Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に) or When They Cry is a visual novel developed by 07th Expansion. It is a Japanese murder mystery novel that takes place in a rural village called Hinamizawa in June 1983, where a group of young friends follow the strange events happening there. The first game of the series, known as Onikakushi-hen was released in August 2002 and the final game of the series, Matsuribayashi-hen was released in August 2006. An anime series was released in April 2006 and ended in September 2006 with 26 episodes. The second series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai was released in July 2007 and ended in December 2007 with 24 episodes.

Rena Ryuugu

"It's so cute, I want to take it home!" - Signature quote

"Omochiikaeri~!" (I want to take it home!) - Signature quote

"Friends. Those companions you speak of are only friends during those fun, yet unimportant times. When painful times come, they won't be your ally." - to Keiichi Maebara

"Kana? Kana?" (I wonder? I wonder?) - Signature quote

"USO DA!" (Translated as "LIAR!") - Signature quote (mainly directed to Keiichi Maebara)

"Found you, Keiichi-kun..." - to Keiichi Maebara

"Don't worry, I used the blunt end of the knife." - to Keiichi Maebara

"I’m the only one that can help you, Keiichi-kun. I won’t allow you to transfer away. . ." - to Keiichi Maebara

"Let me in Keiichi"

Shion Sonozaki

"My God, you can really be annoying. Thanks to you, my popsicle melted." - to Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Rena Ryuugu, and Hanyuu Furude

"I did it! I did it all! I killed everyone, with my own hands!" - to no one in particular

"How about this? Say that you're sorry one thousand times. If you can do that, I'll let her go." - to Mion Sonozaki

"If I end up being the only one of us to survive by letting you take my place, Sis is going to hate me for the rest of her life. The person I love is already gone but Sis still has hers." - to Keiichi Maebara

"You gotta hurry if you have a rival. Sis, a woman's tears can attract a man, but they can't make him stay with you. You have to keep smiling, but cry at the crucial moments! Hmm, this might be a typical model of moe... Maybe I should try it out on Kei-chan!" - to Mion Sonozaki

"Next time, I won't make the same mistake...I promise." - to no one in particular (Possibly directing it to Satoshi Houjou)

"AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" (to just about everybody)

Mion Sonozaki

"Waste your bullets on me, but if you hurt one of my friends, you'll face a fate worse than hell!" - to Miyo Takano

"Hugging!"

"Oji-san." -Signature quote, referring to self

"No! This can't be, this can't be! That Kei-chan will die here...!" - to Keiichi Maebara (Possibly Rena Ryuugu, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude, and Shion Sonozaki)

"Wh-What are you saying... Dolls wouldn't suit my character either, I'm crude and spunky. Kei-chan, even you always say that!" - to Keiichi Maebara

"Sit still Keiichi-kun, it's time for your punishment game..." - to Keiichi Maebara

"It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to hide. I will always know what you’re doing and when and where." - to Keiichi Maebara

(Daybreak) "Watashi... Kei-chan no koto ga... suki." (I... like you, Kei-chan...) - to Keiichi Maebara

"Well, it seems that all types of things happen in the adult world."

"I know everyone has their stories of pain and sadness, or things that they don't want to bring up. But if you can't be a good friend without telling that, then I don't need any friends at all!"

Rika Furude

"If you're going to put up a show of torture...I'm sorry, but I'd rather leave the stage." - to Shion Sonozaki

"Nipah!" - Signature quote

"Mii~" - Signature quote

"...Nano-desu!" - Signature quote

"I will live past June 1983, and then I am going to grow much taller, my breasts are going to get bigger. I'm not going to stay in a child's body for the rest of my life!" - to no one in particular (Probably directed towards Hanyuu Furude)

"All right. I'll play a game with this endless June." - to no one in particular (Probably directed towards Hanyuu Furude)

"I'll play with you. Come here, Cleaver girl." - to Rena Ryuugu

"Yes… It was indeed very simple, and right in front of them the entire time, the key to so many things, to simply trust and forgive. Trusting and forgiving was all they needed to defeat their inner demons… and conquer their suspicions. However, trusting and forgiving can’t solve everything, especially in Hinemizawa, where so many mysteries remain to be solved..." - Episode 26 Monologue (English Dub)

"Yes… this is how it goes. And I will gladly play this game, in this month of June that never seems to end, for as long as I want." - Episode 26 Monologue (English Dub)

Hanyuu

"The only thing I could do is watch, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." - to Satoko Houjou

"Hau hau hau~" - to no one in particular

"Child of Man. What do you seek from this world?" - to Miyo Takano

"Man cannot forgive mans sins. But I can forgive your sins." - to Miyo Takano

"All of us, together, can make a miracle." - to Rena Ryuugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude, Keiichi Maebara, and Shion Sonozaki

"Sorry Keiichi-kun, I'm only doing it for the cream puffs." - to Keiichi Maebara

"Gomenasai...Gomenasai...Gomenasai..." - to everyone whose fate she could not stop

