Original subtitles

Everyone, listen up!

I would like to talk about Houjou Satoko's situation.

As you know, Satoko hasn't come to school for the last three days.

She's been calling in sick, but she hasn't even been to the clinic.

Don't you think this is strange?

That is strange...

Yeah, that's not right.

The answer is simple:

That damn uncle of hers is trapping her inside his home, not allowing her to go to school!

No one knows more about Satoko-chan's abuse at the hands of her aunt and uncle last year,

better than us, right?

Furthermore, Satoko was living happily with Rika-chama!

To forcefully remove her and not allow anyone to see her is just wrong!

Satoko is our friend! Let's all go save her!

Satoko is our friend! Let's all go save her!

But how?

Yesterday, we filed a petition with Child Welfare asking them to take custody of Satoko.

But!! Welfare does not understand the urgency of this crisis!

They are dilly-dallying, saying that they are still investigating the situation!

They think that only a mere five of her friends came to them worried about this!

We need more people to come with us!

Everyone, lend me your strength!

Show them the spirit that has been passed down through Hinamizawa!

What's this commotion?

We will go and rescue our Satoko!

Maebara-kun-

Everyone is trying their best to save Satoko.

Furude-san...

I am powerless,

so I cannot do anything without the help of others.

But, Chie, I can at least keep you from interfering.

Principal...

Go ahead and do what you can.

I, Kaieda, will take all responsibility in this matter.

I understand.

But, I will accompany you as well. Is that clear?

Chie...

How many of you are there?

All of Satoko's classmates, and our teachers.

Altogether there are seventeen of us.

The consultation room is not that large, so if you will, choose a representative to speak.

Then, please arrange a larger room.

I believe we shouldn't adjust to the room, it's the room that should be adjusted for us!

Please wait a moment.

Well,

as we have explained many times, we are proceeding cautiously with this case.

And I am telling you there is no time for that!

The case workers spoke to Satoko-san directly.

However, she said there is no such abuse.

And you accepted it just like that?

Why you... If Satoko gets even a single bruise on her...

I'll make you pay!

Shion-san...

Satoko is being abused. Why don't you understand this?

That is the difficult part.

We will have to carefully determine whether or not this is truly an abuse case.

It is especially important for the individual to acknowledge the fact.

There's no way Satoko could freely express her thoughts while her uncle is watching her!

That's why we are here asking this of you!

After an objective observation, if we deem it necessary, we will take custody over her.

However, at this time, it is difficult to perceive whether Satoko-san is in urgent danger-

Not in urgent danger, you say?!

Damn that bonehead!

In the end, it was no different from the first time...

That's not true. Look.

We can't stop here.

We've gotta try harder!

It's a first experience for everyone.

Joining together to fight for a classmate.

It's kinda like the Dam War.

If one opposes you, two will throw rocks at the person.

If there are two, four will throw rocks.

If there are four, then eight will.

If there's a thousand, then the entire village will fight back, right?

What? Is that some kind of proverb?

Apparently, it was a slogan that was used during the Dam War.

It means that the entire village will band together and fight!

And that's not all.

It also means that you share your pain with everyone in the village, and that you fight back as if the pain were your own.

Those are words that fit our current situation well.

So that's what you'd call the spirit of Hinamizawa...

We can't give up, then.

But if we go again with these members, they'll just say "not again" and send us back.

Then does that mean we should go with even more people than today, should we?

Mion, is it possible to find more supporters, other than children?

Mion, is it possible to find more supporters, other than children?

Well, many of the village council members don't want anything to do with the Houjous.

Even now, everyone believes that the Houjou Family is cursed.

Shackled by the Dam War, I suppose...

I guess there's no other choice. I'll have to gather them myself.

Keiichi, you?

Did you say you refuse?

Why? Tell me the reason!

I'm sorry, K.

Because, tomorrow is the Dessert Fiesta.

The...Dessert...Fiesta...

Are you telling me to throw away these platinum tickets to the limited entry to this one-day event?!

Why you...

Disciplinary action! Action!! Action!!!

shiver shiver

shake shake

Forgive me....

Keiichi-kun, maybe you can let him off for tomorrow?

No way!

A person who would compare a girl and a cake is no more than a common brute!

There is no line to be drawn between these lovable, adorable sweets! They're incomparable!

You cannot cut one from the other, they are one and the same!

Therefore, a bastard that can't even save a girl has no rights to love his fresh cream!

