"Yeah.

She's been missing since the night of Watanagashi..."

"Could it be the curse of Oyashiro-sama...?"

"It's freaky that this has happened five years in row now..."

Hinamizawa is a small village.

Rumors spread fast here.

Besides, she's Mion Sonozaki.

She would've found out about this yesterday even if the police were trying to hide it.

My friends were all talking about the mysterious death of Tomitake and the disappearance of Takano.

People in this village are very superstitious.

No matter what happens, they conclude that everything is the curse of Oyashiro-sama.

The past incidents don't matter to me either way.

All I'm interested in is the current one.

...The culprit of this case will probably kill me, too.

Two days have passed since Watanagashi.

Today is Tuesday, June 21st, 1983.

At the earliest,

I'll get killed on the night of the 22nd.

That is, tomorrow night.

The day of my death is always different.

I always end up getting killed, but the day when it happens varies.

I guess the culprit has their own reasons for that.

There's only one thing I'm sure about.

Based on my experiences, I'll live for sure until tomorrow night.

After then, I'll have to live with the fear of getting murdered at any moment.

...Still, there's no real reason to be afraid.

...When I wake up, I'll be in a brand new world again.

I can never remember how I'm killed.

That's why I'm not that afraid of the killing itself.

...I'm just frustrated that my life is about repeating the same things over and over like a broken record...

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

However,

at present, I'm frustrated.

My classmates just expect that their peaceful days will continue forever.

But I couldn't feel that way.

I feel frustrated and full of sorrow......

as I really don't want to die.

".........It's tomorrow night... Are you ready, Rika...?"

"...How foolish of you to even ask...

......What makes it look like I am...?"

Hanyuu was trying to warn me that I might get killed tomorrow night.

As though she already knew it was going to happen for sure.

"......You worked very hard, Rika.

This life's Watanagashi was the best festival I've ever had.

...Didn't you feel that way too?"

It was fun.

It really was fun.

Satoko had band-aids all over her face, but everyone was there together, and we kicked up a storm.

I want this world to continue forever...

I can't accept that

this world is going to end tomorrow at the earliest, and within one or two weeks at the latest.

"...I'm sure your next life will be just as fun."

"............So this world is over and done with...?

This is such a happy world... but... it's just going to end like that...?"

All of my friends are alive and happy.

Keiichi doesn't feel alone,

and Rena's family is happy too.

Mion and Shion are getting along,

as well as Shion and Satoko.

The issue of Satoko's uncle is resolved, and she's no longer treated coldly by the other villagers.

This is the best world I've ever experienced.

But this world is

...

...

going to end.

"...Rika.

You think of yourself as a normal person too often, when we're both special beings.

...Every child wants their birthday party to continue forever.

But the party always ends.

That's why children always wish for their enjoyable moments to continue for all time.

But that doesn't mean they'll grieve over a party that's ended.

Once they sleep, another day will come for them.

Something wonderful will happen again.

No one disappears like Cinderella once the party is over."

"......What a way for you to describe my view on life."

"You're like a child who's crying because she doesn't want to leave the party.

...But there's no need to feel that sad, is there?

There'll be another party again soon.

You still hate to go through another death, but it's only like sleeping for a while, isn't it?"

"Hanyuu...... don't you want to see what lies beyond June of 1983?"

"I would be lying if I said I didn't.

But

I'm more concerned about you being consumed by that thought and getting hurt because of it.

.........You just don't understand.

Without you, I'd have to live for such a long time without anyone to talk to,

and I'll only be able to stare at the festival without being part of it.

No one will be able to see me.

No one will be able to hear me or talk to me either.

Do you have any idea how miserable and lonely that will be?

...But I finally found you, Rika.

...I can't survive without you anymore.

But I can't just die like you can, either.

I'll have to live alone until the end of time.

I'll have to be alone until someone like you shows up again.

...I don't want that.

I...

I can't stand the thought of it...!"

"...Hanyuu......"

"Rika... Please take back that heartbreaking promise you made...!

I don't want you to give up if this world doesn't work out for you...!!"

