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Arg!

The episode follows directly from the previous and lacks a Prologue or the opening theme. The credits run over the opening scene which consists of Hanyū still paused and suspended prior to her impact with Eua's staff, whilst Eua has her back turned to her.

Hanyū remains pauses and suspended in front of Eua's staff. After a moment, the staff withdraws. Now standing, Hanyū confesses that she was once like her. Still behind Hanyū, Eua asks her whatever does she mean. As Eua grasps her floating upright staff, Hanyū explains that she did not believe in miracles. She turns to face Eua and declares that she expected nothing from this world, including miracles. Still, she came to learn from Keiichi, Rena, Mion, Shion, and Satoko, too, that one has to make miracles happen. Eua slams her staff into Hanyū's stomach which sends her flying backwards then tumbling over the stone floor. Eua grasps her staff again as she announces that she has had enough. As Hanyū slowly raises her face from the groove she created as she slid, Eua adds that she has had enough of this charade. There is a sound of rumbling from above. Hanyū looks up to see floating modern articles of furniture such as cabinets, desks, a book, and a trophy. Eua icily deems Hanyū boring and, with a tap of her staff on the floor, sends the floating objects down upon her.

The scene shifts to Rika with her sword raised over Satoko on the bridge in the rain. Satoko, resigned and dejected, stares away. Rika stands with an expression more of shock rather than triumph. Satoko finally repeats her encouragement from the previous episode in her Adolescent Voice: "Do it. Erase me from your world." She somewhat sarcastically encourages Rika that Rika will make much fancier friends at St. Lucia Academy. Rika's face grows angry as she replies in her Adult Voice that that does not sound bad. Satoko laughs but predicts that Rika will learn after she kills her that she was happiest here in Hinamizawa. She then rises a bit and declares that Rika will learn that she was the one who cared about her more than anyone.

The point of the sword lowers.

Rika looks down for a moment, then raises her face to scream in her Adolescent Voice that she already knows that and rhetorically asks if Satoko thought otherwise. The blade raises again, Satoko looks up with surprise. . ..

. ..

. . . only to receive Rika's fist in her face. Rika then mounts and proceeds to ground and pound Satoko. Each blow punctuates her angry declaration that she knows Satoko cares about her more than anyone. She adds, with her fists, that she cares more about Satoko than anyone. As she continues her lesson in modern relationship dynamics, the sword slowly falls through the sky. When the scene returns focus on Rika's discourse, Rika repeats Satoko's request to be erased from her world. Rika declares that she will never do that and she never could. Instead, she will punch Satoko as hard as she can until her face swells up. She will beat the math drills into her head.

The sword continues to fall now past and below the bridge.

Repeating, "no!" Satoko struggles to rise, punching back. She throws off the surprised Rika, passes her guard, then mounts her and proceeds to punctuate her retort that she does not even want to think about or look at that. She insists, in her more Child Voice, that she just wants to play and have fun. She declares that she wants to be with Rika.

The sword falls into the raging waters.

