"Thank you very much for playing Higurashi When They Cry ~Himatsubushi~.

Mfu fu fu!"

"......Mfu fu~."

"My oh my, no matter what anybody else says, I was the star of the scenario this time.

On top of that they added some nice jazzy theme music!

If you can't laugh here, where can you laugh? Na ha ha ha ha!!"

"......Anyways.

Hasn't there been too much of you lately, Ooishi?"

"Huh?

What do you mean by that,

Rika-sa--"

"She meant that literally!!!"

"It's rather impudent of you to try and hog the spotlight here, even though you already had all that screentime!!!"

"Ah... Ahahaha.

Besides Rika-chan who was the main heroine, everybody else didn't really have any appearances, did they☆?"

"I heard that this time the scenario was a bit of a side story, but I didn't think that they would leave out the main cast this much!"

"You didn't have it so bad, Mion-san.

At least you had a few appearances, did you not?

Both Rena-san and I didn't even have a cameo."

"......Rena still shows up on the covers a lot, so she's still okay."

"...Exactly what are you trying to say, then?

...That I was the only outcast with no appearance? Is that it?"

"......Nipah~☆."

"Bwaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

They only treated me horribly~!!

Waaaaaaaa!!"

"......How sad, how sad.

They'll probably just keep treating you worse and worse, until you finally drop down to a supporting role."

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!

That's just too much!!"

"Th-Th-That's not true...

There's lots of people who like Satoko-chan.

They won't treat you that horribly. Okay?"

"I don't like being treated like thiiiiis!!!

Waaaaaah!!"

"Ah, ahahaha...

I think you'll probably have a lot of appearances next time.

Next time!

So cheer up, okay☆?"

"But...

I'd heard that this scenario was supposed to be somewhat of a bonus story...

...But is it really?

I think that things kind of got complicated."

"......The story was difficult for me to understand."

"Yeah...

What I found the hardest to believe... was that the year before the string of mysterious deaths, Rika-chan already knew about them..."

"...Which means...

...all the incidents were part of someone's scenario...

...That's a pretty important piece of information..."

"......It's probably because I'm a shrine maiden, so I knew the future from Oyashiro-sama's divine revelations."

"Hmmm...

For somebody like me who believes in the theory that it was the work of human culprits, I'd like to deny that."

"I believe in the curse... so that Rika-chan--who's the living incarnation of the deity that protects Hinamizawa, Oyashiro-sama--could have that divine power is a possibility, I think."

"Ahhhh! Nope. Nope!

For someone who thinks it was the work of man, that kind of unfounded fantasy will not stand!

All the incidents were caused by people!

There's no curse or magic or aimbots or cheatcodes!"

"......It would be wonderful if I could use magic, though."

"Ahahahaha☆.

If it's Rika-chan, I could go along with that. Hau!"

"Well, for the people who believe it was the work of humans, the ending was a big revelation!

From the first incident until Rika-chan was killed in the Great Disaster, everything was scripted.

Knowing that it's all one big incident vastly increases the amount of material you can hypothesize with!"

"I think... that the prophecy is proof in itself that Rika-chan has some divine power.

In other words, it's proof that there's some mysterious power at work in Hinamizawa.

I think it's proof that the incidents weren't the work of humans alone."

"......The inside of my head is so muddled I don't know what's going on."

"Oh that's right, more importantly...!!

That expression that Rika-chan was wearing this time!

That was super scary, wasn't it!?"

"......Meep."

"Yeah, I was surprised, too...

I never thought that cute li'l Rika-chan would laugh like that..."

"Hey, just for a little bit...

Could you show us that face one more time?"

"......I don't want to."

"I-I don't want her to do that outside of the story...

Hau..."

"Wha--!?

What is this!?

A blackout!?"

"Nobody move!!

Any weird movements, and you'll come face-to-face with synchronized Gatling guns, multiple homing missiles, and be cut up by laser sabers for the finisher!!"

"...Sa-Satoko!?

What's the meaning of this!?"

"Hooo ho ho ho ho!!

We'll now be starting the afterparty for everybody who didn't have an appearance this time!

Ooo ho ho ho!!"

"Hee hee hee...

Thanks for that wonderful introduction.

Hello again, everybody."

"I didn't think that I'd have an appearance here, of all places.

I'm delighted, though.

Satoko-chan, thank you."

"Whoa, hello everybody~!

....Kya!?"

"Oh my, didn't I warn you not to move~?"

"...Ryuugu-san, are you okay?

Houjou-san, you didn't have to go this far..."

"Ohh ho ho ho!!

