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Arg!

The episode does not have a true Prologue; it opens with credits in the background as a direct continuation of the previous episode.

In the study guide section of the bookstore, Satoko repeats Rika's phrase "dream." She confesses that she does not understand what Rika means. Rika explains that for a very long time, she has thought that one day she will be able to leave the village and experience life as she has never before. As Satoko looks at her with surprise, Rika happily explains that she wants to wake up in the morning, turn the page on the calendar, and wonder how the day will unfold. Her new reality will be something she could not have imagined. She concludes that she wants to attend a school where she can live that life. She adds that, of course, she wants to go with Satoko, "Nipaa!"

Satoko replies that she understands why Rika dreams of such an experience. She initially blames the quality of games they have played recently in the Club. "Even so," she continues as she slams the exam book into Rika's chest, she insists that they have quite a while before they need to worry about high school entrance exams since they have only just begun middle school. Rika suggests that Satoko just does not want to study for the exams and just thinking about studying gives her a headache.

Embarrassed as the scenepans over study guides, Satoko tries to insist that studying is easy for her. She then retorts that she knows Rika hates studying more than anyone else. Rika patiently admits that Satoko is correct, but she then adds that she was never allowed to leave Hinamizawa, or even say that she wanted to leave. Despite her hatred, Rika vows that she will study to make her dream come true. She would also like, if possible, to make her dream come true with Satoko.

Satoko stares in surprise for a beat, then looks down with her eyes closed. She remarks that Rika is as stubborn as ever. As the Happy Music enters, she takes the guide from Rika, and haughtily agrees to join her. When Rika excitedly asks if she is being true, Satoko wonder if she can keep up, but then suggests that she expects Rika to give up soon. Rika promises that she will work hard to pass the exam.

Satoko opens her eyes. With a view of their school, Keiichi is heard commanding the class to stand and bow at the conclusion of the day. Inside, Satoko starts to tell Rika that they will have a Club meeting, but Rika quickly runs up to address their teacher. Satoko watches with surprise as Rika asks Chie for help with a problem. With a scene "wipe," Chie assures Rika that while the problem looks hard initially, if she uses a formula she points to, it is simple. Satoko watches bored with her head on a desk and muses that studying this hard cannot be good for Rika's health. Rena walks up to her with Keiichi, and Keiichi asks what Rika is doing. Satoko sighs that she is preparing for high school exams to Rena's surprise since they are a few years off. Satoko replies that she has already told Rika that. Keiichi turns back to her and asks which school Rika aims for, "The same one Mion's going to in Okinomiya?"

Satoko pulls out a brochure and hands it to him. He and Rena look it over, and Rena says the name as a question, "St. Lucia Academy?" She thinks out loud that she has heard that name before, and Keiichi quickly answer.png.pngs that it is the same school Shion attends. Rika walks up happily confirming his guess. She adds that it is a boarding school for "well-to-do young ladies." Semi-chibi, Keiichi quickly declares that Rika would fit right in. Rena looks over the brochure and enters Cute Mode over the architecture. Rika admits that she fell in love with it the moment she saw the pictures. When Keiichi notes that it is a school for the "super rich" like the Sonozaki, Rika explains that Irie will pay for both her and Satoko to attend. Rena wonders how his bank account will survive, but Keiichi comes to a realization and asks in shock if Satoko really also plans to attend. Feigning disinterest, Satoko responds that while she is unsure the academy will be fine enough for her, she could not turn down Rika's earnest request. Keiichi suggests that they can argue about whether or not Satoko is a fine lady, to her irritation, later. He notes that they will have to score high on the test. Satoko leaps to standing and laughs her patented laugh as she boasts that she can achieve a perfect score in her sleep. Rena tries to stifle a laugh.

Rika seriously insists that she wants to make her dream come true. She then asks Keiichi and Rena if it is okay to request help from them. They quickly agree. Keiichi notes that his old school was pretty rigorous, so now he can put that experience to work. Rika bows to him as she thanks him. Keiichi turns towards Satoko and vows to train her brain as well. Sweating, she asks that he go easy on her. Keiichi then declares that the day's game will be "endless English word chain." Both Rena and Rika raise their hands in excitement, but Satoko watches with a look of disappointment. She looks down and muses out loud that she suspects that Rika's passion for study will not last long.

