Nota Bene Multo Importante: with the New Fourth Season – Yay! – coming When They C ry Wiki will leave a "TBA" for the next episode until it actually comes out with an actual title, unless the name of the Arc is leaked earlier.

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Arg!

There is no Prologue, and the episode begins with the credits in the background without the opening title. In the Realm of Time Fragments, Satoko sits on a floating rock and looks at her right hand. Eua walks towards and above her on another rock as she suggests that the unbelievable sight of seeing her uncle reformed has left her faltering. Satoko sighs as she confesses that she never could imagine such a transformation. Eua gleefully explains that it was brought about by her power, and every time Satoko lives through a loop, the accumulated memories grow ever stronger and more widespread. Satoko deems it inconvenient, but she stands and declares that she will use her reformed uncle to his utmost potential. Eua asks if this means that Satoko does not find it is a problem. Without looking at Eua, Satoko dismisses the suggestion that it is a hindrance. "The true hindrance," she explains as she takes a step and jumps down to the larger platform, "is the birdcage, and this person in particular."

The fragment before her shows Takano clutching her scrapbook to her chest in the rain. The scene shift to an arial view of Hinamizawa with the date "Sunday, June 19, 1983" shown. A helicopter bursts into the scene. Takano, visibly angry, screams at Okonogi to explain what is happening. Okonogi calmly replies that it is over since Tomitake called the Banken who have just arrived. Takano protests over why the Yamainu do not fight back; Okonogi explains that as a counter-intelligence unit, they are not prepared to take on an elite squad trained for combat. The three Yamainu behind him look at Takano with similar expressions of distaste as Okonogi delivers his explanation. When Takano protests that they already captured Tomitake, one of the Yamainu explains that the Banken have already taken the Clinic and freed him. As Takano rants about not being told these details, the Yamainu with the radio phone receives a call. He turns to Okonogi to inform him that they have a call from their command vehicle.

Okonogi identifies himself as "Phoenix One," and the Yamainu on the phone informs him that "Cuckoo" has given the order to excute the plan "Cuckoo." Okonogi responds that he understands and promptly orders all units that the command vehicle and clinic have been compromised, and all are to surrender to the Banken. He ignores Takano's protests as he explains on the phone that all are to surrender their weapons and obey the orders of the Banken since the Yamainu have been defeated.

Takano continues her desperate protests. She demands Okonogi contact Nomura in Tōkyō who will send in units that can oppose the Banken. She insists that "R" is still alive so they can still execute the final operation. Okonogi calmly, but with irritation, interrupts her to insist that their final operation has failed. He explains that their job is done, as is hers. When she demands to know what that means, he explains that her job was to turn the scrapbook she holds into something of value.

He pulls it out of her hands and tosses it into the mud. She quickly bends down to retrieve it, but he slams his foot on it. He then calmly, but again with irritation, reveals that no one actually cares about it. She demands he remove his foot. He ignores her order and continues to explain that their clients simply wanted convoluted reports with obtuse terminology, then used her scrapbook to give those reports credibility which would deceive certain higher-ups who would not actually bother to read the reports. He concludes by acidly informing her that that was her only job.

Takano again demands he remove his foot. He curtly continues that no one actually cares about the Hinamizawa Syndrome or brain parasites; they simply wanted to use it for political purposes. "After all of this," he genially explains, "nobody will give a shit about the nonsense in there again." Takano whines that it is not nonsense and everything in the scrapbook is true. She grabs his leg as she insists that her grandfather's work was true, and they have finally arrived at the truth.

Okonogi stops her whining by kneeing her in her face, sending her into the muddy ground. He then adds that, "fortunately," their clients in Tōkyō still have one more job for her. He orders "this (これ・kore)" to his subordinate with the radio. The man without a word hands him a handgun. Okonogi removes the bullets from the clip save one which he chambers. He then throws it at the ground in front of her. She, kneeling in the mud, demands to know what this means. He asks her if she will kindly use it to blow out her brains. Takano reacts with horrified shock, but Okonogi reminds her that the "captain goes down with the ship." He then explains that with her death, his Yamainu and their client can blame the entire operation on her. Takano whines in protest, but Okonogi interrupts her as he draws his own handgun and supposes that she does not have to do it herself. He points his gun at her and explains that he tried to convince her to surrender, but she refused, fired, and, unfortunately, in defending himself he killed her. He then adds that he will explain he offered the gun to her out of gratitude for their many years as colleagues.

Takano protests in disbelief and demands to know who came up with this idea. Okonogi reveals that it was her "dear friend in Tōkyō," Nomura. Takano's pupils react as she realizes what this means. Okonogi continues by reminding her that Nomura's nickname is "Cuckoo" while hers is "Baby Bird." He reminds her of how the cuckoo acts as a brood parasite. As he picks up her scrapbook, he notes that the ejected host baby birds lie on the ground helpless and are often eaten by "wild mountain dogs": yamainu.