Rika grabs Satoko's forelock, rises, and demands that she stop being so selfish; Satoko grabs Rika's hair at her temples and demands that she stop forcing her to follow her dream. They continue their hair pulling and derogatory discussion as the sword sinks in the waters. The scene shifts back to the Realm of Time Fragments. Smashed furniture lies strewn about the floor. Hanyū's hand bursts through a pile; Eua regards this with a slight smile and a "Hō." Hanyū struggles to emerge then walk towards Eua with her eyes blazing. She reaches her hand up; Eua asks her what she is doing. Hanyū responds that a miracle will never side with Eua. With a hint of irritation, Eua reminds her of her question. When Hanyū does not answer.png.png, Eua points her staff at her. Hanyū finally says that even if they fall into the pit of despair a hundred times, they will climb up two hundred times. A celestial whirlpool appears in the sky above her hand. The enraged Hanyū vows that a miracle will always side with "us." From the eye of the whirlpool, a light appears, then a large spectacular bolt which descends upon Hanyū. The resulting blast drives back Eua's hair and clothes. She reacts with actual surprise when she sees that Hanyū is holding the sword. Hanyū vows that she and Rika will destroy their fate and make the miracle happen. She rushes at Eua. Eua relaxes and laughs. She then points her staff and various pieces of furniture, books, and even tea kettles, fly towards Hanyū. Hanyū cuts them away as she continues her flight towards Eua and demands to know if she knows how many endless days have brought them to this moment. Emitting a yell, she brings her sword down upon Eua's staff which sends out bolts of light and, frankly, would serve as an avatar for an episode synopsis. Eua laughs with her patented derision as she holds back Hanyū's sword. The time fragments appear to circle them, particularly the nexus of the bolts of light. Individual fragments contain versions of Rika's lives. Hanyū continues that she and Rika, but her words are interrupted by a sound of fingers snapping and the individual fragments shattering in to tiny glittering particles. She continues to mention Keiichi and Rena, fragments show them, and these fragments shatter with a snap. The same happens for Mion, Shion, and "everyone in Hinamizawa," and even Satoko. Eua continues to laugh as this happens. She declares it a fine performance from her "failure," and promises a reward. A blast sends Eua back with her staff in two pieces. Hanyū readies her sword. She calls to the sword to strike true and devour Eua's sins as she flies at Eua. She blows past her with a blast and stops behind her. Eua looks genuinely surprised. A crack develops in the left side of the device that arcs around her head. This breaks open with a shatter to leave a defect similar to Hanyū's. As Hanyū calmly performs chirubi to scatter the particles of light off of the blade, Eua laughs, but her voice has a higher pitch. She shimmers and shrinks as she cries out with a progressively higher scream, until she becomes a very angry child. Hanyū turns to her and angrily reminds her of her promise to leave their world forever. Regaining a bit of her arrogant composure, now "Eua-chan" laughs and turns to Hanyū and concedes that, failure though she be, Hanyū did miraculously strike back at her. She then giggles as she shimmers away into a bolt that rises into the eye of the whirlpool above them. Hanyū watches this.

The scene shifts to the thatched roof of a home, then scenes from Hinamizawa, which includes the suspension bridge without the apparent damage it suffered previously. Nevertheless, the two are still locked in conflict. Satoko demands that Rika follow her dream instead. The continue their quarrel as the scene reveals that they are standing in the river. Rika punctuates her desire to be with Satoko with punches only to similarly receive a retort from Satoko. Their punches become more stylized until they both punch one another in the face and collapse into the waters.

With a view of the forest, the higurashi c ry.

There is a view of Rika's leg in the water of the river, then a view of Satoko's. . . um. . . "no longer elementary school front court." The scene pulls back to reveal the now adolescent two of them lying in the water, looking up at the sky, with their faces bruised, and wearing the clothes they wore for their visit to Hinamizawa. Both higurashi and birds c hirp. "Nē Satoko," Rika finally remarks in her Adult Voice. When Satoko acknowledges her question, Rika apologizes for leaving Satoko alone. She promises from now on she will look after her and help her to study. For her part, Satoko emits a small laugh, then answer.png.pngs in her Adolescent Voice with her thanks, then muses that she has lost count of the years, but it seems that they were worth it in the end. She then apologizes, for she is "too stupid," and no matter how hard Rika tries to make her, she will never study that hard again. Rika accepts this and rhetorically asks her how many years did she make her study for the exam. Satoko quips that she should think of the largest number she can and multiply it by three. She then muses that it is easier for loopers to develop allergies. This causes Rika to widen her eyes in response. Satoko explains that in the end just looking at the problem makes her break out in hives. She confesses that she believed if she just kept studying she would be allowed to stay with Rika in the same class. Rika sadly concludes in her Adolescent Voice as sits up that if Satoko put in that much effort yet still had terrible grades then perhaps she really is not meant for schoolwork. Satoko sits up and rhetorically asks if it took her this long to realize that.

They both regard one another for a moment until interrupted by the voice of Mion declaring that that is where they are. They turn in the direction of her voice. Mion stands at the bank while Rena on the road calling out to Keiichi that they have found them. Tired, he emerges from the woods asking what they were doing there. He startles when he sees that the two of them are soaked with tears in their clothes. Mion then realizes that their faces are all bruised. As the trio wade their way to them, a concerned Rena thinks that they may have bandages in the car. Satoko stands and haughtily declares that she is fine since Rika's weak punches barely hurt. Rika stands and responds that she is sure that her punches did make her cry. Satoko retorts that Rika should look at her own eyes which are so very red.

