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Arg!

This episode lacks a true prologue. The opening credits appear with the first scene. Over these, an apartment doorbell repeatedly rings repeatedly. The apartment is cluttered with cigarette boxes, sake bottles, and the like. In the center, a sleeping figure growls as the Land Lady outside declares that she knows the tennant is there. Teppei mutters for her to go away, but she announces that tennants have complained about the smell from his apartment.

A bag slams agains the door as Teppei repeats his order, then he opens the door to the shock of the Land Lady as he profanely demands to know what he is suppose to do about it. She flees in panic. He returns inside. His bare feet step over a prescription made out for him.

A newspaper folded in the handle of a door gives the date: "Thursday, June 9, 1983."

With an aerial view of the school, Satoko compliments Mion on her lunch. Rika agrees, but Mion explains that the mayor and his friends visited the previous night to drink, so she brought leftovers. Rena quips that that explains why her lunch contains so much snacks. Keiichi stares at it greedily and admits that he should have guessed that Mion would be good at putting together a good lunch. Rika admires a creation from Rena. Rena thanks her and while admitting that it is not as nice as Mion's, she thinks it is cute. Mion assures Rena that her lunch contains the secret ingredient of love which is why her own lunch cannot compete.

Keiichi inspects and is impressed by the lunch Rika and Satoko brought. Satoko laughs and reveals that Rika's contains meat from the local store. Rena predicts that Rika will one day make her husband happy; Rika vows that she will have a tight grip on him and his stomach. When Keiichi turns to Satoko's, she turns a bit sheepish but insists that while she is not as skilled a cook as Rika, she can hold her own in a kitchen. Sensing an opening, he asks her if she can tell the difference between cauliflower and broccoli. Satoko shivers as she tries to maintain her composure. Unfortunately, she cannot give the correct answer.png.png which makes her cry. Keiichi tenderly pats her on her head, but Mion suggests that if he wishes to act so smug, he should also be a good cook. Falling into the trap, he tries to claim that he is at least as good as Satoko, "even if it is just Satoko," which brings her out of her tears to demand what he means by that. Mion smiles slyly. She then suggests that he demonstrate his cooking skills to them the following day. She demands no cheating. Folding her arms, Satoko haughtily asks if Keiichi accepts. Keiichi does and as anime flames burst around him, he vows that his lunch will destroy hers. Rika happily claps in anticipation of what lunch Keiichi will bring. The scene shifts to him reading a note from his mother explaining that his father and her had to go to Tōkyō suddenly for work for the next few days so this will be a perfect time for him to learn how to cook! Keiichi crumples up the note and pounds the table in frustration. He collects himself and vows to do it with a montage of cooking implements, food, and recipes. Despite this, he declares that will never understand. He finally decides that he will try some stir fry. He cuts up the vegetables, places them in the skillet, then reads that he has to add oil. Unsure, he takes a ladle and uses it to pour oil onto the hot pan which, naturally, ignites, blasts out the window, but leaves him admiring the conflagration until Satoko double-kicks him in the head whilst carrying a fire extinguisher. She quickly turns off the stove and sprays the area with the extinguisher in dramatic fashion. Keiichi rises from the floor to see Satoko finishing with the extinguisher while Rika looks on.

He tries to recover by demanding why they are trespassing, but Satoko accuses him of committing arson. Keiichi finally admits failure and comically bows before Rika who pats him on the head. Satoko maintains her air of superiority by declaring that she came to see if his skills matched his brags. She sighs, then calmly asks him to leave the kitchen. Rika pushes him out while advising him to be quiet and wait outside. To herself, Satoko complains about men and their carelessness as she starts cleaning the mess. She skillfully starts slicing a leek and begins cooking. She sarcastically calls out to Keiichi that if he has the time to be a fool, he has the time to set the table. As he gets up, Rika states that they will have dinner soon. When Keiichi asks her what she means, she happily responds that they will eat dinner at his house. Keiichi remarks on her good mood, then turns towards the kitchen and wishes that Satoko were more like that rather than angry. Rika corrects him that Satoko is not angry at all; she is having fun. From inside behind the curtains, they can hear Satoko mutter about how pathetic Keiichi is. Keiichi questions if she is actually having "fun." Rika explains that it reminds her of what it was like when her "Ni-Ni" was around. In response to his further questions, she explains the meaning of that nickname and reveals her brother's actual name. A little more serious, Rika continues that Satoko was always happy when she was with her brother. Keiichi notes her use of the past tense and asks if that means he is not around anymore.