Stunned, Takano becomes silent, then falls forward. Okonogi continues his explanation that she never had any allies. She cries profusely as he tosses back her scrapbook. She clutches it to her chest desperately. He then orders her to take her "precious scrapbook" in her left hand while taking the gun in her right hand. She hesitatingly complies. Okonogi stands with his fellow Yamainu whose eyes are all now black. He explains that she has one bullet, and she should open her mouth and fire at the back of her throat. As she lifts the gun, Okonogi helpfully encourages her to hold it steady, and die. Horrified, Takano places the muzzle of the gun in her mouth and cries out in a sequence that When They C ry Wiki would render into an animated gif if not in possession of a soul or at least one not repossed recently. Her scream is cut off by the sound of a gunshot as the scene quickly shifts up to the rain falling from the sky. . . . . . then the still Nurse Takano dressed in her normal civilian clothes wakes up with a shock from having fallen asleep at her desk in the Irie Clinic. She looks around the room, then at her hands. She is interrupted by the phone ringing. From her black luxury car with the license plate "氷田50 24-73," Nomura introduces herself with the traditional "it's been a long time." Takano returns the greeting by declaring what a pleasure it is to hear from her. Nomura explains that she is checking up since their operation has entered its final stages. Takano tries to suggest that they still have a while, which Nomura coldly interprets a reticence. Takano quickly assure her that everything is unfolding smoothly.

Nomura shifts back to pleasant as she continues that they have completed the groundwork. She rhetorically asks Takano is she understands what that means. Takano again quickly replies that she does: it means there is no turning back. However, Nomura shifts back to cold as she informs Takano that she is wrong. It means that at the slightest hint anything can go wrong with their plan, they must immediately purge all physical evidence of the plan. She continues that this would also involve branding her grandfather's research as utter nonsense, "rendering it and him a laughing stock." Takano reacts to this threat with surprise as the scene focuses on her eye. In an immediate flashback, as a child, her eye peers through a door as she hears her grandfather explain that the parasites are unique to Hinamizawa. Prof. Glasses and Mustache slaps his report and declares it "absolute drivel." As Hifumi protests that there is more, he stands and explains that he and his colleagues only came because Koizumi asked them. As young Miyo watches, Prof. Glasses and Mustache insists that this "nonsense" is barely worth an academic audience. Prof. Balding stands and declares their meeting a waste of time. He mocks Hifumi by suggesting he take up bonsai as hobby instead of this research. Prof. Glasses stands and adds to the sarcasm by offering to refer his research to a publisher. As they laugh, Hifumi can only clench his hand. Prof. Glasses and Mustache places the paper on Hifumi's chest as he gives him his research back while denigrating even calling it "research." It drops to the floor, and Prof. Glasses and Mustache promptly steps on it.

He is followed by Prof. Balding and then Prof. Glasses. Miyo rushes in, kneels down and grabs at Prof. Glasses' slippers as she begs him not to step on it. She whines about how hard her grandfather worked. Hifumi kneels and embraces her as he apologizes to the men for her. He then announces that they are finished. The three leave. While Miyo cries, Hifumi apologizes to her for all of her hard work.

The flashback fades in white light to Takano still on the phone with Nomura. She whispers "Grandpa (おじいちゃん・ojiichan)." Nomura continues by rhetorically asking that Takano would never let that happen. She laughs after declaring how happy she is that there plan is unfolding. She then changes the subject to announce that someone critical to their first phase is headed to Hinamizawa: "Lieutenant Tomitake, and he's right on schedule." Nomura instructs her to proceed as planned. Takano closes her eyes and responds that the preparations are in place. She will inject Jirō with H173 under the guise of a prophylactic. Delighted, Nomura reminds her that his suspicious death is vital to the success of their operation. She ends that they will speak together again soon. Takano holds the phone for a moment thinking.

The scene shifts to her opening a safe. From it, she produces a briefcase which she takes to the dissection room. She keys in the code, opens it, then pulls out a large book. Irie enters the room from behind her. He apologizes for startling her. She smiles and replies that she did not mean to be startled. When she asks what he needs, he replies that Satoko will be coming by that afternoon for her check-up, and he would like to prepare. He then notices the large book with is a photograph album. She explains that it belonged to her grandfather. Irie confesses that he was aware of her parents but not her grandfather. Without looking at him, she responds that she has not looked at the album since he died, but for some reason, she decided to pull it out today. She smiles a bit as she admits that while it will sound childish, she promised to never open the album until she made their dream come true. Irie repeats the word "promise," and Takano quietly laughs as she notes that she broke that promise today: "Why, I wonder?" The scene focuses on her hand touching the album as she asks why did she want to see his smiling face so badly. Irie looks at her with a smile, then announces that he will handle preparing for Satoko's appointment. He leaves letting her know that he will be in the exam room if she needs him. She watches him leave with a slightly surprise look, but then she softens to a smile. She then starts to look through the album. There are pictures of her as a child with Hifumi in front of his home. She turns the page to see herself happily sporting a summer hat at a beach with Hifumi. She continues to turn pages with a look of sadness. There is a picture of Hifumi sitting and holding a book. This picture causes tears to well up in her eyes. One falls on the picture, and Takano starts to cry.