I was wrong!

K! To save Satoko-chan, we need more people, right?

Yeah.

You heard me, comrades!

...

This is...

They're all regular customers here.

Everyone, will you come with me?

A beautiful girl is in a real danger from some scum thug? Unforgivable!

I will cut him down!

Beautiful Girl Alliance, Okinomiya Company, is ready for action!

Comrade K, give us our orders!

Alright, you maggots!

I'll take your lives in my hands! Follow me to the depths of Hell!

...

Amazing... If we count everyone, there will be more than 60 people tomorrow.

No, there's even more.

After hearing Kei-chan, they want to come too.

They'll even call on the girls who are off and all of their neighbours and friends.

This will really make the Welfare office flip.

Is this the power that dares to break Fate?

So, I should go to the Child Welfare office tomorrow at dusk?

Yes.

But is it alright? Really?

Of course.

Takano-san and Tomitake-san will come too.

Takano-san was the one to originally suggest it.

Are you sure?

We cannot appear at the forefront, but mixing in with a protest group will not be a problem.

I let her down last time.

I've never seen Rika-chan like that before.

So, I can at least do this.

Is that so?

Yes. Tomorrow, let's all work together!

Yes. Tomorrow, let's all work together!

Yes.

Well, hello there, Maebara-san.

Ooishi-san?

I've heard about it. You're leading a lobby group.

Could it be that you will join us?

Well, the police need to keep their neutrality in civil matters.

Is that so...

You know, Maebara-san.

It's important to know when to withdraw from a fight.

If you go too far, it can just make things far more complicated instead.

What do you mean?

There is a proverb that says, "If you continue to hit the bush, the snake will come back out."

Snake?

The Welfare office has been in contact with the Sonozaki Family.

They were worried about whether the Sonozaki Family were behind you or not.

It would be quite a commotion if they were to make an enemy of the Sonozaki Family, you see. So they went to check it out.

The Sonozaki Family has nothing to do with this.

That is absolutely correct.

The problem now is that the Sonozaki Family has found out about it.

There are still quite a few people in this village who hold a grudge against the Houjou Family.

Of course, that includes the Sonozaki Family.

Meaning, if I continue on and go too far, the people who hate the Houjou Family will turn against me.

Is that what you want to say?

The Sonozaki Head, at least, isn't pleased with the situation.

Is that a warning?

No, it's an advice.

Well, thank you, Ooishi-san.

But, I cannot give up.

Satoko is my friend.

Even if I turn the world against me, I will still save Satoko! I will protect her!

I believe that is what friends are for!

Representing the Hinamizawa Branch School group, Mion.

Yes sir!

And the Angel Mort Girls group, Shion, you will lead them.

Yes.

I will gather Kameda-kun's group and we will assemble at...

Satoko!

Satoko-chan!

After yesterday's appeal, the Child Welfare office investigated her absence for the past three days.

Thanks to that, Satoko-chan is here now.

That's good, Satoko.

My fever wouldn't go down for the past three days.

Pardon me for making you feel concerned.

Satoko?

My fever wouldn't go down for three days.

That's the truth.

No one asked about her fever...

I think her uncle threatened her into saying that.

I can hardly bear to look at her like that...

The fact that he's letting her come to school means he's convinced letting her out alone won't come back to hurt him...

That's...

She isn't some animal to be beaten into submission!

This is too cruel!

Satoko, are you in pain?

Satoko, are you in pain?

I'm fine.

Even without Nii-nii here, I can go on by myself.

Satoko,

as a reward for enduring all this time, I'm going to pat you on the head.

Do you mind?

Satoko-chan, even if you cry now, no one will tell him.

Satoko, everyone will certainly come to your rescue.

Right now, we are appealing to the Child Welfare office.

We want to take you away from him as soon as possible.

Yeah, and it's not just us either.

Everyone in the class is fighting for you.

We will not give up.

Let's play together again!

Yeah!

Right?

Let's keep at it.

So that's why the social worker came...

Did he do something to you because the social worker came?

Satoko...

I'm really fine.

That's a lie.

Satoko-chan, you are not fine. Everyone knows that.

Everyone is reaching out to help you!

I was the same before, so I know.

"No one can save me anyway."

So, I figured what I was doing was the best course of action.

And I did not grab hold of my friends' outstretched hands.

But to reach the world I really wanted to go to...

We have to both reach out.

Someone taught me that.