"Forgive me...Forgive me...Forgive me..." - to everyone whose fate she could not stop

"I'm prepared for anything! Up until now... I have been running away from every fight, afraid of losing. But running away is even worse than losing. Unless one continues to fight without succumbing to the pain of defeat it is impossible to achieve victory. That is what people I love taught me" - to Rena Ryuugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Houjou, Rika Furude and Keiichi Maebara

Miyo Takano

"Come, come and hit me! Tanashi Miyoko is standing right here! If you can hit me, you will end my pain! But if you fail... Turn my fate around!" - to God

"Without a curse, there will be no God. With a curse, there will be horror. With horror, there shall be worship. Right now is the time where God advents. I have now become Oyashiro-sama!!" - to Rena Ryuugu, Keiichi Maebara, Shion Sonozaki, Mion Sonozaki, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou and Hanyuu Furude

"Broccoli or cauliflower, which one is green...?" - to Satoko Houjou

"Ara, ara~" - to no one in particular

"I just wanted to be told... 'It's okay to Live.'" - to Hanyuu Furude

"NIPAAAAAH!" - to Rika Furude

"Was the corpse...buried properly?" - to Keiichi Maebara

Satoko Houjou

"Are you watching, Nii-nii? Satoko has become this much stronger!" - to Satoshi Houjou

"Do whatever you want to me, just don't go into his room! Don't destroy Nii-Nii's room!" - to Teppei Houjou

"No more... I can't stand this anymore. Kill me already... Just hurry up and kill me." - to no one in particular (Probably related to Miyo Takano)

"I understand... We are a loving family." - to Teppei Houjou

"Oh ho ho ho!" - Signature Laugh

Keiichi Maebara

"I won't be erased so easily!"

"We will break this so called "fate", together." - to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion Sonozaki and Hanyuu Furude

"You don't need to know. It's okay even if you don't know. I'm really sorry. I will never doubt you Mion, no, any of my friends ever again. That's why, somehow, forgive me for that day." - to Mion Sonozaki

"I don't care. I'll say this as many times as I have to. Mion Sonozaki is the best friend I've ever had." - to Shion Sonozaki

"Give her back! Give back Mion! Give me back the best friend I've ever had, give me back my Mion!" - to Shion Sonozaki

"I-I'm... sorry... but I guess... I have to retire." - to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion Sonozaki and Shion Sonozaki

"Everyone, live on." - to no one in particular (Probably related to Rena Ryuugu, Rika Furude, Satoko Houjou, Mion and Shion Sonozaki)

“I can hear an extra pair of footsteps behind me . . . So that means my curse will kill you . . .DON’T GET KILLED BY A CURSE FROM THE LIKES OF ME!!”

Kuraudo Ooishi

"God may forgive you, but the police force will not!"

"Come into my car for i have air conditioning"(

Dialogue

[Keiichi is walking home from school with his bat and notices Rena is following him.]

Keiichi: What do you want?

Rena: Um...Nothing...Um...

Keiichi: What happened to the club, huh?

Rena: Well...I...I was worried about you...So I...

Keiichi: Don't follow me anymore. [Keiichi continues walking with Rena still following him.] I said don't follow me!

Rena: But Keiichi, I have to go this way. My house is over there.

Keiichi: Then go ahead of me. [Walks to the side] You go first and then I'll go.

Rena: Keiichi, I just wanted to-

Keiichi: Hurry up and go! [Points the tip of the bat ahead of him.] Now!

Rena: Um...I will, but...Please put that bat down first. You're scaring me. [He lowers the bat and she walks ahead of Keiichi, but stops a few footsteps ahead of him.]

Keiichi: Keep on walking!

Rena: Um...Um...Can I...Can I ask you something?

Keiichi: Yeah, what?

Rena: Why are you carrying the same baseball bat?

Keiichi: What are you...talking about?

Rena: I was...Well, I was wondering why you're carrying the same bat.

Keiichi: I have no idea what you're even saying! Tell me what you mean!

Rena: Why are you...carrying the same baseball bat as Satoshi?

Keiichi: Satoshi? [Looks at the butt of the bat and sees the character for "Satoshi".] T-This? I guess I just borrowed it. I mean, who cares?

Rena: That's not what I'm saying! Why are you doing that? Tell me! Why are you doing the same as Satoshi?

Keiichi: What is? What's the same?

Rena: Even though he joined a team, he never played any sports.

Keiichi: So? So what?

Rena: And just like you, Satoshi also started walking to school alone one day...Alone just like you...And then one day, suddenly, he started practicing swinging his bat...just like you! And then, one day, he suddenly started carrying a baseball bat around all the time...just like you! And then...one day... Suddenly...Suddenly...

Keiichi: One day, suddenly what? What happened to Satoshi? [Rena doesn't answer] Answer me, Rena! What happened to Satoshi? [He turns her around, seeing her with her demonic look.]

Rena: I already told you, Keiichi. Satoshi transferred. He went to another school. [Keiichi backs away from Rena, but trips and falls.]