Rika does not answer.png.png. Instead, she continues to stare at the curtains until interrupted by Satoko's voice announcing that the food is ready.

At the table, both Rika and Keiichi express the traditional Japanese opening to a meal, but Satoko sits with her eyes closed. She finally opens her eyes as Keiichi compliments the food. She then laughs her characteristic laugh with her hand somewhat covering her face. She genially asks if he is experiencing a change of opinion; Keiichi quickly admits that he was wrong about her. Satoko looks genuinely surprised with his response. She blushes a bit as she accepts his "kind words," but then sheepishly tries to claim that she only made the rice and miso soup herself: "the sides are all from a can." Keiichi insists that it is an "amazing meal." Satoko reacts to his compliment with surprise that she quickly covers by retorting that as long as he now understands that she has some cooking ability, then it will have to do. Rika notes that the dinner is fun and it reminds her of having dinner with Satoshi. Satoko looks away a bit, then smiles as she wonders what he is doing. She then recovers and starts to explain to Keiichi who Satoshi is. She starts to say "Ni-Ni," but then quickly corrects herself to the more traditional "Ani" then reminisces that he could barely take care of himself yet ran away. When Keiichi repeats "ran away," Satoko claims that she is sure that he will give up and eventually return home. Keiichi stares with concern at her response. He then pats Satoko on her head. Embarrassed, Satoko asks him what it is for, but Keiichi replies that he never knew she was this mature. Blushing, she turns away a bit while claiming that she has always been this mature. When Keiichi asks if she wishes to see her "Ni-Ni" she sheepishly claims that she did not use that nickname. She then feigns anger and demands that Keiichi not use it and refer to him properly. Rika smiles and reminds Satoko that she did use it. Satoko protests that she did not call her "Ni-Ni" by that nickname.

Outside later that evening, Keiichi thanks Satoko and Rika for coming over and cooking. Rika teases him that if Satoko had not, he would suffer from his empty stomach. Satoko sternly reminds Keiichi to brush his teeth before bed. They both wish him a goodnight and speed off on their bikes. Rika stops for a moment. When Keiichi asks her what it up, she congratulates him for the grade he earned that day and gives him applause. Confused, Keiichi does not think he did anything to deserve such. Rika replies that she bet that Satoko felt like her older brother returned, and this made her happy. From some distance away, Satoko demands to know why Rika is delaying. Rika bids Keiichi farewell; he stares after her when she leaves. He sees the two of them in animesque sparkles as they laugh and ride away.

There is folded-up newspaper at the Maebara gate with the caption: "Friday, June 10, 1983." At the "Sevens Mart" Satoko lectures Keiichi on how to shop for groceries. Nevertheless, between her scolding, she does smile and blush, which Keiichi happily notices. As they walk home with their bikes laden with the groceries, Keiichi admits that he enjoyed shopping with Satoko. She explains that the stir fry that night will taste so much better since they shopped for the food. Keiichi pats her on the head as he replies that it will taste so good because she will make it. Embarrassed, Satoko blushes and tries to agree that "of course" that will be the reason, and she says she is glad that he knows that as she continues to walk her bike. Keiichi watches her for a moment.

That night at his home, Keiichi excitedly compliments the stir fry. As with any male protagonist in an anime he greedily devours the meal while Satoko watches him with satisfaction. She then suddenly asks him if he washed his hands. He protests that he can just do it afterwards, but she insists that he must before eating. Keiichi relents and leaves the table. When he enters the washroom, he trips a rope which releases a cascade of pots and pans on him. After his raging and her chortling, he sits up and looks at her with a smile. This surprises her a bit, and she asks him what it wrong. He confesses that it is just that he is an only child so this has been rather nice. Blushing again, Satoko tries act serious as she suggests that since his parents will not be back for some time, if he needs someone to cook, only to be interrupted by the phone. Keiichi's Mom excitedly informs him that they have finished work and will return tomorrow. As Keiichi repeats this, Satoko looks disappointed.