That's why... you see?

Lend me your hand.

We want to save you.

But we can't stretch over this last, tiny distance!

That's why you need to grab our hands!

You have to grab our hands!

We'll pull you up!

Thank you.

I really thank you.

But...

Satoko...?

What's the matter?

My uncle... uncle...

What's wrong? It's the principal...

M-my uncle... my uncle...

It's alright... Your uncle is not here.

B-But, but he was...

He came to take me back...

Calm down, Satoko.

Did you take your shots today?

How is Satoko?

She's calmed down since taking the shot.

What's this shot? Earlier you also...

Satoko is sick.

Sick?

On the wall there's a dark stain.

Keiichi, Rena, what do you see that as?

If you fear flies, it'll appear as a fly. If you fear cockroaches, it may even appear as that.

That's Satoko's illness.

Satoko-chan!

Satoko!

It's alright. It's alright!

Even when there's nothing to fear, Satoko believes that something will come to get her.

Even if you tell her that there is nothing, the panicked Satoko can no longer tell the difference.

It's a disease where, if you start believing in your doubts, you cannot break away from that misunderstanding, right?

That's why she has to take her shots everyday.

Hey, Rika-chan...

would it be possible to admit Satoko to a hospital?

I believe Satoko would refuse.

Why?

Because Satoko believes if she doesn't return home, her Nii-nii's room will be destroyed.

Satoko muttered that in her delirious state.

Please stop! I beg of you!

If you want to run, go ahead.

But if you do, I'll burn this room down.

I will not run away! I definitely won't run away!!

I'll swear to it!!!

So please!!! Not this room. Please not this room...

To Satoko, the Houjou house is a home she needs to defend until Satoshi's return.

What a dirty bastard!

Shit! I really want to kill him now!

Don't lose your temper! If Shii and the others find out...

I only told you because I thought you'd understand!

I understand.

But...

It's not simple to save Satoko.

I've failed so many times...

but this time, Keiichi, you're different!

I believe that you will change this Fate!

Of course.

Fate? I'll tear right through that!

Will the representatives please come this way.

Please have a seat.

As you requested, we have selected three representatives to speak on the group's behalf.

Dr. Irie is her physician,

and he has also requested immediate action concerning this case.

To think I would be chosen...

I also believe Rika-chan would be perfect.

Because you are Satoko-chan's number-one best friend.

Under discussion? When will you know?

Satoko needs immediate help!

But these cases need to be taken very seriously, so...

Satoko's best friend...

A friend who can do nothing but watch...

How is it? Rika?

The biggest issue is whether Satoko will acknowledge the abuse or not.

Even if she doesn't seek help, if we just let this be, it'll pass the point of no return.

Even though everyone is reaching out for her, Satoko doesn't even try to take their hands.

That's where the problem lies.

But...

Is there no one that can convince Satoko?

There's no time for this!

That's true. If only someone could.

To change Fate, everyone has to work together.

If there's someone missing, there's no way a miracle will happen!

But that missing link is Satoko...

You're wrong.

It's me. It's me.

That's right. The one who has the key to open Satoko's heart is none other than... myself.

That's right. The one who has the key to open Satoko's heart is none other than... myself.

So then, what am I doing, pretending to be an outside observer?

Rika...

At this point, we cannot do anything, unless the victim herself seeks help willingly.

If I don't stand on stage, there will be no miracle.

You have made that decision so many times, and you were crushed every time.

Even so...?

Then what's the point of having a Child Welfare office?!

Once-in-a-lifetime luck...

And a once-in-a-lifetime conclusion...

If this world is no good, I'll give up.

This is the last chance.

I will fight.

Even if that means my death,

I want to bring the curtain down on my own world with my own hands!

Rika...

Wish me the best of luck.

So that I can defeat the Fate of 1983.

So Satoko needs to acknowledge the abuse, correct?

I will convince Satoko to seek help.

Hello, I'm Rika.

With the summer heat being particularly intense these days, is everyone doing well?

I'm drinking the Sonozaki House Chameleon-Blue Drink and doing my best to keep going with a smile and Oyashiro power!

Everybody be sure to take care of yourselves.

Well then, what's next week's Higurashi about?

Satoko rides the train alone!

The Kimoyoshi field!

Shion takes off her uniform! - those three stories!

Next episode: Massacre Chapter, Part 5: Confrontation

Be sure to watch again next week!

Rock, paper... scissors!