It took them a long time to come for me.

I had to wait until the following morning.

I opened the gate without checking who was ringing the doorbell.

I didn't even care who it was.

If it was the police, that'd be fine with me.

If it was Kei-chan... Ahaha... could he defeat me?

Keiichi and Rena were there.

"...Well, this is unusual.

...Aren't you two going to school?"

"...We... stayed home today."

"...Hmm.

...Kei-chan is one thing, but you too, Rena?

...You two are such troublemakers."

I laughed.

".........Well, let's not just stand here.

Come on in."

I didn't think Rena would come.

I thought it would be either the police or Kei-chan alone.

I'll try tricking Kei-chan into coming with me to the underground storehouse.

Rena, why don't you try to figure out what I'm attempting to do and stop me?

You too, Kei-chan.

If you figured out I was Shion, why don't you try to figure out the rest?

I will act like a demon.

I will struggle until the very last moment.

So don't hold back.

Please don't hesitate to kill a filthy demon like me.

".........Mion.

...First

......

I have something to apologize for."

".........You do?

...What for?"

"...Well, on the night of Watanagashi.

...The... ritual storehouse behind the shrine...

I went in there."

"............"

I didn't expect this to start with an apology.

Okay, so he admitted his sin of entering the ritual storehouse.

I guess that was manly of him.

I don't even care if the storehouse is forbidden anymore. Whatever.

That rule came from those who believed it was even a sacred place at all.

"......Mion.

...You called Rika-chan and Satoko the day before last, didn't you?"

"............I don't remember doing so.

If you have a reason to think so, could you let me hear it...?"

"It was evening, before dinnertime.

...Rika-chan should have come here.

Bringing a big bottle of soy sauce.

To have you share some with her."

Rena spoke with confidence.

She wasn't even trying to gauge my reaction.

She was simply telling me the truth.

...That cleverness was very pleasant to see.

".........Why do you think that?"

"...It's not hard to understand.

Mii-chan, you saw it too, didn't you?

Rika-chan's room."

"Hmm?

...Mmm."

"......There was chilled tofu, but no soy sauce.

Plus, the big bottle of soy sauce that should have been under the sink was nowhere to be found."

"......Ahahahahaha.

What?

Is that why she would have come here?"

Rena sure is sharp.

I tried to beat around the bush, but she was confident in her conclusions.

She was cornering me.

She was doing such a great job, too. It really put me at ease.

Okay, demon.

Rena knows what she's talking about... What kind of excuse are you going to come up with now?

"......It's a long explanation, so I'll get to the point. ...The contents of that refrigerator... provided a vivid account of what you said over the phone when you lured her out."

There it is.

This game is over.

Rena...

I was right about you. I don't like you.

You really are just too sharp.

Shion is so obtuse that she never even recognized this side of you.

"............That's... ahahahahaha.

...I had no idea I had such an incredible detective right next to me the whole time.

...I can't believe you'd figure out everything, down to the phone conversation... just from what was inside the fridge...

......Ahahahahahahaha.

...You've got me there.

You've got me, you've got me, ah-hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"

I laughed like crazy.

I laughed because I was having so much fun.

I sensed the poison inside of my stomach dissipating, and felt free and refreshed.

"...Mion.

......The police have suspected you for a long time now.

...Ooishi-san's officers have had the house under observation so that they could break in at any time."

Kei-chan was threatening me.

He was telling me I couldn't run or resist, so I should just surrender and accept my fate.

You aren't doing that intensely enough, Kei-chan.

Shouldn't you grab my collar and knock me to the ground?

Today is the day I'm prepared to die...

After that, they went easy.

Because they just wanted to know the reason why Mion committed such crimes.

...You all are being too lenient about this.

I'm a demon.

I'm a murderer.

Are you saying that if you can understand the reasoning, murder is okay?

A demon is a demon.

A murderer is a murderer.

Whether their motive is to have fun, to live, or to take revenge, that makes no difference.

Why do you even want to know that? Why don't you just tackle me and take me to the police?

Look, there.

The demon is trying to deceive you...

"......It's a pleasure to meet you both...

I am the successor of the Sonozaki family...

Mion.

...Welcome to the Sonozaki family's house today.