The newspaper sits in the bars of the Maebara gate with the caption reading, "Saturday, June 11, 1983."

Keiichi returns home and announces himself in the traditional fashion. His Mum quickly replies that he has good timing since Rena just called. Keiichi calls her to ask what is happening; from Shishibone City's single phone booth, Rena implores him to help them in a fight. She further explains that the opponent has driven Satoko into a corner. Keiichi dramatically vows to come, dramatically slams the receiver on the phone, then runs out of the room, dramatically. He returns, dramatically, carrying a golf club and runs, dramatically, from the room. He bikes ferociously, if not dramatically, while shouting in a fashion that would impress a hero from a Chanbara film. The head of his club sparkles in the sunlight. He vows, dramatically, to save Satoko whilst he peddles, ferociously. He arrives, takes a, well, dramatic pose while brandishing his katana golf club, only to find himself on a baseball diamond. The players on the field stare at him with the expected confusion despite his impressive dramatics. Rena waves to him. She stands in front of a bench that has the players from the team at bat with Mion, Rika, and the not-yet-properly-introduced Irie Kyōsuke staring at him in similar expected confusion. Rena then calls to Satoko, who is at bat, that Keiichi has arrived. She then calls the now deeply blushing Keiichi to come over to the bench. On the bench, Irie, Mion, other players, and Rena still nervously stare at him. Rena gently but hesitatingly asks if she can ask him a question as she stares at his golf club. Keiichi leaps from the bench protesting that she could have told him that the "fight" was a baseball game. He, and they, are interrupted by the sound of an aluminum bat making contact. Unlike Mighty Casey, Satoko does hit the ball. She declares over the astonishment of the other team who watch the ball leave the park, that she does not even have to run the bases. Rena excitedly announces to Keiichi that they have won while he stares shocked and wonders why he was even needed. As the pitcher pounds the mound and swears, Satoko smugly saunters from second to third base during her home run trot. Mion reminds their manager, Irie, of his promise. He sheepishly agrees to host a large barbecue; Mion excitedly orders him to buy the really expensive beef and warns him against buying only inexpensive vegetables. Rika pats him on the head in sympathy.

The newspaper with a picture of an American astronaut sits in the gate with the caption: Sunday, June 12, 1983.

Various players including Mion, Rika, Rena, and Satoko gather around outdoor barbecues and marvel at the meet. Some distance away, Keiichi sits and watches. Satoko declares that lesser meat would prove a pitiful reward for her performance. Keiichi listens to Mion and Rika compliment her athleticism until Irie walks over to sit next to him. He smiles in Satoko's direction and declares that watching her heals his heart. Keiichi does not know how to respond to this, but Irie continues by introducing himself as he sits down next to him. Keiichi tries to recover by noting that Irie seems to like Satoko. Irie responds by confessing that he hopes to marry her when she is older. Keiichi reacts as expected. Irie responds to Keiichi's shock by asking him if he is also interested in her. Keiichi can only stare with his mouth open as Irie confesses that the conversation is awkward. Irie continues that her brother, Satoshi, also played for the Hinamizawa Fighters. Turning sad, he wishes that he could have played with them a little longer. As the scene turns to Satoko struggling to bite the shish kebabed meat, Irie explains that Satoshi left Hinamizawa a year before. Keiichi asks him why Satoshi left, and Irie explains it was due to a series of unfortunate events: around this time three years ago, her parents fell of the observation deck, and she lives with Rika who also lost her her parents. As the scene focuses on Satoko and Rika laughing as they eat, Irie states that he considered trying to adopt Satoko, "but there are legal issues to deal with" that would prevent him from adopting her. He laughs but sadly adds that his plan to have her call him "Papa" will not progress. "I just want her to always be smiling," he sighs. Keiichi looks towards Satoko and sees her giggling. "Me too," he replies.