"Yes! Yes! That's enough!" a smiling Mion declares as she puts her hands on their backs. Keiichi asks what caused them to have a fight. Satoko and Rika look at one another then simultaneously turn away with irritated grunts as seen by many female anime leads when "Ichigo" displeases them! While Rena looks with concerned surprise, Mion smiles. The scene shifts to the ride along the road. Mion drives with a slight smile, while Keiichi and Rena ride with looks of concern. In the back seat, Satoko and Rika haughtily face away from one another looking out their windows. They have bandages on their faces. Keiichi remarks that she is glad they found them. Mion pleasantly asks what they were fighting about and offers to let "Uncle" help. The two continue to stare out their windows in silence. A bit disappointed, Mion encourages them to tell them since they are all friends. Rena's expression softens to a slight smile. She looks ahead and tells "Mii-chan" that she is sure they have already talked about it. As Keiichi smiles, Rena continues that the reason for the fight is not important anymore.

Mion accepts this and responds that Rena is too good at this. Rena turns back to ask if the two are "okay." Looking forward, Rika tartly replies that she would not say they were "okay." Satoko turns her head a bit forward and adds that their friendship has completely ended. Rika looks in her direction and claims that she was going to say that. With a view of Hinamizawa from the road, Rena observes that no one has to do everything together until the end, "not even twins." Mion agrees that even twins and families can grow apart, but that does not mean their relationship is over. Keiichi adds that a friend is someone that even if you are not with or want to see again, when you do you know you will always have that relationship with him. Mion adds that "friendship" does not shackle you to someone: "If you think you always have to be with someone to be their friend, then I think you've got the wrong idea of friendship."

On the seat, Satoko's hand slowly moves towards Rika's. Her hand moves as well, and the two hold hands. For a moment they sit together with a bright white background that bleaches out the scene to return to the two of them as children sitting and holding hands.

The cherry blossom start to blow away in the wind in Hinamizawa. Rena stands at her usual place for waiting. She is in her late teens but dressed a hat similar to her older school cloths. She turns to wave at and greet Keiichi, who is dressed in regular clothes and asks her why she always has to be there so early. When he chides that she could sleep in once in a while she insists that she cannot today. The scene shifts to the waterwheel where Mion waits. She has a "letter" jacket on over a shirt with a large ring pendant around her neck. She brightens and teases that she is happy they are not late. Keiichi affirms that they would not dare to be, to which Rena affirms that they cannot miss the day when their friend embarks on her big adventure.

The scene shifts to the Furude Shrine, then to the house Rika and Satoko share. Rika silently dons her St. Lucia uniform as she regards herself in the mirror. She picks up her heavy suitcase and views her home. She sees the calendar that reads, "Sunday, March 29, 1987." She removes it from the wall and places it inside her suitcase. The scene shifts to the outside, then inside of a train station. There is a view of the placards that announce the train from Hikari to Tokyo arrives at 12:52 on track 16. Rika stands dutifully with her back to the tracks facing Keiichi, Rena, and Mion. Keiichi and then Mion encourages her to give it her best. Rena quickly descends into Cute Mode verging on Take Home Mode at the site of her uniform. Rika smiles and emits a "Mii" then adds that then she would not be able to take the train. Some distance away, Satoko stands next to one of the support beams watching. Rika looks towards her as the announcement for the train begins. The train arrives. Rika enters, turns to her friends, and formally announces that she is leaving. Satoko finally walks up to the group. Mion puts her arm around Satoko and teases her about just arriving when Rika will return in three years, "If she doesn't get held back, of course!" Rena's hands grab her left arm, and Keiichi's grabs her right, and the two drag off Mion who protests that she has not passed on Shion's message. Both scold her to let the two talk.

At the train entrance, Rika and Satoko watch this with some surprise. Satoko turns to Rika, smiles, and acknowledges that this is "goodbye," and she wishes that Rika will enjoy her life on her own. Smiling back, Rika quips that, unfortunately, she recalls that Satoko told her she would make many lovely friends there. Satoko affirms this, and Rika lowers her head sadly as she notes that Satoko will not be there. Satoko similarly lowers her head as she notes that Rika will not be here.

Rika raises her head with her eyes blazing. She notes that they are the only loopers in this entire universe. Satoko similarly raises her head with her eyes blazing and replies that because their lives are eternal, they will sometimes need to be apart. "So we don't grow sick of one another," Rika concludes. This will strengthen the bonds of their friendship, but Satoko vows that is she does not see Rika for a while, she will come looking for her. Rika replies that if she comes for her, she will run away; however, Satoko then states that Rika stops coming after her, Rika will find her. The scene focuses on a "split" of their faces, then focuses first on Rika's eyes, then Satoko's. Rika claims that if Satoko goes north, she will go south. Satoko replies that if Rika goes east, then she will go west. With an extreme focus on her eye, Rika vows that they will see each other again someday. "Sooner than we think," Satoko concludes with an extreme focus on her eye.