I'd like to greet you on behalf of our leader, Oryou...

...You seem to want to ask various questions...

I'd like to answer everything as clearly as possible..."

I then told them about the strange events that led to Onigafuchi Village becoming Hinamizawa, which Takano-san had told me about before.

About half of it was the truth, but the other half was completely made up.

I just made it sound like it was only natural that their best friend committed such a gruesome crime.

Keiichi and Rena were both overwhelmed by the history of Onigafuchi Village, which was swallowed by this gloomy fate.

Oh, well...

I guess I made it sound interesting enough.

I'm sure they enjoyed hearing me tell the story.

But you know...

I'm the one who committed the incidents that happened in the present time.

What was the point in listening to those old folktales?

Are you thinking it will make your best friend's crime easier to swallow?

You're just trying to satisfy yourselves.

I'm a demon.

I'm a murderer.

I have sinned.

These old folktales have nothing to do with the crimes I've committed.

The way those two listened to me so intensely almost made it fun. I told them that people used to make canned human meat and conducted gruesome research during the war...

Those were things Takano-san told me.

Hey, you two...

Haven't you realized yet?

Haven't you realized that what I'm talking about has nothing to do with what we're dealing with right now?

...You both look so serious.

You two are such fools!

"...So that Hinamizawa Village might once more be like Onigafuchi Village. So that we may again be a sacred existence, worthy of worship.

That's the mission of those who inherit the 'demon' of the Sonozaki main family."

"......Those who inherit...

the demon?"

"......For generations, the Sonozaki family has had a custom of including the character for 'demon' in the names of its successors.

...If you write out my name on your hand, it should appear plain as day..."

Keiichi tried to write 'Mion' on his palm.

"...Oh... She's right.

The character for 'demon' is in there..."

"......Not only in my name, either.

...The demon is engraved on my body as well."

I stood up and made to show my bare back.

Of course, I don't actually have a tattoo there.

"It's okay, Mii-chan.

......You don't need to show us, okay?"

"......Thank you."

I laughed a little.

...They must really believe that I'm their best friend, Mion.

My goodness.

The demon has won already.

They were doing so well at the beginning, too.

I eventually sat back down after I finished telling my made-up tearjerker stories.

It's your loss if you all shed any tears now.

I looked at Keiichi.

He wasn't crying, but he was overcome by emotion.

I looked at Rena.

...Surprisingly, she still maintained an aggressive look, showing me her will to fight.

"But... Rika-chan and Satoko-chan

....................................

You killed them, didn't you, Mii-chan?"

You're good, Rena.

You know what I just told you isn't an excuse for murder.

You usually act like such a goofball, but that's not how you really are.

You sure are something.

You're far sharper than Shion.

"I'm not saying that it's okay if you killed other people.

...Regardless, Mii-chan...

You killed Rika-chan and Satoko-chan."

".........I'm not trying to justify what I've done.

I have a demon inside of me.

The demon is in my name, in my body

and also in my soul.

......But the demon wasn't the one who killed them.

I did. Mion Sonozaki did.

Rika-chan and Satoko died because Mion wanted them dead.

...That will never change.

...Hahaha. You're right, Rena."

Come on, Rena...

Try to figure out who I really am.

You still believe Shion, my victim, is the real culprit.

Poor Shion, I'm making Rena believe that you're responsible.

That was it for Rena, though.

She couldn't figure out I was Mion.

"Please,

turn yourself in."

Rena spoke to 'Mion.'

"We'll go with you.

...We'll never leave a friend by herself."

".........Crying children and Rena are the only things I can't beat!

Ahahahaha..."

Too bad, Rena.

I've won.

"I'm well aware... of how serious my own crimes are.

...Even if they accept me turning myself in... I'll probably never be able to come back here."

"............"

"So, I'd like you to hear one last selfish request."

"What is it?"

"Thirty minutes is fine...

Just let me have some time alone with Kei-chan."

"......Eh?"

Keiichi looked startled to suddenly hear his name.

You're so insensitive, Keiichi.

...That's what made my sister cry.

"...Keiichi-kun...

is that okay with you?

......If you don't want to, then I won't make you."

"............She's right.

It's okay if you don't want to.

