Matsuribayashi-hen

Infobox VG
title = Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai ~Matsuribayashi-hen~


developer = flagicon|Japan 07th Expansion
publisher = flagicon|Japan 07th Expansion
distributor =
designer =
engine =
version =
released = August 13 2006
genre = Dōjin, Visual novel
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = PC
media =
requirements = OS: Windows Vista/XP/2000/Me/98, 400 MHz Pentium II, 128 MB RAM, 8x CD-ROM Drive, 400 MB of HDD space, DirectSound, DirectX 8.0a or higher, 640x480 Full color display
input = Nihongo|"Matsuribayashi-hen"|祭囃し編|Festival Accompanying Chapter is the title of the eighth game of the "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" series and additionally is the last game of the "answer" arc, spanning a total of four games. It was first released on August 13 2006 at Comiket 70. In the second season of the anime, "Matsuribayashi-hen" is covered in episodes fourteen through twenty-four.

Plot

Outline

From "Minagoroshi-hen", you know who is the backbrain of the murders. This time, you will know the murderer's intent, what "Oyashiro-sama" really is, and how Rika achieves her happy ending. This chapter caused some controversy because of its mention of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident.

ummary

A week before the Watanagashi Festival, Hanyū became a transfer student in the Hinamizawa school. She later met Takano, who called her a monster, thus sparking Hanyū's memories from the previous world. However, Hanyū discovered that Rika did not remember what happened in the previous world. She almost gave up again, but in the end, Hanyū told Rika about the previous world and asked her to discuss the matter with others.

Rika first contacted Irie, who did not totally believe her story. However, he did become suspicious of Takano since Takano did have a motive. And from Irie, Rika learned about Takano's emergency plan (which is, to wipe out all of the residents in Hinamizawa). Next, Rika discussed the matter with her friends, and they connected the incidents to Takano and the organization (Yamainu) behind her. Rika and her friends also agreed that Irie and Tomitake could become Rika's valuable allies. Rika and her friends contacted Tomitake, and like Irie, Tomitake also became suspicious of Takano and decided to carry out a secret investigation.

Meanwhile, Akasaka, who remembered his promise with Rika, and Oishi, also became Rika's allies. The group decided that Rika should hide in the Sonozaki family's basement for the time being. While Rika was hiding, Akasaka stayed in Rika's house to fool the Yamainu into thinking that Rika was sick and thus, staying at home.

Rika's group also came up with a plan to prevent Takano's emergency plan: tricking Takano into thinking that Rika was dead, and that Rika's death would not cause any of the residents with the Hinamizawa Syndrome to lose control and become violent. In "Watanagashi-hen" and "Meakashi-hen", Rika died but all residents remained normal, thus the emergency plan was not executed.

The morning of the Watanagashi Festival, news of Rika's "death" reached Takano. While the Yamainu panicked, Rika's group waited for Tomitake's reinforcement. Unfortunately, the Yamainu started suspecting Tomitake and captured him before he could bring in reinforcements. Irie was also caught, but the Yamainu released him after slipping a tracking device into his pocket.

Shion led Irie to the Sonozaki family's basement, and soon the Yamainu surrounded the Sonozaki house. Shion and Kasai stayed behind while the rest of the group escaped through a secret tunnel. However, Shion and Kasai ended up getting captured, and Rika surrendered herself to the Yamainu in exchange for the hostages. Luckily, Akasaka showed up and rescued Rika.

With the immediate danger subsiding, Shion (who learned from Irie that Satoshi was alive), Akasaka, Kasai and Irie went to rescue Tomitake while the rest of the group kept the Yamainu busy. After escaping from Hinamizawa successfully, Tomitake finally received reinforcements from Tokyo.

When the reinforcements arrived, most of the Yamainu were arrested, but Takano still did not want to admit her defeat. Takano decided that she would at least have her revenge against Rika's group before she met her end. Later, when Takano tried to shoot Mion, Hanyū stepped up to protect her. Right before the bullet could reach Hanyū, Rika used her power to freeze time; the bullet stopped right in front of Hanyū's chest. In contrast to Minagoroshi-hen, where the bullet passed through Keiichi after time unfroze, this time Rika created a miracle and snatched the bullet away while time stood still. After time unfroze, everyone else just assumed that Takano missed her target, but there is a scene where Rika shows Hanyū the bullet in her hand. In the end, Takano was arrested, but Tomitake, who felt sorry for Takano, used his position and power as an investigator and committed her to health care as she was exhibiting high level signs of Hinamizawa Syndrome. The Watanagashi Festival began, and this year, there was no murder or disappearance.

In an alternate reality, Frederica Bernkastel talks to Miyo when she was a child. She prevents the death of Miyo's parents, which would subsequently prevent nearly all of the tragedies in the story.

External links

* [http://07th-expansion.net/hi_Main.htm Higurashi no Naku Koro ni official website] ja icon