The grudge of somebody not making an appearance is a terrible thing!"

"......Satoko had lots of appearances in the main scenario."

"The grudge of somebody not making an appearance...

Dammit, when was she able to set this many traps...!?"

"Maybe, that when this place was selected as the venue for the afterparty,

at that point my traps were already set?

Ohh ho ho ho!"

"...Oh... I know!!

There's somebody behind you pulling the strings!

There is, isn't there!?

Come out!!"

"...Heh heh heh heh heh!

Hello hello, my sister.

How are you doing?"

"Oh, it's Shii-chan! Hello~!

....Gyah!?"

"......I feel sorry for her falling for the same trap twice."

"I thought it was you, Shion!!

Even though you get to be the main character for a scenario, this is how you behave!?

Now you've gone and done it!!"

"Heh heh heh...

Even if it is only the bonus scene before the answer arcs, I can't let my sister have all the appearances. I'm not that generous, you know.

Well☆.

In any case, I just let Satoko start a little something-something."

"...Grrrrrr...!!

Shion, what is it that you want!?"

"Let's just say I'm securing myself a little safety buffer.

The other day, for some reason, you were steadily getting more votes in the popularity poll."

"Yup.

In the first half of the Watanagashi chapter, there were a lot of people getting infatuated with Mii-chan."

"Heh heh heh!

When your malicious side made its appearance, all the players finally started noticing my charm.

Satoko also earned a good reputation during the Tatarigoroshi arc.

Rena and Rika-chan have a strong baseline of support.

Your popularity has long since faded away!"

"That's why...

I thought I'd take the time now to crush you and Satoko, who've been getting too many votes for my comfort.

So I came up with this elaborate plan."

"...!?

Shion-san, what did you say just now!?

You're going to crush me as well!?"

"...You're a little slow to notice, aren't you, shorty!!

Here you go!!"

"Wha-wha-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!?"

"Heh heh heh heh heh!

Goodbye, all you regulars. Hello to all you irregular folk.

All the main characters are done for!"

"...Shi-Shion-chan.

You don't have to go that far, probably..."

"Now now, Jirou-san.

It's interesting, so just let it be.

The number of appearances for the both of us is going to go up, you know?

...Jirou-san...

...Do you not like being by my side?"

"Ah... ahahahahahaha!

Th-Th-That's not true!

Ahaha!"

"Chie-sensei~~!

Did Shii-chan pay you off too!?"

"I-I'm sorry, Ryuugu-san.

...Shion-san said she would make me a new segment called 'Teach me! Chie-sensei' starting from the next scenario... so I just..."

"Well then.

Who should I dispose of next in a most embarrassing manner?

Maybe Satoko, since she helped me set this all up?"

"I won't allow that!!!

Hiyah!!!"

"C-Coach!!"

"He seems somehow reliable for once!!"

"I, Kyousuke Irie, shall not allow any aggression against Satoko-chan.

I may also just be a supporting character... but don't think you can persuade me so easily!"

"Oh.

Then you're saying you want to withdraw from being the lead in

'Documentary!! Satoko's Maid Training, Dress-up Chapter'

that we planned on filming after this?"

"...Shion-sama.

I, Kyousuke Irie, shall follow you to the depths of hell!!!"

"That was fast!!!"

"Well then...

With this, I'm holding all the cards!

Even in this afterparty scene too!

I'll have everything proceed as I see fit.

...Huh?

We're missing somebody."

"...Shion-sama!

Ryuugu-san isn't here!

She escaped at some point!"

"There she is.

Ryuugu-san!

Didn't I just tell you you shouldn't move?"

"Rena-chan!

I won't do anything to hurt you, but it's easier if you don't resist!"

"I-- sorry, but all this is really bizarre!"

"...What're you trying to do?

...The Meakashi script?

I see, you're planning to secure your role before any of your lines get cut out, aren't you?

Hee hee hee... resistance is futile."

"Rena-san.

You should stop your pointless resistance and just come along peacefully.

If you make me angry enough, then not only will you suffer, but so will my dear sister as well."

"...You can't do anything just by getting your hands on the script...

...Rena, I'm sorry, but do what they say..."

"It's alright, don't worry.

Now that we have the Meakashi script... we can reverse this situation!"

"...Reverse the situation!?

...Exactly... what are you scheming!?"

"...Ahahahaha!!

Rena-san, you're pretty good at making me laugh.

Then why don't you go ahead and try?

Show me how you're going to turn this around."

"...You're spoiled, Shii-chan.

...Even if you didn't have any appearances in the main scenario, you've had so much screen time during this afterparty... you're spoiled."