...After all, I'm a demon...

and Kei-chan is a bona fide human who moved here from somewhere else.

...For us to be compatible... as long as Oyashiro-sama doesn't exist to mediate... it simply isn't possible."

Keiichi hesitated a little.

Come on, Kei-chan, condemn me.

Condemn me, and tell me you'd never go.

"Sure.

...It's fine."

".........Thank you."

...Fool!

"......I'd like to thank you too,

Keiichi-kun."

Rena stood up.

As promised, she made to leave.

"Ah, it's fine, Rena.

You can wait right here.

...I just want to go around the garden with Kei-chan.

...If you're bored, you can go to my room. You can read any manga you like.

......Ah, and if there are any volumes you want, you might as well take them."

"I don't want to.

Mii-chan's books belong to Mii-chan.

Rena couldn't bring them back home with her so freely."

".........You're such a good kid, only at times like this."

I took Rena's head and rubbed it like Satoshi-kun used to do to me.

"Okay... let's go,

Kei-chan."

The game was over.

Too bad, Rena.

At least this was more fun than if Kei-chan came alone.

If he did, he could have asked me to run away with him after hearing my stories.

Rena's eyes were like those of a judge.

In those eyes, I sensed both affection and observance.

I said thirty minutes, so she would probably only wait for thirty minutes.

If I took even a second longer, she'd call Ooishi.

I'm a little disappointed.

Rena still thinks I'm 'Mion.'

She didn't manage to see through me.

I thought someone like her would see the demon in me.

I guess I was wrong...

Too bad...

Keiichi followed me after putting his shoes on.

"Can I... hold your arm?"

......Such a humble request.

"...I don't mind."

I took Keiichi's arm.

It was as warm as Satoshi-kun's... I felt a little bewildered...

"...Do you get kind of nervous... with your arm through mine?

You're not thinking for example... that I'd suddenly put you in a world-class joint lock, or anything...?"

"...You two say the same things.

I don't think that.

At all."

He was remembering the time when I'd held his arm in town.

".........I think Shion liked you, Kei-chan."

"......I see."

I told him how my sister felt.

Shion was with Satoshi-kun for a long time, but what they had was friendship. They never had anything more than that.

That was why she fell in love with Keiichi.

If I were in her position, I would also have fallen in love with him.

If Shion was able to fall in love with him

then I could fall in love with him too.

Keiichi smiled gently.

I almost saw Satoshi-kun in that smile.

The Keiichi I knew was worthless and superficial.

I never realized he could smile like Satoshi-kun...

"...Mion and Shion... you got along well, didn't you...?"

"Well......... I wonder.

...Kei-chan, do you think your right hand and left hand get along?"

"Huh?

My right hand and left hand?

...I don't think you could describe them as getting along or not..."

"That's how our relationship is.

You can't measure it by how well we get along."

We'd been together since we were born.

We'd been living in this world as a pair.

But I was Mion and she was Shion.

Mion was treated specially... and I insisted on being her.

Of course, that was unpleasant for Shion.

Deciding to be fair, we switched places all the time.

We were probably different from other identical twins.

We didn't only like the same things or do things the same way.

We even managed to share our knowledge and experiences.

When we talked about our experiences, we could share them.

As Mion and Shion, we shared everything.

That was why each of us was both Mion and Shion at the same time.

No... maybe Shion was the only one who thought that way.

I was a little different than that.

I was simply letting Shion be Mion once in a while.

I was Mion, the successor to the Sonozaki family.

I was supposed to be treated specially.

I always thought that was my privilege.

Just like everyone tried to distinguish between Mion and Shion......

I also tried to distinguish between us.

"For example, one of your hands is dominant, so there will always be a better hand.

...If you only had one oven mitt, you would put it on your dominant hand without thinking, right?

I think maybe it was like that for us."

"............"

"That doesn't mean, though, that anyone would be okay with losing their left hand.

...It's that kind of unexplainable relationship."

"......I think that maybe... you lived too close together, and just stopped being able to see it, but...

I think that means you get along really well.

...I'm an only child, so... the day before the festival...

I was really jealous of when you and Shion were messing around with each other."

"...I think you're jealous of something that doesn't exist.

