Could this next world be the final reliving for Rika? After hundreds of tries to survive past June 1983, could this one finally put all the cards in her favor so she can defeat Takano?
Creative Staff
Story: Ryukishi07
Art: Karin Suzuragi
Translation/Adaptation: Alethea and Athena Nibley
What They Say
Through Miyo Takano’s efforts, the research on Hinamizawa Syndrome has won the support her grandfather never received. But Dr. Irie has glimpsed the madness that drives Takano to achieve results by any means, and his loyalties are challenged when he is ordered to perform a vivisection on young Satoko Hojo.
Content: (please note that content portions of this review contains spoilers):
Rika has always had a special affection for her friend Satoko. Even after the hundreds of alternate universes Rika has lived through, reliving the months leading up to her death over and over again, Rika always sticks by Satoko’s side. So, it shouldn’t be too surprising when she volunteers to take Satoko’s place on the dissection table.
Dr. Irie doesn’t know how to stop his orders to open Satoko’s head and examine her brain while she is still alive, all in hopes of learning more about the Hinamizawa Syndrome. His only hope to save her would be to run away with Satoko and try to hide from his employers, but that probably isn’t the best course of action. But with Rika, as the Queen Carrier of the Hinamizawa Syndrome volunteering to take Satoko’s place, then maybe Dr. Irie can find a cure and save Satoko’s life for good. But, with the specifics about the death of Satoko’s parents still unclear, and the local detective’s suspicions of Satoko, is Dr. Irie really just saving the life of a little girl that killed her parents? Is it plausible that she could have done it because she was in advanced stages of the Hinamizawa Syndrome and paranoid that everyone was out to hurt her?
The second half of this volume is, well, awesome! Rika has been the only person able to see Oyashiro and interact with the god that looks like a little girl, despite Rena being able to sometimes sense or hear Oyashiro’s footsteps. But now, Oyashiro finally makes her appearance as she senses her power waning and believes this might be the last time she is able to rewind Rika’s life in her long quest to help Rika survive the summer of her murder. Oyashiro confronts Takano on the steps of the Hinamizawa shrine dedicated to her. It is an awesome scene to see both characters acknowledge each other as nemeses and throw down their gauntlets. And it is just as cool to finally see a flashback of Oyashiro’s existence and how she came to be in Hinamizawa.
Oyashiro has been afraid of humans for hundreds of years, but seeing this world as the endgame, she not only reveals herself to Takano, but also enrolls in school with Rika and the others. I think this only bolsters Rika’s resolve to make their quest successful this time. And, considering the last world finally allowed Rika to see that Takano is the person to kill her and the witch behind all the death in Hinamizawa, Rika should be able to use that to her advantage in this world and try to stay one step ahead of Takano. But, when Rika has her “rewind” moment where she remembers everything that happened in the previous life, she realizes that she can’t remember the last few hours! She can’t remember who it was that killed her, and everything is riding on that final piece of information! How can they possible hope to alter their future that always ends with Rika dead!?
In Summary
I really enjoy these recent volumes as they dig deeper into the years prior to the summer of Rika’s death, which is what the first twenty or so volumes mostly focused on. Not only have these earlier glimpses shown us what happened leading up to the pivotal portion of the Higurashi story, but it has also allowed for plenty of character development for what were initially more auxiliary characters like Takano and Dr. Irie. This latest volume even gives us some glimpses of Rika’s parents, and their horrific murders. And through all this, what continues to amaze me is how a small thing in Takano’s childhood ultimately caused her to take the path in life that leads up to the Higurashi story and how she is the main cog in the wheel system, turning everyone around her.
Higurashi is full of great characters and plot twists. All providing plenty of evidence for readers wondering if they should dive into a long series like Higurashi; I say definitely yes!
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: Older Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: October 29th, 2013
MSRP: $18.99