"When, exactly, are you saying I was spoiled?"

"You don't understand, Shii-chan.

...Even if it's just the afterparty, you still have an appearance. You also appeared a lot in the previous scenarios.

There's somebody...

who resents you from the depths of hell, who can't forgive you...

Listen... can't you hear it, Shii-chan?"

"...Th-That's right!

I understand now!!"

"I get it!!

Kei-chan!!

That's right, he never has any appearances during the afterparties!

There's no way Kei-chan would allow somebody to monopolize the afterparties all to themselves without him!"

"I see.

So?

How is Kei-chan going to appear here, when he's still at the studio recording lines?

...It's not as if anyone here will have surpassed his workload.

Heh heh heh!!"

"That's just your self-centered way of thinking, Shii-chan!!"

"...Gah!!

No!!

That's the voiced word count from Akasaka's part!!!

Chie-sensei, hold Rena-chan back!!"

"Huh?

Huh?"

"It's too late!!!!"

"...It's finally your time! Keiichi-kuuuuuuuuun!!!!!"

"...Kukukuku...

Uwaaa ha ha ha ha ha!!!!"

"Th-That voice is... Kei-chan!?!?

No way, he's still supposed to be recording lines at the studio!"

"Hu-hu-hu!!

You're right, I was until just now."

"Every time I get left at the studio, I get told 'you can join the afterparty if you beat someone on the remaining word count.'"

"But I always have two to three times the script volume of the other characters, making it impossible.

It's like the sound director doesn't want to let me join the party from the get-go!

At least, that's what I had thought..."

"But finally, someone overtook me! A certain character!!

Shion, feast your eyes on this!!"

"Huh? ...Ga, gah?!"

"That's right!

Now she's appearing in more scenes as the main character, Shion has to speak twice the lines she's had so far!

And since Shion and Mion have the same VA cast, that's double again!"

"As a result, I've finally been excused from staying back!!

Meaning, Shion, it's your turn to be left behind!!"

"N-No way?!

I have to speak this much for Meakashi?!"

"Let's see... Kei-chan has about 500,

and Shion has... over 2700?!

That's like the total for all the characters together in a normal adventure game!!"

"...Further adding on Mion's lines,

makes a total of-"

"Waaaah! I don't want to know, I don't want to know!!"

"So, with that.

Rena, you have my thanks!!

When even the moon abandons the land and shrouds it in true darkness,

The Demon Lord of the Darkest Black, Keiichi Maebara, shall appear!!!!"

"I see, if it's like this, he can appear even if he doesn't have any character art."

"...There's no character or background art, so it's really easy on the production staff."

"Bwa ha hahahaha!!!

Shionnnn!!

You act like you're the main character in a tragedy, but from my point of view, it's more like a comedy!!!

It seems like you've gotten a little carried awaaaay!!

Every. Afterparty.

Always being last in the studio, missing every after-recording meal. Witness my

anger,

my grudge,

and all of my sorrow!!

I shall instill it all upon you!!!"

"...I-It almost seems like Keiichi-kun is doing some sort of bad-guy transformation sequence."

"This isn't some sort of transformation. I'll have you know I've always been a Demon Lord!!

And as of right now, this world which is enveloped within true darkness shall dance upon the palm of my hand!!

Within this world of darkness, there are none who can oppose me!!!!"

"...Keiichi-kun is kind of scary... hau..."

"Scary?

Wa ha ha ha ha!!!

The age of the frightening Higurashi has come to an end!!

From here on out begins the dawn of a perverted and cutesy Higurashi!!!!"

"...Wha-Wha-What did you say!?

Maebara-sama!

Bring me with youuuu!!"

"Gahahaha!!

You know it, Coach!!

Then, as a first step, I'll show our doctor-cum-coach my power.

Hrnnnnnggaaaaaa!!!"

"...Kya!?

Wh-What is this!?"

"Ta-Ta-Takano-san is in a mini-skirt nurse outfiiiiit!!

And it's not some pink one like you'd find in a galge!

He knows what he's doing!!

It's a proper pure and innocent whiiiite!!"

"Even though she's a nurse, she doesn't appear in the outfit even once during the main scenario, you've got to be kidding me!!

Well then.

...On to the next target...☆"

"...Re-Renaaaa!!

This hasn't changed the situation at all!

It's just turned into a different type of crisis!!!"

"Hau~!!

I can't do anything in this darkness~~!"

"Now then, who should I make wear what next~?

Maybe a nice

school uniform

gym clothes

school swimsuit triple combo!?!?"