With this focus, the blazing in both of their eyes simultaneously fade. Their fingers of their respective left and right hands come together and their palms touch. Together they say "when whatever c ries."

They separate, Rika steps back, and the door closes. Satoko follows with her head as the train moves and the ending music [PUT HERE!] starts. She watches the train depart whilst behind her, Mion, Keiichi, and Rena also watch. The train moves through cherry blossom petals. The petals float in the sky as [SINGER HERE] starts. What follows is a montage of scenes. Some of the petals land on a path that a man is walking. It is revealed that it is Ōishi walking with Kumagai into the graveyard. Both carry flowers and buckets. Ōishi startles as he sees, from the opposite direction, Akane walking with Oryō. They pass one another without acknowledging the other, but Ōishi does emit a small laugh. He raises his flowers and wishes "everyone" a good year. Behind him and continuing to walk, Akane allows herself a slight smile.

The scene shifts to the outside of the school. As the cherry blossom petals continue to fall, Chie attends to the pea plants. She looks up and sees Tomita Daiki and Okamura Suguru, dressed in formal high school uniforms, approaching to help her. At a crossroads, Kimiyoshi Kiichirō chats with a middle-aged couple. A table has tea and a plate of ohagi. Maebara Ichirō enjoys the tea while Maebara Aiko smiles next to him. In a café, Mamiya Rina smiles as she sips her coffee, with Kasai Tatsuyoshi seated and reading a newspaper at the table behind her. He takes a sip of his own coffee and smiles. It is sunny outside the fictional Gogura Airport. Two men with ponytails walk down a corridor with suitcases. The one with a brown ponytail pauses, turns towards the viewer, removes his sunglasses, and smiles. A fist punches a heavy bag. Dressed in his karate gi, Akasaka Mamoru practices. Cherry blossom petals fall around the Irie Clinic. Irie Kyōsuke walks out of an exam room and closes the door. He startles, smiles, and says, "you've returned." A smiling Takano and Jirō stand at the doorway.

In the secret room in the basement of the clinic, Hōjō Satoshi, still without adequate airway control [Stop that! – Ed.], lays in his bed. The teddy bear intended for Satoko still sits on a shelf nearby. He opens his eyes, then, because he does not have adequate airway control, is able to inquire out loud where he is. As he rises from his bed, he asks where Satoko is, only to trip. As he falls, he lands on the cabinet which causes the bear to fall on his head.

The cherry blossom petals fall like snow on Hinamizawa. Dejected, Satoko walks alone, only to hear her name called out by Hōjō Teppei. She turns to see him approaching in his scooter, loaded down with actual groceries rather than booze and snacks. He stops and triumphantly displays the meat he bought on sale. Taking an attitude of a scold, Satoko demands to know why he bought so much. Teppei continues that he also has a bunch of vegetables that were on sale. He figured they could hold a sukiyaki party. Sighing, but blushing, Satoko haughtily declares that she is not quite in the mood for a party, only to be embraced from behind by Shion. She complains that she cannot believe her uncle Yoshi made her work so she could not see Rika off. She notes the amount of food Teppei bought and "hopes" he did not plan to eat it all himself. He laughs and invites her to join them.

Satoko turns away and sighs that this is really not for her: "It's about time for me to come after you, Rika." She raises her hand to the sky and looks up at it with her eyes blazing. With a view of the Hinamizawa rice paddies, the higurashi c ry. She closes her eyes and says, "enough, Hõjõ Satoko, I'll return yourself to you." Her fingers snap, the petals fly up to the air, and the higurashi d o what they d o. Credits start to form, and Shion and Teppei stare at Satoko with confused looks. Teppei finally asks her what is up, and Shion asks if she is feeling sick.

Satoko lowers her hand, looks at them with her normal eyes, the emits her patented laugh over her hand as she enthusiastically states that a sukiyaki party sounds lovely. She warns them that if they are not careful, she will steal all of the tasty bits from them. Teppei laughs that he bought enough to counter that. Satoko compliments him. Shion suggests that they invite Keiichi and Rena as well, then she adds inviting her sister. Satoko turns to see the three walking down the road. She calls out to them as the music swells. They approach excitedly chatting as the scene moves to the sky.

Outside the Furude Shrine, Hanyū sits upon the torii at the entrance. She smiles and giggles.