Keiichi: Transferred...out?...

Rena: You won't do that, will you Keiichi?

Keiichi: I...won't do what...?

Rena: Transfer out.

---

[Satoko is chained to a torture cross in a torture chamber. Shion approaches Satoko, a knife in one hand.]

Satoko: You murderer!

Shion: Did Gramps Kimiyoshi die?

Satoko: [Satoko looks at a dangling corpse, gasps, and quickly looks away, closing her eyes in the process.]

Shion: Oh, I see. You watched him die. [Shion laughs.]

Satoko: How dare you do this to everyone... To Rika... Alright, what are you planning to do to me? [Satoko closes her eyes tightly]

[Moment of silence...]

Shion: ....Kill you.

Satoko: [Satoko gasps] Ah!

Mion: [Mion is locked in a prison cell] Stop! Don't kill Satoko!

Shion: [Shion laughs] You're pleading for her life now? You didn't do that for Satoshi-kun. That is your sin. [Shion drives a knife into Satoko's forearm.]

Satoko: [Painful gasp. Shion wiggles the knife around in Satoko's arm]

Mion: Forgive her! I don't care what happens to me, so forgive Satoko!

Shion: [Shion withdraws the knife] You know, I was screaming like you that time. No matter how you scream, it won't reach her. You can't rescue or save her! You shall experience pain there. [Shion stabs Satoko again]

Satoko: [Satoko starts crying silently and lets out another painful gasp as the knife is wiggled around more in her arm.]

Mion: [Mion screams frantically and shakes the cell bars] Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!

Shion: [Shion withdraws the knife again] Okay, then let's try this. Say, "I'm sorry," 1,000 times. Then, I'll let Satoko go.

Mion: [Mion bows her head] I'm sorry [Mion is screaming this repeatedly]

Satoko: [Shion stabs Satoko again and again, withdrawing painful screams from Satoko]

Shion: [Shion laughs] You have a patent on crying, don't you? Will your "Nii-nii" come and save you if you cry? [Shion stabs Satoko again]

Satoko: [Satoko lets out another painful scream and then falls silent, almost lifeless.]

Shion: Satoko, can you hear my voice? [Satoko doesn't respond] Listen, you! [Shion slaps Satoko]Do you understand your sin? How much you ran Satoshi-kun down?

Satoko: [Satoko painfully repeats Satoshi's nickname] Nii-nii... Nii-nii...

Shion: Yes, all you had to do was cry for your "Nii-nii." As long as you cried, Satoshi protected you. But have you thought about the burden you placed on him? Satoshi isn't your hero, nor is he immortal. Just like you! [Shion stabs Satoko again]

Satoko: [Satoko painfully screams]

[Satoko repeatedly unleashes painful screams as Shion stabs Satoko again and again. However, Satoko stops crying and screaming after a little.]

Shion: [Shion stops stabbing Satoko] What's wrong? Have you lost feeling in your right arm? Then let's switch to the left hand. [Shion stabs Satoko's left arm, but Satoko remains silent and refuses to cry.] What's the matter? Crying out makes me happy, so you resist screaming? [Shion stops stabbing Satoko]

Satoko: [Satoko painfully speaks] You know, I thought so too.

Shion: Huh?

Satoko: That Nii-nii disappeared because I ran him down. I was spoiled. Even though he was also suffering I couldn't stop myself from clinging on to him.

Shion: That was a little unexpected... So you were aware of your actions?

Satoko: Nii-nii will definitely come back, I just know it! When he does, I'll show him how much I've matured. I'll show him that I don't need to hide behind his back anymore.

Shion: [Shion laughs] Wouldn't that be nice if he came back? [Shion laughs again.]

Satoko: Nii-nii will definitely come back! I'll wait till he does! I'll apologize to him for relying on him so much. I won't give up until then! No matter how painful it is, I won't rely on him. Nothing will change if I cry, so I'll endure it. I'll show you I will!

Shion: [Shion's expression becomes dark and ominous] Don't be cocky, you little brat.

Satoko: If stabbing me entertains you, then stab me till you're satisfied! But I won't cry. Never! Never! Never! [Shion stabs Satoko again and again, angrily.] Nii-nii, are you watching? Your little Satoko has become this much stronger! No matter what, I won't give up. Not to her or to something like this. Something like this can't make me cry....[Shion delivers the final stab with a scream. Next scene shows Satoko's bloody corpse showing that she had died.]

Shion: [Shion pants] Satoshi-kun, I've been waiting for you. Since the last time we exchanged words.

[Flashback]

Satoshi: [Satoshi speaks to Shion over the phone] I'm leaving Satoko to you, okay?

[End flashback]

Shion: [Shion lets out a shocked gasp as Mion in the prison starts grieving for Satoko's death] What have I done! I've forgotten Satoshi's last and only wish. [Shion screams] Satoshi will never come back to a person like me. A person like me... Like me... [Shion laughs] Oh, yeah. I knew it too. That I had become a demon. [Shion laughs again.]

---