Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.5 Meakashi

This chapter was so vulnerable and intense that it made me cry multiple throughout the entire thing and ill probably cry while putting this but shions character was so well written, that the idea of sympathy, guilt, revenge, and jealousy were so potent. I think the things that made me cry the most over this chapter was shions ultimate descent into this entirely different characxter, literally turning her into "mion". Seeing how something as simple as love is able to turn someone into and interely different person, even gaining the drive to kill ur own family and friends around you, is so bizzare that it just goes to show how vulnerable and how driven shion was over satoshi. Her ending off her last words in her notebook as "Im sorry i was born" was such a beautiful choice for her final words. After all the killing, torturing, and resenment she has faced, she feels sorry, wishing she was never even brought into this world in the first place to bring pain to everyone around her. Her ignorance towards satokos strentgh was something i really hated shion for, the idea of "killing" satoshi in her soul was a beautfiul way to describe it. She completely "forgot" about satoshi; she never waited for him, gain strtentgh for him. meanwhile satoko is fighting everyday to become someone strong for when satoshi "returns", even after possibly knowing he wont. Shion realising that she has been the shadow behind her all along, and acting as a guilt on her back, creates such a pathetic emotion for shion. This shapter was so sad, and so loving and happy regardless over she killing that happened. She did this all in revenge of somebody she loved, which makes shion such a beautfully written character... i cant wait for the next chapter :ppppp

I love you shion you should be able to kill everyone in the world

cant blame her honestly

这一章比前面的几章好。9.5/10

The fantastic beginning to the Answers Arc of Higurashi; one that completely recontextualises the events of Ch. 2, while giving new insights into the already established lore of the Houjo siblings that only previously mentioned by necessary exposition before. As was the case before, it's still refreshing for these latter chapters to utilise perspectives outside of Keichi's, with the more laid-back, but emotionally driven Shion taking the helm in providing fresh perspectives to Hinamizawa's mysteries. There's very little segments in this chapter that feel dragged out, with the content feeling akin to finding missing pieces of a puzzle that were once missing from Ch. 2's underlying questions. Shion's character, having already been one of my personal favourites before, also incorporates the welcome addition of driving the narrative behind the game's Tips segments. Utilising the Tips as being excerpts from her personal diary helps flesh Shion's characterisation immensely. As a result, it ended up making each Tip feel more akin to a reward as opposed to necessary exposition I'd once forced myself to glean over before each chapter. One way or the other, your views on the Sonozaki sisters will change at the end of chapter, & that's arguably this instalments greatest strength! This is the first chapter of Higurashi that I honestly can't find any fault in. It's a strong beginning to the Answers Arc that sets my expectations incredibly high for what's to come. I recall needing to have a moment to myself in silence when completing this chapter. That alone, is something I feel perfectly conveys the goodwill I've harboured in Ryuukishi's writing, & I can only expect the best from it of moving forwards.

That's what I would have done in that situation.