[Sushi-Y]

Originally Posted by kj1980

Spoiler for comments for Minagoroshi:

But that is the point in the end - murder isn't the answer no matter ho despicable the bastard is. Trust me, my mind synchonized with Keiichi/Shion. What really touched me, however is how much Shion is taking care of Satoko in Minagoroshi. Hmm...Ne-ne-?

One thing that I visually imagined and teared is when Rika mentioned that one time she attained the "longest time alive" record until early July by hiding in the woods on self-survival. To see a child like that to go such extreme is very disheartening...

And I highly agree with you on Satoko's final plea for help. I literally jumped out of my bed in joy.

As for Watanagashi/Meakashi, I wouldn't say that Rika's death triggered the Hinamizawa Syndrome. At the end of Watanagashi there was a ending scroll that listed the various characters such as Rena and other members in Hinamizawa (including that bastard Teppei!!) well alive to this date. Takano must've had to abort the plan as Rika was murdered/committed suicide in a situation which wasn't expected. My theory is that the Hinamizawa Syndrome isn't vested in Rika, but actually through Ha'nyu which holds a special place within the Furude household. Rika's death doesn't cause the L5 symptoms to show - it's probably something that Takano came up with? Hmm....

But seriously, what the heck is Akasaka (or as many would say, BAKAsaka) doing!? He shows up to make Rika (and many of us readers) optimistic and he did jack!!! I sincerely hope that this is Ryukishi07's way of torturing us by having Oishi's death adverted in the next chapter when he teams up with Akasaka.

And the way the lives ended for the Bukatsu members with one cheap head shot by Takano's handgun was very hard to look at....after all this, it only takes a bullet to the head. That just sucks big time....that ain't right.

This was the best possible world whey they beat all of fate...but it ended up the same. Just a little more effort by one extra member would've broken that thin wall.

Spoiler for Minagoroshi comments:

Of course, we know that violence isn't the solution, it's been stressed very hard in this chapter.

And yes, I was happy to see Shion finally able to keep her promise to Satoshi and achieve the relationship she always wanted with Satoko. Of course, same for Rena and her family situation.

...All the more emotional it makes you to see Rena's bravery and Shion trying to protect Satoko even at the very end.

But of course, Rika's decision to stay awake for her own death, even knowing how horrible it is, is what really torn me up.

Satoko's final cry for help was a great joy, but it really shook me too, because then it was a race against time to save her from Teppei. Thank god for Oishi and the cops.

Speaking of Oishi, I think, for the first time, it's proven that he's really a reliable ally (just with some misconceptions). Throughout this chapter, he has been a big help in both Satoko's case and Rika's plead for assistance. He's strictly business when it comes to his duty as a police, but he really is on the children's side. Oishi getting killed in this chapter was regrettable, but if you think about it, even if he reached Rika's house and learned the truth (and calls reinforcement or something), chances are Takano's squad would still be able to carry out their job... I hope to see Akasaka finally stepping up to the plate in the next chapter.

The report about the queen's death triggering the L5 symptoms was written back in 1945... Rika mentioned that the syndrome has weakened over the years, so people could leave the village or go on travels without the symptoms showing, maybe by Rika's time, her death doesn't affect the villagers anymore? Well... no matter, Rika must not die in any case.

In the end, it all depends on how much Rika can remember, I guess, if she could at least remember that her true enemy is Takano, it'd be an easier run next time. If not, at least she knows that she could trust her friends to be there for her (even fight off an assassination squad for her ). The key probably lies in the disabling of Takano, the problem would be how. The next world would also have to favor Rika as well (none of the gang going paranoid). It'd be great if the next world is a "replay" rather than a "restart".

It's a bunch of kids against a national conspiracy and a nutjob woman with a bad costume, hey, it can't be that hard.