Tatariakashi-hen Part 1 (祟明し編 其の壱 Tatariakashi-hen Sonoichi, Curse-Revealing Chapter Part 1) is the first chapter in Tatariakashi-hen and the twelfth chapter of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Meguri.
Summary[]
In a new world, Satoko walks home after helping Keiichi make dinner, thinking she'll never get bored so long as he's around. As she wonders what to do next, she thinks about Eua saying that her loops will have "interesting" changes. Just then, she runs into Teppei Houjou. Remembering her past experiences in the worlds of Tatarigoroshi and Minagoroshi, Satoko grins devilishly, having decided on a plan.
At the Houjou residence, Teppei bows to Satoko and profusely apologizes for how much he's hurt her, aware that his apologies won't be enough. He wants to do anything to make it up to her, and will even disappear if she says so. Satoko wonders about this and decides this is what Eua meant by changes. Teppei begins to leave but Satoko tells him to stay, having determined he's regretful and forgiving him. Satoko then asks him to live in the house with her so they can make peace.
Satoko is intrigued by Teppei's change. Her original plan was to get abused for real, be saved by the club, and then have tragedy strike, but she can't do that if Teppei's different. In order to make a world where everyone cherishes her deeply, she needs to deceive everyone. Satoko concludes that this won't work unless everyone gets passionate and there's a villain, so Satoko names herself the tragic heroine.
Satoko arrives at school the next day, shocking the club with how sad she seems. Rika is especially saddened since this means Teppei returned after only one day. Satoko says she's just having a cold, but Rika hugs her and promises that they'll rescue her. As Satoko walks home alone, she reflects on how she's successfully deceived her friends and now needs to deceive Teppei. She uses a rock to give herself some bruises, smiling during it, and then goes home where Teppei asks about her injuries. Satoko claims she fell, but Teppei thinks she's really being bullied. Satoko says that, because her parents were leaders of the pro-dam faction during the dam war, the Houjous are hated by everyone in the village, and so Satoko is bullied every day. Satoko cries as she claims that nobody is on her side, and Teppei promises that he'll make them pay. Satoko says he can't do this by himself though, and that he'd need the help of a reliable detective.
Later, the club goes to visit Satoko to check on her and are chased away by Teppei. Teppei goes to continue playing with his mahjong buddies, who thank Satoko for bringing them drinks. Satoko notes that, though she was scared when Teppei suddenly returned to the house, she was able to convince him and the club that the other is harassing her. She now needs a trigger for Keiichi to petition the child consultation center and calls up Shion, asking her to come visit tomorrow. Satoko is convinced that, no matter who descends into madness for her sake, Rika will definitely take action.
Satoko goes to school the next day and peeks at the club, relishing in how much everybody cares for her. She walks into class and prepares her next deception by remembering all of the abuse Teppei gave to her in previous worlds, and how horrible he was. When Keiichi gives her a headpat, Satoko smacks him away, makes herself throw up, and cowers in the corner. Seeing everyone look so worried for her, Satoko becomes incredibly happy and cries.
Satoko calms down and tells the club and Shion that she's feeling okay, and cleans up her puke while thinking she went overboard. She leaves school early and goes home to prepare a syringe of H173, then walks in on Teppei and Ooishi speaking. Ooishi was skeptical when he heard Teppei returned and thought he was hiding in Hinamizawa after stealing some money. Satoko is pleased that Teppei talked to Ooishi as planned and vouches for Teppei's innocence. Ooishi hears that the child consultation center call earlier was a ploy to harass the Houjous, and Teppei begs him to protect Satoko. Ooishi says he can't do anything openly but will be available for contact if the Houjous see anything wrong. Satoko offers Ooishi to stay a while for some alcohol, and Teppei also begs him to stay. Seeing Satoko and Teppei talking so calmly to each other, Ooishi thinks that this is way different than the violent Teppei he's seen before, but relents and accepts a drink.
Later, when Teppei and Ooishi have drunken and fallen asleep, Satoko injects Ooishi with H173. Satoko then wakes him up and tells him that she believes she'll become the victim of this year's curse and that Rika is trying to kill her. Ooishi is skeptical since they were always living together, and Satoko claims that Rika bears a grudge against the Houjous because she's Oyashiro-sama's reincarnation and kept Satoko close so she wouldn't escape and could be sacrificed this year. Ooishi takes interest since he wants to know more about the village's peculiarities, and Satoko goes on that all of the villagers are a close community and still resent the Houjous for the dam war. Satoko starts crying as she expresses fear that she and Teppei will become this year's victims. Ooishi takes her words to heart and promises he'll do whatever he can to help, and leaves to attend a meeting about festival security.
As Ooishi walks, he thinks about what Satoko told him; he always thought the Sonozakis were responsible for the curse, but now maybe Rika really is the mastermind. He scratches his neck as he thinks that once you've decided you're doing the right thing, you won't budge from your beliefs. Ooishi is seen leaving the club at the assembly hall after hearing of their belief that Satoko needs to be saved.
Eua watches all of these events play out and comments that everything is going to plan.
Characters[]
- Satoko Houjou
- Teppei Houjou
- Keiichi Maebara
- Rena Ryuugu
- Rika Furude
- Mion Sonozaki
- Miyo Takano
- Shion Sonozaki
- Kuraudo Ooishi
- Eua
Gallery[]
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