Yes, we twins used to have a lot of fun trading places with each other...

But now that we have such distinctly different personalities, our resemblance only gets in the way."

As an older sister, I felt I was mean for thinking that way... so as punishment, I became Shion.

......Who am I?

I never had a solid identity in the first place.

I was Mion.

Then I was Shion.

I should have just accepted that.

But something has changed.

...I don't even know if I'm Mion or Shion anymore.

Had I really been stupid enough to hope that Rena would figure that out for me?

".........Shion is... still alive."

"...Really?"

Keiichi looked into my eyes.

I nodded quietly.

".........Yeah.

...I'd been thinking to give her the most horrible death of all, so I kept her locked up.

......I never did think of a good way to do it, though."

This was a lie.

I've already come up with ideas.

And I've already begun to execute them.

I dumped the hag into the well in front of Shion.

I dumped Kimiyoshi and Rika in there.

I even killed Satoko, too.

And right now, I'm plotting to kill Keiichi, who Shion fell in love with.

I am a demon.

Any such gruesome act is simply pleasure to me.

That's when I felt a warm hand rubbing my head.

It wasn't Satoshi's hand, but Keiichi's.

Keiichi and Satoshi-kun are totally different.

Why did Shion fall in love with him?

His rough hand didn't make me happy.

That he understood my feelings was just my imagination.

I wasn't happy, and it didn't feel good, it didn't...

".........Come with me.

...I want you to see all of my sins.

...Although, Kei-chan... it might be the worst thing you've ever seen."

I am going to commit my final crime.

I am going to let you see it.

I am going to let Shion see it.

When I do, are you still going to think I'm your best friend?

Poor Shion...

Kei-chan is going to die thinking it's you who's killing him.

".........If you want to turn back, now's your chance.

I don't know what impression you have of Mion Sonozaki, but...

it will surely change... once you go inside......

.................."

"It'll never change.

I'll say it as many times as I need to.

...Mion Sonozaki is the best friend I could ever have."

You are such a fool.

You don't sound cool at all...

I don't understand human feelings because I'm now a demon,

but... I think I can understand why she loves you.

I opened the iron door to the underground storehouse and beckoned Keiichi inside.

Come on, Keiichi.

This is obviously a trap, don't you see?

This basement is transparently suspicious.

Don't you think you should run to the police?

But Keiichi was reckless.

...He swallowed, then stepped inside.

.........Hah.

You really are... a fool.

We went down the stairs to the basement, and I let him into the torture room.

Everyone is shocked their first time visiting this room.

...I used to be that way.

...Of course, Keiichi looked surprised too.

...But he was trying not to show it.

Obviously he wanted to express his shock at seeing this horrifying room.

But... he also knew that if he voiced that shock, that he would be rejecting his best friend, who was trying to confess her sins to him...

...So he did everything he could to stifle his surprise.

"...According to something a family head from a long time ago wrote...

Blood splatter has impact, despite the fact that it doesn't tax the sacrifice.

...Watanagashi was meant as a deterrent, after all.

My ancestors thought up all different kinds of showy torture.

......That's a space for the audience.

...Watanagashi is a deterrent, after all.

It wouldn't make sense if there were no guests."

".................."

Keiichi smiled quietly as he listened to me.

No matter what cruelty came out of my mouth...

He would embrace me.

Was this really the superficial Keiichi Maebara I knew?

"Right here... .........is where I killed everyone.

...There were no spectators to watch me... but I held a Watanagashi of my own.

...Well, perhaps there was one spectator."

"...Huh?

A spectator...?"

"...Me.

I, the demon, was watching the entire time Mion held the ceremony."

I started to laugh.

How many hints do you need, Keiichi? When are you going to figure out I'm not really your best friend?

Come on, hurry up... you're running out of time. The game is... almost over.

This was a game.

This was a game of murder. I had killed people, using my revenge for Satoshi-kun as an excuse.

The demon was trying to capture Keiichi and kill him before Mion's eyes.

But Keiichi had a chance.

If he figured out I wasn't his best friend, then he'd win.

If not, he was out.

When did I come up with that rule?

I guess it was sometime today.

Or did I come up with it just a minute ago?

