reiko became pregnant with her. When Rena was in elementary school, the company employing Reiko began to collapse financially. Around that time, Reiko and some of her peers happened to receive a job offer at big design firm in Ibaraki, but Yasunori was not among them. Not wanting to waste away in a rural town, she convinced her husband to move to Ibaraki, even if it meant he would be unemployed.

Reiko was a big hit in Ibaraki and entrusted with one big project after another. She barely had any days off and often came home late at night—sometimes even staying overnight to work on important projects. She didn't get to see her family much, leaving Rena and Yasunori in charge of domestic affairs such as cooking and household chores. Perhaps partially out of guilt, Reiko sometimes took Rena out, treating her daughter to fancy restsurants, amusement parks and the like; unbeknownst to her husband. Sometimes Reiko invited her colleagues as well. At such a summer barbecue, Rena was introduced to a Mr. Akihito who seemed particularly close to Reiko. Reiko started inviting Akihito more often on outings with Rena, willing her daughter to get accustomed to him.

One day, Reiko took Rena on a rather lavish outing, treating her to high-end boutiques and accessory stores and desserts. Reiko tried to tactfully inform Rena that she planned on leaving her husband to marry Akihito and invited Rena to come live with them. When Rena had an outburst where she vehemently refused, Reiko informed Rena that she can't live with Yasunori anymore because she was pregnant with Akihito's baby. It is unclear whether this was true or just a rouse in a desperate attempt to convince Rena to come with her.

Immediately afterwards, Reiko had left their house, refusing to see Yasunori, and sent a lawyer who told him to not contact Reiko in any form or manner. She had the lawyer carry out the divorce proceedings on her behalf, despite Yasunori's desperate attempts to contact her. Reiko privately met Rena one last time to convince her to join her new family, dismissing the letter that Yasunori had asked Rena to deliver to her. She tells Rena that Yasunori could not offer her a good livelihood, which was the last straw for Rena; prompting her to end all relations to her mother. =

Reiko is never mentioned afterwards and it is unknown whether she knew of Rena's mental breakdown shortly afterwards and the fact that she had moved back to Hinamizawa with her father. She had however left Rena's father with an enormous amount of money as alimony. It is suggested that Reiko's new surname is Suzuki post-divorce, although it is unclear if this was her maiden name or her new name after marrying Akihito.^[2]

In Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Mei, Reiko and Akihito have Nao Houtani together but later divorced while she was in elementary school.