Irie then asks Keiichi to promise him something: never make her cry. Keiichi agrees, but he then asks Irie, "hypothetically,' if he could adopt her, what would he do. Irie clasps his face in thought as he admits that it is a difficult question, but a voice interrupts to declare that he would have her call him "master," and he would train her to become his personal maid. Keiichi demands to know where this comes from, Irie denies that he said it, but the voice continues that he would make his well-trained pet wear a maid outfit. Irie admits that Satoko would certainly look cute in a maid outfit, and When They C ry Wiki insists there is no horrible subtext to any of this.

Shion reveals herself to declare that Irie has admitted it himself. Keiichi calls her by name, but she insists that she has to leave, then starts to walk away in a dramatic fashion. Keiichi places his hand on her shoulder and demands to know why she is even here. She then, with a background of a rhythmic gymnist for reasons When They C ry Wiki cannot comprehend, declares that she is the manager of the team. When he demands to know why she was not present at the game the day previous, she slyly insists that she is not just a manager, she is a "phantom manager." Irie interrupts to suggest that the game would have been better if she was there. He smiles and asks that she come and cheer them on the next time. She will consider this, then asks if he will let her join in the promise he asked Keiichi to make. Keiichi asks if she means the one he made for Satoko, and she replies in the affirmative while insisting that she is Satoko's "big sister." She then runs up to Satoko and embraces her while Satoko protests. As Satoko whines that she does not need a big sister, Irie notes to Keiichi that he wishes moments such as these could last forever.

Keiichi helps the clean-up after the event. He comes up to Rika and asks her where Satoko is. Rika explains that she went shopping for dinner. He grouses that she picked the correct time to avoid cleaning up. She suggests that unlike him, Satoko is really clever and adds a "Nipaa~" for emphasis. Later, as Keiichi scrubs a pan, he hears Tomita Daiki and Okamura Suguru discuss whether or not Oyashiro-sama's curse will happen again this year.

Keiichi walks home with Rena and Mion. The two girls discuss the weather and whether or not it will rain on the Watanagashi. Then notice Keiichi has stopped walking, and Mion asks him what is wrong. He asks if he can ask them about Satoko's brother. Rena's bangs cast a dark shadow over her eyes as an uncomfortable Mion asks if he means Satoshi. She acts as if to think a bit, then happily replies that he transferred to another school about a year previous. Unconvinced, Keiichi asks if this has anything to do with Oyashiro-sama 's curse. The higurashi increase their c ries as Mion and Rena stare at him.

Mion suddenly reminds Keiichi that she promised to lend him some manga, and he should come by her home to pick them up. When he starts to protest that he does not recall, Mion stares at him severely whilst behind her Rena's eyes remain obscured by the shadows from her hair. In a rare moment, Keiichi catches on and stammers that he remembers. Unseen in the shot, Rena announces that she will take her leave for home. In a distant shot, she walks away from them down the road.

As the water wheel turns, Mion asks Keiichi how much he knows about Satoko's family. He answer.png.pngs that her parents dies in an accident and her brother left Hinamizawa. Mion adds that her parents were proponents of the dam project. When Keiichi expresses surprise at this, Mion explains that the government planned to pay people to leave, and Satoko's parents were leaders of that faction. Over a flashback of the broken fence before the cliff, Mion adds that, unfortunately, they died on the day of the festival to Oyashiro-sama. As Keiichi listens with concern, Mion continues that rumors started that blamed their deaths on Oyashiro-sama 's curse. They then blamed the curse for Satoshi leaving. Mion stands and suggests that since they believe Satoko does not want to hear about her parents dying, her brother running away, or the curse, they try not to talk about it.

Keiichi stands and responds that he understands. He then admits that he lacked tack. With a smile, he figures that Satoko is living a happy life with Rika now. "That's correct . . . for now," Mion happily responds as the scene shifts to a man walking down a road with a basket on his back. He passes a parked scooter. When he pauses to look, he sees Teppei facing the door of a home. Teppei turns to him and demands to know what he is looking at. He then turns and tells Satoko to enter.

Sullen, Satoko complies. When she enters, Teppie slams the sliding door behind her.

Adult-Voiced Rika returns to announce the second chapter.