"Maebara-sama, you're the best~~!!!!!

How about a bunny girl, or booth babe costu-- no no, a leotard could be good too!!

No, wait!!

How about just about making everybody hyper sexy!!!

B-But of course, leave the socks on!!!"

"Whoaaaaaaa!!

That's a good idea!!

You know your stuff!!

C-Coach...!!

I feel like we're finally seeing eye-to-eye here!!!"

"Wait, Maebara-san.

...No, K.

Call me Iri from now on.

Call me Doctor Iri!!!"

"KeeeeEEEeei!!

You can't forget about us!!"

"Mfu fu!

Tommy and Cloud are already on your side, K!!

Nfu fu fu!!"

"Tommy!!

Cloud!!

...We're all finally here...

The Elite Four have arrived!!!"

Finally.

...With K at their head, the evil Elite Four made their grand entrance.

With the complete darkness, the Demon Lord of the Darkest Black, Keiichi Maebara, was finally able to reach the surface world.

His magical power was without equal!!

In this darkness... nobody could stand against him!!

All must bow!!!

Ahh, will the heroines be unable to escape this darkness and be forced to submit to the will of the Demon Lord, forced to wear embarrassing outfit after embarrassing outfit,

being used as life-size dress-up dolls for all eternity!?!?

That's great, more, more!!

By the way, the school swimsuits are the classic type right!?

I won't forgive you if they're the competitive swimming style!!!

"...Dammit~!!

Shion!!

Thanks to you it ended up like this, so do something about it!!!"

"It's alright, Sis.

Kei-chan isn't the only one who can unleash their true power amid the darkness."

"...Huh?

Did we have such a convenient ally?"

"Ga ha ha ha ha!!

You're rather impertinent, Shion Sonozaki!!

Also, if you were expecting help from the Principal, that's too bad!!

'This is the ultimate desire of young men!

If you call yourself a man, do your best!' is written on this nice little authorization slip here!!!

Of course, you won't be able to rely on the newcomer Akasaka-san, either!

He's been on a private couple's hot springs vacation his wife's family set up for them since yesterday!!

In other words!

All the bases are covered!!"

"...You're so naive, Kei-chan.

...Even characters who have art are able to reveal their true form in the darkness.

...Chie-sensei!!!"

"...That's how it is, Maebara-kun."

"...It's dark so I can't really tell, but it seems like Chie-sensei's outfit is different.

...What are those?

All those swords in her hands.

...Th-They couldn't be!!

The Blac---hrmph!!!"

"......Any more than that is a secret.

Nipah~☆."

"...Maebara-kun?

...That was just a little too much mischief on your part.

The church can't overlook any more than this."

"Wa-Wa-

Wait a minute,

this here,

there's no way, right,

that's cheating,

it's against the rules!!!!

Hey, she can't do this, right!?!?

Wa-wait, you can't use that big one!!!

Huuuh!?

Her arc drive has startup invincibility!?

The Seventh Hooo--

Gyagyagyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

"Ahahaha...

Hello again.

Thank you very much for playing Higurashi When They Cry ~Himatsubushi~."

"I think you already know this, but Higurashi When They Cry is a type of visual novel without any choices.

Therefore, compared to adventure-type visual novels with branching routes to take, it's much closer to the experience of a book or a movie.

...Because of that, there is the opinion out there that this should not be called a game, per se.

If you're just watching it like a book or movie, Higurashi When They Cry isn't really a game, true.

...That's why, as you know, there are a lot of mysteries referenced during the course of the experience.

When you challenge those... this work will become a proper game.

All the players have the privilege of scrutinizing this mystery-packed story from all sorts of angles.

...For example, forming a theory about the mysteries during the course of the story, sharing them with your friends, and receiving their theories in return could be fun.

In any case... the next chapter starts the Answer Arcs.

We've tentatively called it 'Meakashi.'

...But, answers are a sad thing. Based on what is revealed, all the possibilities that you were allowed to imagine until now will suddenly become refined down to a few.

Based on that logic, we think that right here, before the answer arcs, is probably where people can enjoy this work we call Higurashi When They Cry the most.

If by chance, while you are reading this, you already have the Meakashi chapter at hand,

please enjoy hypothesizing, theorizing and fantasizing to the fullest before you start.

...That's where the real charm of the series takes place.

...Ahaha.

Sorry for saying something so impudent.

There's nothing better we'd like than for you to enjoy Higurashi When They Cry.

Well then, have a long and pleasant night!

We're waiting for you all in Hinamizawa!

If you come and play with Rena... I'd love to go treasure hunting together!

Hau☆!"