She is surprise to see an envelope on the facing blank page. She looks at it, and it is addressed to her: 「三四へ (Miyo he・"to Miyo")」

Outside the Irie Clinic, Satoko's voice complains that she knows that she has to go every week. The scene focuses on her stubbornly declaring that she is absolutely miffed that she must go for a check-up on her day off. Rika encourages her that it is important since they need to know that Irie's medicine is working. Satoko continues to complain that she complies but still does not know exactly what medication he gives her. Rika feigns that she does not know and suggests that Satoko might ask Irie, "Nipaa~!" Rika playfully skips to the entrance; Satoko watches her from behind with a serious look as she mutters, "you're such a liar." ] With first a view of the outside of the examination room, then inside, Takano, in her nurse's uniform, compliments Satoko. She then shows her the last Rorschach card and asks her what she sees. Satoko responds that she sees two butterflies, then explains that the two were apart for a very long time, but now they are happily together again. Takano smiles and replies that from the day's testing, she would conclude that everything looks quite good. Satoko thanks the medicine that "Coach" is giving her. Takano then reveals that they may be able to stop giving her injections; Satoko concludes that they can also stop submitting her to tests. Takano giggle and playfully asks if it is just that she does not like her.

Satoko does not react. She merely replies that it is not her. Takano smiles and laughs again, then she adds that she has some "good news": she is thinking of quitting her job. This does surprise Satoko. Takano maintains her smile as she emits a "Hmmm" then flashes back to her reading the letter she found. Takano hears the voice of Hifumi reciting that before his dementia steals everything he loves from him, and he can still remember that she is precious family to him, he wanted to express his thoughts to her in this letter. He expresses his pride and joy at knowing she is continuing his research. However, he does wonder if he or his research has robbed her of a wonderful life she could have had. Takano reacts to this. Hifumi continues that if that is the case, then his joy would turn to sorrow, and he would want her to stop pursuing their research. Takano continues reading as she sees the open photo album showing the picture of him with the book, and her as a child proudly holding up a certificate. As her gaze moves on to pictures of the two of them at the beach, his voice admits that he could never voice these worries to her. He asks how he could when she was so happy to pursue medicine to better assist him. He decides to leave it in the hands of kami-sama: should she find this letter, then he wants her to make this wish of his come true. Tears well up in her eyes as she gazes on his face and his voice apologizes for his weakness in entrusting his wish to the whims of fate. He concludes his letter: "To my beloved granddaughter, Miyo. Takano Hifumi (私の愛する娘 、三四. 高野一二三・watashi no aisuru musume, Miyo. Takano Hifumi)."

Takano starts to shake as she is bathed in bright light and her flashback ends. Back with Satoko, she sits for a moment with her eyes closed and with a smile. Satoko admits that she knows nothing about her circumstances, then she asks her if she really intends to quit. Takano responds that to be completely honest, she is not really sure herself. She then continues to explain that it seems that a group of people are using her passion to achieve their own malign goals. Satoko asks as an analogy if this group plans to dispose of "Takano-san" like the ingredients in soup stock. Takano smiles at the analogy and agrees that that seems to be the case. Once the stock is made, she adds, you throw them away. Satoko pleasantly retorts that one can use the ingredients to make something else. Takano laughs, then replies that you cannot use them like fresh ingredients. Satoko agrees, and Takano asks her what she should do now. She looks away, and admits that she does not know anymore. Satoko looks down.

The scene shifts to night with a view of the calendar reading, "Sunday, June 19, 1983." It is the Watanagashi Festival. Mion calls over to Keiichi as she stands next to Rena. Rena adds her encouragement that he not miss Rika's dance. In the crowd, Keiichi complains that he cannot move. Next to him, Satoko laughs, and teases about how he will never become the Club's next president with such meager abilities. Keiichi repeats the title with surprise, but Satoko coyly claims she said nothing then politely announces her departure. He watches her nimbly work her way through the crowd. Some distance away, Mion continues waving and teasing him that he will be left behind, while Rena adds her encouragement. Keiichi tries to tell himself to remain cool, but then starts forcing his way through the crowd with a yell. ..

