Meaka shi-hen (目 明 し編, Eye Opening Chapter), is the first answer.png.png arc in Higurashi no Na ku Koro ni Kai, released on December 30, 2004, serving as the answer.png.png arc to Watanagashi-hen. It follows Himatsubushi-hen and precedes Tsumihoroboshi-hen. Told from Sonozaki Shion's point of view, it follows her life and her psychotic behavior caused by the loss of the person she loves, Hōjō Satoshi.

This arc confirms that Satoshi did kill his aunt, and that he saved and withdrew money to buy Satoko a teddy bear. He was not planning on running away when he disappeared. Shion and Mion's estrangement, such as why they go to different schools, is also explained.

Sonozaki Shion escapes from her private school to return to Hinamizawa. During her time there, she meets Satoshi, who protected her from a group of thugs. She also begins borrowing her twin sister Sonozaki Mion's identity, eventually taking over her life as her paranoia increases. This arc reveals that because Mion and Shion switched occasionally, and that their own names were reversed, Shion (the twin we know as Mion) was given the demon tattoo instead of Mion (the twin we know as Shion).

The twin in Wata naga shi-hen who tortures everyone is actually Shion dressed as Mion. She imprisons Mion in the cellar the day after the Watanagashi Festival which means that all occurrences of "Mion" afterwards in Watanagashi-hen is Shion acting as her. Shion switches places with Mion one final time and tells her to go down the well and apologize to Satoshi, only to tase her at the edge of the well and causing her to fall to her death. Shion is later rescued by police, appearing as if she was kept prisoner as Mion, which leads everyone to believe Shion was the true culprit who fell down the well and broke her neck.

While tormented by her consciousness which, Shion continues her vendetta and stabs Keiichi in the stomach declaring that she succeeded in killing all she targeted for the responsibility of Satoshi’s disappearance as she laughs maniacally and asks Satoshi to praise her. When she tries to sneak into her apartment through her window to avoid police surveillance, she slips and falls. As she falls, she sees Satoshi’s smiling face in the moon and tearfully apologizes to him before falling to her death.

Recovering in the hospital, Keiichi hallucinates "Mion" torturing him and dies from an apparent heart attack.

In 2007, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri (ひぐらしの な く頃に祭, When the Cicadas C ry Festival) included an adaptation of Meakashi-hen, which was adapted for all console releases henceforth. This version of Meakashi-hen follows a non-linear storyline. Depending on the choice the player makes during game play, they can achieve different endings. The player must make the correct choice in order to reach the true ending, which corresponds to the one in the sound novel and the manga. In addition to the true ending, the player may also encounter the following alternate ending:

This ending is available if the player (Shion) "notices Keiichi's gaze", instead of "turning around to look at him", after she has captured Keiichi and is preparing to torture him towards the end of the arc.

In this ending, Keiichi realizes that the perpetrator behind the crimes is Shion disguised as Mion. When confronted, Shion is deeply disturbed and has a mental breakdown, only to claw at her throat and later die from the blood loss. The police arrive and rescue the survivors who explain that the real culprit is Shion. As the investigation resumes, Mion who is traumatized receives treatment and rehabilitation. Keiichi's parents decide to move back to Tokyo. He tells Rena and Mion about this and is disappointed by Mion's dejected reaction. Deciding to make some good memories and to cheer Mion up, Keiichi suggests they go on a short trip to a big city. Rena backs out and makes an exaggerated statement about how Keiichi and Mion should go "alone." Keiichi is embarrassed, thinking this may be a date, but he asks Mion to go with him regardless.

Mion later agrees, and the two have a fun-filled day at a big city together. After going all out at a game arcade, they stop at a park to rest and decide to have dinner before they leave. Mion excuses herself to go to the bathroom before they do so, and as Keiichi is considering their future after he moves to Tokyo, he is approached by an unknown visitor. Mion returns, only to find Keiichi unconscious and severely injured and it is implied that Keiichi may have died.

The identity of Keiichi's assailant remains a mystery in this ending, but was revealed to be Takano Miyo in Connecting Fragments in the console versions of Matsuribayashi-hen and Miotsukushi-hen.

All deaths and disappearances are listed only as they are told in Me aka shi-hen. Spoilers are only for the individual arc, not the overall series.

See Watanagashi-hen.

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