Since the two of them aren't too bright, I decided to be easy on them, I guess.

You are Mion's best friends, right?

Don't you believe in her?

Have you already made Mion into a murderer within yourselves?

Why don't you try to protect the Mion within you?

Why don't you try to believe your friend can't be a murderer?

If you could believe until the very end, like Satoko did...

You would have realized I wasn't Mion, your best friend, but just someone who looks like her.

But if you can't, if you still believe that I'm Mion...

Then you're just like me.

I killed the Satoshi-kun within me so easily, and you will do the same. You don't deserve to live.

"Back there is the prison."

"...Is Shion there...?"

You're not going to make it.

Once we reach Shion's cell, your time is up.

The demon will win.

".........Shion?!

.........Is that Shion?!?!"

"Ke... Kei-chan?!

Is that you, Kei-chan?!"

Keiichi ran to the cell.

"Are you all right, Shion?!

Are you hurt...?!"

"...N...... no...... no.........

nooooooooooooooooo!!!!"

Shion screamed.

I was standing right behind Keiichi.

...It was time.

My preparations to kill the boy she loved were complete. For her, this was going to be the worst possible torture.

"Calm down, Shion.

...Everything is over now.

Everything."

Keiichi tried to quell Shion's distress by talking to her in a calm voice.

It was such a funny sight.

Keiichi was the only one who had no idea what was going on.

"Shion.

...How have you been...?"

"No more... please...!

No more!!

I don't want to see anyone else die!!!

If you hate me... then just kill me already!!!

I'm the one you hate most, right?!

Kill me, kill me right now!!

Siiiiiiiiiiiiis!!!!"

"C... Calm down, Shion!

It's all over now.

...It's going to be alright.

So calm down..."

"Relax.

I won't kill you.

...No, I won't kill you just yet.

Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh...!!"

It's game over!!!

I gave you enough chances.

You cornered me quite well, once.

But that was it.

You couldn't figure out that I'm not your best friend, Mion.

You couldn't believe that Mion isn't a murderer.

"Please stoooooop!!!

Don't kill Kei-chaaaaan!!

Kei-chan has nothing to do with this, does he?!

If you're going to kill someone... then kill me right now!!!

I don't want anyone else... to dieeeeeeeee!!!!"

"Ah-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!

If you want to die that badly, then after I've killed this man, I'll take my time making mincemeat out of you.

...In accordance with the ancient rites, I'll do it slowly, starting with your extremities.

I'll shave you down and mince you to bits.

I had that mincing machine set up specifically for you, after all.

...Or would it be funnier if I were to mince up Kei-chan in front of you?"

"...H-Hey, quit it already!

What do you have to gain by scaring her at this point...?!"

"Nooooo!

Kei-chan, run awaaaaayyyyyy!!!"

Here you are, demon.

Go ahead and take my soul.

I'd been living my life to avenge Satoshi-kun...

But that wasn't what he wanted from me.

That was just for my own satisfaction.

I couldn't even face Satoshi-kun.

So, I'll bring this to an end in the way I want.

The world became a total mess.

Satoshi-kun hates me and I hate myself too.

I'm going to complete my revenge.

I don't want anyone to sympathize with me.

I won't pretend to be some tragic heroine either.

I'm going to become a murderer that nobody could sympathize with.

So please...

Grant a suitable final moment to me...

A bluish-white flash filled the huge cave.

Keiichi fell down like a doll.

Shion reached out to him from the other side of the bars.

She screamed at me not to kill Keiichi.

Go ahead, cry and blame me.

Don't even think of offering your forgiveness.

I am the most rotten existence in this world.

So please, grant me the worst possible ending.

Shion begged me desperately to let Keiichi go. I simply abused her,

slandered her,

and disgraced her.

The more Shion suffered, the deeper I'd fall into Hell.

It wasn't enough.

It wasn't even close to deep enough.

It wasn't deep enough to compensate for my sins.

I dragged Keiichi to the table that I tried to put Satoko on, and restrained him there.

Keiichi began to move sluggishly.

The stun gun must have not worked too well on him.

"Can you hear it, Shion!?

I'm going to get started now!!

Savor Kei-chan's fresh screams to your heart's content!!"