. . . that fades into the scene change that has him catching his breath as he stands before Rena and Mion. Mion congratulates him then notices the absence of Satoko. Keiichi complains about how Satoko left him, yet now she is the one missing. Mion and Rena suspect that she is watching from someplace else. The drums open Rika's dance. Meanwhile, Jirō stands outside the Saiguden. There is noise behind him then the voice of Takano thanking him for waiting. He asks if she is satisfied, and she replies that she has no regrets. From the bushes, Satoko settles in to watch as Takano insists Jirō should have entered and looked as well. He locks the Saiguden and adds that he planned to take pictures of the cotton drifting. She interrupts him to tell him that she needs to tell him something. She explains that she has become involved in a conspiracy. This gets his attention, and she continues that it is called the "final operation." Satoko watches with a serious expression.

In the morning, Banken have secured various sites, and Okonogi surrenders to them. The scene dissolves into fragments as Eua asks if a world where the rules of "the cat's tragedy" no longer exist. She looks up at the fragments with satisfaction as she admits that she never expected her power could be used to achieve such results. Satoko interrupts to insist that it is not a laughing matter: "If Rika longs to escape, then the world becomes a birdcate spanning a century." If she longs for Rika to stay, then the birdcage opens and sets Rika free. Eua reminds her that the accumulation of memories cannot be undone. She adds that no matter how many times she loops, her "birdcage" is no longer certain to hold "the cat" prisoner. Satoko stands as she responds that that will not do since Rika is a miko of Oyashiro-sama, and wishing to abandon her village is an unpardonable sin. She adds that she will not forgive her for it either. With a happy "Hō!" Eua asks if Satoko intends to take on the name of Oyashiro-sama and enact her own curses. Satoko affirms that she will trap Rika in an endless cycle of tragedy again. She explains that she will learn through the tragedy that as long as she wishes to abandon Hinamizawa, the endless cycle of tragedy will continue as her eyes suddenly blaze red.

Eua giggles that just as Takano gave up on her desire to become a goddess, Satoko has declared it her will to do just that. She giggles again as she compliments Satoko that she never tires of her antics. She points her staff at Satoko and asks, "Oyashiro-sama," how will she enact her curse. Satoko calmly replies that she already knows how it can be done. A fragment materializes just behind her. In the fragment, Jirō nervously sits with Takano in her office with Takano dressed in her nurse's uniform.

He nervously laughs that the planned to head out to do that right away. She teases him that she knew he cared more about chasing birds than getting his injection. She tells him to wait as she goes to get it ready. In the dissection room, she keys in the code "13201234" to open a briefcase. It contains numerous empty syringes with the tag "H173." She picks up an ampule with that label and stares at it. Her eyes quiver as she inhales, then she closes them and replaces the ampule into its slot. She then closes the case which locks. After a pause, she leaves. From another hallway, Satoko enters the room with a determined look. Back in her office, Takano apologizes to Jirō that she must have left the medication in her room, and she will be right back. Meanwhile, in the room, Satoko starts keying the pad and snapping her fingers until she achieves the correct code and opens the briefcase. She removes an ampule and closes the case. Outside the clinic, she walks down the road holding a small case which she opens and inspects as the opening theme I believe what you said starts. The inside shows the pieces of a syringe and the an H173 ampule through the distortion of a time fragment as the credits role. Eua's voice concludes that Satoko now controls whether or not a tragedy will strike and upon whom it will strike. She sits in her chair staring at the fragment as Satoko stands some feet away from her. She asks Satoko if she truly will not feel guilt for using this method.

"Not at all (別にありませんは・betsuni arimasenwa)," she flatly responds, then insists that there will be no tragedy in the world where Rika and she are together. Eua laughs as Satoko continues to rhetorically ask that, "Anything that happens in the other fragments never really happens, right?" She insists that the world that she chooses in the end will be the only one that truly exists. She dismisses the previous worlds as nothing but dreams or hallucinations. Eua laughs but compliments her as possessing the competence to excel as one who lives in loops.

Satoko flatly asks how many times she must tell "Eua-san" as fragments gather around her. One shows Mion pleasantly chatting, while another shows Keiichi striding in the school hallway with Rena behind him. She continues: "One I decide to win, my victory is certain." A fragment shows Rika's face as Satoko affirms that she will live with Rika together in Hinamizawa. Another shows Rena in Cute Mode. Satoko looks up with her eyes blazing as she declares that that future is certain to happen. Eua giggles, and Satoko approaches fragments with a smile as she calls out for Rika, "my dear, beloved Rika," to wait for her. She throws up her hands declaring that their wonderful world is in reach as the scene pans upward, Asaka reaches her crescendo, and a fragment depicts the Satoko and Rika as children laughing as they hold hands. The scene fades to black as Asaka's voice fades.

Adult-Voiced Rika returns to announce the next season.