In order for Keiichi Maebara to become a game piece that can lead everyone, there's something he has to learn about first.

The piece that's very painful, pitiful, and sad.

He has to learn about his friends and he has to learn to not doubt them.

He doesn't know the importance of trusting his friends.

He doesn't know,

just yet.

A slight mistrust grows into paranoia, and Keiichi Maebara is trapped within Rule X.

At the end of Rule X,

Keiichi leaves a sad note,

and dies.

While it may be very bitter, and very painful,

it also puts him through the process of learning something very important.

...Hey, Hanyuu.

You didn't have to apologize.

In the few days he left Hinamizawa to attend his relative's funeral...

Tragically, he experienced an outbreak.

But I think this was necessary, as his first step towards learning something important.

The very first step towards smoking out Rule X, and eventually defeating it.

When this piece was all I had, I didn't even think of that, though...