After two episodes of Meakashi-hen, the answer arc for Watanagashi-hen, we jump headfirst into the same timeline of Watanagashi-hen. Keiichi shows up, a battle between the Sonozaki twins erupts, and the “answering” part of this really starts to show…

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni 18
Meakashi-hen Part 3

Summary:
         Shion is down at the police station, talking with Ooishi. Ooishi reveals that much like Shion, he too was surprised at the sudden capture of the murderer of Aunt Houjou. Instead of Satoshi, it was found by the prefectural police that it was a psychopath who soon after being thrown into detention, killed himself.
         Shion continues her investigation of Satoshi, and in turn, the entire Watanagashi Curse. The dam director, the Houjou parents, the Furude parents. All were viewed as undesirable to the Sonozakis. Takano suddenly shows up behind Shion, reading her notes. After being a little creepy, Takano sheds new light on Shion’s investigation by revealing one more crucial piece of information: every year, for every person who dies by the curse, another person disappears. This solidifies the link between Oyashiro’s curse and Satoshi’s disappearance. Takano then continues on about Hinamizawa’s “dark history”. The history of Cannibal Demons, the actions of the half-human half-demon Saints, the true meaning of Watanagashi, and the role of the Onigafuchi Marsh. Being creepy yet useful, Takano lets Shion borrow all of her notes on her research and findings.
         After Shion arrives back home, Mion decides to pay her a visit. The air between the Sonozaki twins turns out to be rather dense, their previous encounter at the Sonozaki residence still fresh in their minds. Mion apologizes for what happened, but Shion still seems a little upset of the entire thing. The situation starts to lighten a bit, until Mion mentions the disappearance of Satoshi, and how it was not the doings of the Sonozakis. Having already learned new information from Takano’s research, Shion is convinced that Mion is lying. Shion’s inner demon awakens at this point, and Shion starts strangling her twin. Shion demands for her Satoshi to be returned, but alas, it seems not to be working. When Mion tries to defend herself, Shion notices Mion’s three missing fingernails, exactly like her own injuries. Mion, crying, confesses that when Shion had her nails torn, she argued with Oryou and defended both Shion and Satoshi. Mion agreed to show her own distinction if Oryou would leave them alone. However, Satoshi still disappeared, and Mion has no idea why. With some sisterly love, the Sonozaki Twins make up and put the event behind them.
         A year passes, and it’s now 1983. Shion is out buying groceries, and after getting pissed off, kicks over a few motorcycles. Uh oh. Unforutnately, they belong to the same three delinquents that Satoshi dealt with last time. The difference between this time and the previous would be that there’s no Satoshi to save Shion… as well as the fact that some of the delinquents have gained the ability to actually talk. Luckily, Keiichi pops in, Satoshi-style. He distracts them long enough for help to arrive, and the delinquents run away. Keiichi then mistakes Shion for Mion, and rubs her head… Satoshi-style, once again.
         After a break in the action, we’re greeted by the Sonozaki twins at Shion’s place, eating cake and talking of Keiichi. Oh Keiichi, I envy you, taking the Sonozaki twins and all. *Adds Keiichi to the list of people I’d like to Watanagashi* Ahem, sorry. So yes, as I was saying. Mion starts crying when she talks of the time Keiichi gave the doll he won to Rena instead of herself. Shion gives Mion a few helpful hints, but soon after announces a competition between them, a challenge of who can win Keiichi over first. Shion starts thinking of Satoshi, and how she’s a little jealous of Mion’s situation with Keiichi.
         The scene changes to the day when Keiichi finds out that Mion and Shion are actually two different people. The Sonozaki twins are playing tug-a-Keiichi-war, in which Shion gives up on. After a Satoshi headrub from Keiichi and a farewell, Shion runs away, crying when being reminded of Satoshi. Finished with her good cry, Shion continues walking, only to hear an extra footstep behind her, much like Rena’s description of Oyashiro’s curse.
         It’s the night of Watanagashi, and Shion bumps into Tomitake and Takano. They plan to break into the festival shrine, and invite Shion to join them. Shion decides to go along with this, bringing along Keiichi. Once inside, Shion starts to once again notice footsteps that doesn’t seem to belong to anyone. Other than Shion, nobody else seems to be able to hear the footsteps. Before much else can happen, the Offering Dance by Rika ends, and the group must leave the Shrine or risk being discovered.
         After having too much to drink, Shion wakes up in the middle of the night and overhears Oryou and Mion’s conversation. They’re talking of someone stirring Oyashiro’s anger. Sounds like the fifth occurrence of the curse took place, involving Takano. The phone suddenly rings, distracting Shion long enough for Mion to pop out of nowhere and grab her from behind…
 
Summary of Summary
- Ooishi’s surprised about Satoshi’s “innocence”, and the “true” murderer killed himself
- Takano knows a LOT about Oyashiro’s curse. Enough to put her life in danger. OH WAIT!
- The Sonozaki twins fight. After Shion wins the first round with a strangle, Mion comes back
   to tie the series by winning the tug-a-Keiichi-war
- A little too much is seen at the festival shrine…
- Shion’s caught listening in to the convo of Oryou by Mion. OSHI—
 
Screencaps

Girls, please. There’s enough Soda to go around (And I’m not talking about a drink)

Keiichi? Satoshi? ……….. Keitoshi?!?

Keiichi’s the master at keeping his cool in bad situations

Quoted for truth.

Watch out Shion!!

 
Thoughts
         I’ll say a few things now, but I won’t get too too deep into the subject. I liked this episode, it shed a lot of light on some questions I had. It eliminated some theories I had, but that just means I’m one step closer to the truth. Earlier in Meakashi-hen, I was starting to wonder exactly what this answer arc was planning on answering. Now it’s much clearer, since it’s now directly connected to Watanagashi-hen, taking place at the same time.
         The arcs presented before Meakashi-hen felt pretty independent of each other, not relying on each other to build a larger story. With this first answer arc, I’m really enjoying the way Meakashi-hen and Watanagashi-hen are beginning to intertwine, and how different perspectives can completely change the same story. Shion’s loose connections to the Sonozakis and her intense drive to do Satoshi justice is finally starting to bring out all the things we missed in Keiichi’s perspective, and we’re about to have our previous knowledge completely turned upside down…

         The entire Sonozaki twin conflict really aided in the advancement of their relationship, and it was nice to see them getting along so well as siblings afterwards. Keiichi’s appearance in this arc was certainly welcomed, and I really look forward to how Shion will react to Keiichi. The way she harbours feelings for both Keiichi and Satoshi, and the fact that they’re quite similar will only cause further problems that she must sort out within herself. The nature of Mion and Keiichi’s relationship doesn’t aid Shion either, and Keiichi’s future actions when he’s under the impression that Shion is Mion will most certainly cause many internal conflicts. Although we already have a rough idea of the events that will occur after watching Watanagashi-hen, Shion will make these same events new and exciting.

//Soda