"...............Hanyuu.

...I'm sorry.

I'll have to think about it for a while."

I want to do what I can until the end.

When that happens, I can decide what to do.

If I think there's still some hope, I can go on living,

but if I feel desperate enough, I can just give up.

It might not ultimately be a bad thing to repeat June of 1983 over and over.

Perhaps I might be blessed with another fortunate life someday.

Hanyuu nodded with a little satisfaction after hearing that, sensing that my feelings were starting to lean the way she wanted them.

"...What's up, Rena?

Are you plotting to take Rika-chan home with you?"

"Hey, Keiichi-kun...

...Don't you think that Rika-chan seems to be feeling down?"

".........I don't know.

She might still be tired from doing the dedication dance at the festival."

Rika-chan was sitting all by herself, wearing a sad expression.

I'd said she might still be tired from the festival, but that wasn't really how it looked...

"Satoko-chan is free now, so I thought she'd have a spring in her step,

but she's been acting weird since yesterday.

I wonder if something's going on...."

"...Satoko's issues are all settled now.

There shouldn't be anything that's troubling her anymore..."

We'd thought Satoko and Rika-chan might not be able to live together if they found a new guardian for Satoko.

But that problem is almost solved.

Either the Sonozaki family or the Kimiyoshi family will become her guardian.

Mayor Kimiyoshi is already Rika's guardian.

If the Sonozaki family gets custody, Satoko will officially become Shion's little sister.

Anyway, I had no idea why Rika-chan was acting so upset.

"I think we should ask her what's going on."

"...Hmm.

But I don't want her to think that we're insensitive...

But I guess you can ask her, I guess."

"So you're saying that it's okay for me to be insensitive...?"

Rena laughed and stuck her tongue out at me.

I walked up to Rika-chan and struck up a conversation.

Perhaps something is still troubling Satoko, and we just don't know about it.

If that's the case, we need to help her.

"You don't look so good...

...Is anything weird going on?"

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

Oh, Keiichi......"

Rika-chan had been daydreaming, and it took her a while to realize that I was talking to her.

"...Do I look upset, or something?"

"Kind of.

...Is anything the matter?"

It took her a while to answer.

...Such a long silence had to mean "yes".

"............Keiichi.

There's a poem that I want you to listen to.

Don't ask me who wrote it.

I just want to know what you think."

"...All right. Let me hear it, then."

Rika-chan closed her eyes and recited a short poem.

It went something like this...

Everyone has the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to receive.

Everyone has the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to fulfill.

I have the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to compromise.

"That's a pretty interesting poem.

Did you write it?

Oh... I'm not supposed to ask that, huh?"

"......No, you're not.

What did you think after hearing it?"

"Everyone has the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to receive."

I understand that.

Everyone does have the right to be happy.

But that doesn't mean that everyone can receive that happiness.

"Everyone has the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to fulfill."

...This one is a little harder to understand, but exercising that right probably refers to the process of finding happiness.

Everyone has the right to work hard for their happiness.

But it's not that easy for that work to bear fruit.

"I have the right to be happy.

Yet it's so hard to compromise."

I guess she's trying to talk about compromising your happiness?

There's no limit to human desires.

You can never stop wanting more.

That's why people need to make compromises on their happiness...

...At least, that's how I understand it.

If she was trying to say that we should be satisfied with what we have, it sounds like a positive statement...

But there's also a negative tone to the way it's presented.

"...I think this poem is reflecting the feelings of the writer."

"...I think so too.

So what else did you think...?"

She wouldn't admit it,

but I'm sure Rika-chan is the one who made that poem, and it's reflecting on how she's feeling.

I'm not that smart, but even I can understand that.

"I thought it was a sad poem."

"Sad...?"

"I understand the first two lines.

Everyone has a right to be happy, but not everyone can become happy that easily.

I think those lines are describing the difficult parts of our lives.

But the last line is different.

Making compromises is the same thing as giving up...

The writer of this poem has given up on their happiness, compromised with reality, and trying to convince themselves they're happy."

"...Trying to convince themselves they're happy, you say?"

