Hello, my name is Ryukishi07.

I hope you enjoyed playing Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.6 Tsumihoroboshi.

There are several themes I wanted to write in this chapter, but I'd like to talk about one of them here.

It's about the denial of murder.

This is something I had to write sooner or later, since this is a novel about serial murders.

There are two means that youngsters in particular use these days to solve problems, which are "murder" and "suicide".

When we feel stress, we choose to either get rid of the source of the stress or to get away from it.

Let's say you're bullied by a kid at school.

You have two ways to solve the problem.

You choose either to get rid of the kid from your current environment

or to get away from the environment itself.

Usually, bullies are stronger and have their underlings, so you don't stand a chance alone to get rid of them.

It's also not easy to switch classes or to quit school, so you can't easily get away from the situation.

As a result, the situation gets worse day by day, and your stress urges you to solve the problem immediately.

And you come up with "murder" or "suicide" as easy solutions.

If suicide is considered defeat, you'd want to consider murder.

I feel like there are many people who think that way.

However, if you actually committed a murder, it wouldn't be easy to pay for the sin.

I believe murderers know that well, too.

But, you really hate the bully who pushed you to the limit where you have no choice but to kill him. So, with a determination that turns your entire life upside down, you commit murder.

But if you have such strong determination,

there have to be more ways to take than opting for murder, which should be the last resort.

You can talk to your friends.

If that doesn't work, you can talk to your family.

If that doesn't work, you can talk to your teacher.

...If that doesn't work... then what?

There have to be more ways.

If you have the determination to give up on your life by committing murder, there have to be more ways!

Our modern era is better than any era before it.

There are many hotlines that you can call to talk to someone.

Even if you don't have any friends or family, there are many places you can go for help.

The people who will answer the phone aren't amateurs.

They're volunteers, but they're also veterans who have worked as social workers or juvenile counselors for a long time.

I can assure you that they have more social experience and passion than your parents do.

People who work to help people for free can't be bad people!

If you feel like you have no choice but to kill the bully or commit suicide, please try to call those hotlines.

People who think it's useless to talk to others usually haven't really talked to anyone.

Have the courage to call.

There will be somebody you can completely rely on at the other end of the line.

Don't keep it to yourself. Talk to somebody.

Ryukishi07 wrote such a long story just to tell you this. He must be a very poor writer.

So, Ryukishi07 wants to talk to you all, rather than worrying all by himself.

How can I write even more entertaining stories...? (bitter laugh)

07th Expansion\n

Ryukishi07