"With plenty of regrets, too.

Everyone can become happy with enough effort, but she thinks that she can't.

The poem reflects her hopelessness. It's very sad."

"Then, Keiichi.

...What do you think she should do...?"

"She shouldn't give up."

"...She shouldn't give up?"

"The writer of this poem already knows how she can be happy.

It's something that she deserves.

She's been thinking about how to become happy for a long time."

"........."

"If she really wants to be happy, she shouldn't give up.

Remember, we overcame a desperate situation in only a few days.

If we all work together, we can make a miracle happen.

You saw it with your own eyes, didn't you?

What's troubling you?

Talk to me."

".........There's something I want to talk to all of you about.

...But if I do that, you won't be able to live in this village anymore.

Happiness for me would be to see what's beyond June of 1983, together with all of you.

It wouldn't mean anything if I lived beyond this June without you."

"We won't be able to live in Hinamizawa anymore...?

Why is that?"

"......They'll kill you if they find out that I talked to you.

That's why I can't say anything."

"What do you mean... they'll kill us...?

...Are you being threatened by someone...?!"

The word "kill" is not something that most people use casually.

I was shocked to hear it coming from her mouth.

That's why I couldn't help but raise my voice.

"I don't know who's the enemy and who's not.

The only thing I know for sure is that someone is going to kill me."

"W-Wait, Rika-chan...

Talk to me.

What the hell is going on...?"

Is Teppei threatening her?

No, that isn't possible.

The police arrested him, and besides that the Sonozaki family told him to never come back to the village.

There's no way he could contact Rika-chan in order to threaten her.

And even if that somehow was the case, Rika-chan could just talk to Mion and everything would be taken care of.

But based on her expression, it seems like this is way deeper than that.

"...I'm sorry.

If I talk, you'll be dragged into this.

If I lose you, I have no more reason to survive.

I just can't talk to you about this.

...I'm not going to compromise my happiness."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say...

But you sound just like Satoko did a few days ago..."

"Like Satoko...?"

"Yeah.

You're thinking it's better to be patient. You forgot the courage needed to fight.

You sound like that.

Weren't you the one who told Satoko to be brave over the phone?"

My words had clearly hurt Rika-chan's feelings.

She bit her lip and went quiet for a moment.

".........If I talk to you, you might get killed too."

"Well, I don't want that.

But if we don't do anything, you're going to get killed, right?

We don't want a future without you either, Rika-chan."

"......What...?"

"You may not want to get us involved, but likewise, we don't want to lose you either.

We welcome the struggle.

Besides, you know how powerful we can be together.

I'm sure we can solve anything if we all work as one."

".........Not even our combined strength... can solve this problem..."

"You don't want to talk to us because you don't want to drag us into it, right?

So what you're saying is that you want to die without telling us anything...?"

"........................I guess that's what I'm saying."

"Don't think that being patient is the same as being brave.

Remember the courage to fight.

You can talk to me anytime, once you organize your feelings.

We'll help you. You can count on us."

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

Rika-chan was wearing a sorrowful smile.

I could tell that she appreciated my sympathy.

I don't know why, but Rika-chan is troubled by something.

It's a matter of life and death for her.

She can't even talk to us about it.

At the very least, she won't talk to me...

"......How was it, Keiichi-kun?"

"Is Rika-chan troubled by something?

That doesn't happen very often..."

".........Satoko.

This is going to sound strange... but is there any chance that someone is threatening Rika-chan's life...?"

"What?!

What in the world are you saying, Keiichi-san...?"

"Rika-chama is the village mascot.

People worship her. No one would ever try to kill her."

"What's this...?

What are you guys talking about?!"

The more I talked to my friends, the stranger it seemed that someone would try to kill Rika-chan.

Everyone was even more confused than I felt...

"Rika-chan didn't talk to me about what's troubling her...

But I'm sure there's something very serious going on with her.

...If she really trusts us, I'm sure she'll talk to us soon.

Let's believe everything she tells us if she opens her heart.

Okay...?!"

We all looked at each other, and nodded.