The clock at night approaches 2:00 A.M. Satoko tosses a bit and awakens to find Rika's bed next to her empty. She calls out to her as the sits up. She searches asking if she has gone to the bathroom. She makes her way downstairs to find, to her surprise, Rika working on algebra problems. With a scene wipe, she approaches her calling her name. Rika turns surprised, but finds that Satoko is now holding her study guide. Satoko gently concludes that this is why Rika has not been sleeping well. She sits down next to her and scolds her for hiding this from her since they plan to attend the same school. Rika emits a happy "Mii," then admits that Satoko is a formidable rival when she starts to get serious. Satoko lets out her laugh as she replies that Rika knows that she will do anything to win a game or challenge. What then follows is a happy montage of the two studying over the ensuing months then years. When They C ry Wiki will note the copious amount of cute but emphasize that Satoko keeps up with the study during this period. The calendar reads "Monday, March 1, 1987. Off-screen, Rika tells Satoko it is the day and she needs to hurry; Satoko insists that there is no need to rush. Rika takes Satoko by the hand and insists that she cannot wait as Satoko protests.

On the grounds of St. Lucia Academy, many girls with parents gather with the slightly older Satoko and Rika among them. When a somewhat awed Satoko observes that they have arrived, the awed Rika asks her if she brought her temple charm. Satoko notes that the results are already determined. Rika understands, but she remains nervous. Satoko tries to cheer her up by reminding her that they have both spent the last two and a half years working hard. She then holds up Rika's hand that holds her exam number and warns her to brace herself as she leads her to the posted results. The two stare at the large board of posted numbers. Some girls react in success and failure. Rika's ticket shows her applicant number is "2421"; Satoko's shows "3670." Rika, to her delight, finds her number listed. Satoko congratulates her, and Rika replies that it is her turn. Satoko turns serious as she raises the question, purely for hypothetical reasons "of course," what if she did not gain admission? She realizes that they would become separated. Rika insists that that will never happen. Satoko feigns confidence and adds that she would never let Rika show her up. Rika happily agrees, and with her patented laugh, Satoko runs off to "get a better look." As she runs off, Rika stares after her. At the boards, as she scans the numbers, Satoko rationalizes that, though she hated studying, she gave it her best. She continues that she cannot bear the thought of being separated from Rika as the music grows discordant. She suddenly startles in utter shock.

Rika runs up to her, and Satoko turns to her with tears flowing from her eyes. She finally smiles that she got in. The scene fades around the two to leave them in focus as Rika hugs her in silence.

The cherry trees shedding their petals marks the next passage of time as the unseen principle of St. Lucia's reminds entering students that the academy focuses not only on academics, but on manners and bearing. Rika listens with rapt attention while Satoko covers a yawn. She turns back to ask Rika how long her boring speech will last. Afterwards, the scene focuses on various girls meeting one another all bathed in sunlight streaming in from the windows. Satoko rejoices the end of the introduction and jokes that if it had continued much longer, she would have employed traps to liven things up. Rika jokingly sympathizes with "poor, poor Satoko." Satoko suggests that if Keiichi were the principle, it would have at least been a lively speech. While Rika agrees, she notices two students bid farewell with a more formal "good tidings to you (お気でよう・okideyō)," followed by a bow. Satoko stares at them a bit and observes that it is a strange way of saying "goodbye." Rika remains captivated by all of the events. She responds that she should go to her dorm room. Satoko agrees that she, too, must return to hers, but she finds it unfortunate that they have separate rooms. Rika reminds her that they will share classes, and Satoko chides herself for being selfish. As they depart, Satoko utters the less-formal farewell, which Rika repeats, with her habit of using "nanadeso." However, Satoko turns in surprise as she hears Rika greet another student with the more formal greeting. She smiles as she compliments Rika for being the good actress that she is.

With the bells ringing at 6:50 A.M., students make their way down the long walkway, With bells ringing again just after 8:29 A.M., Satoko sheepishly enters a classroom wth chatting classmates. She sees Rika reading at a desk, but when she starts to greet her, the teacher commands all to take their seats then admonishes against personal conversation after the bell. The various chatting students quickly separate, and Satoko sighs as she takes her seat. The teacher lectures on set theory. In front of Rika, a girl with "corkscrew" twin tails dutifully takes notes. Satoko, however, is bored and doodles a teddy bear. With a flash indicating the passage of time, she finds it difficult to remain awake, then, after another, yawns. Finally at 8:55 A.M., the bell rings. The teacher looks over the class, then notices Rika. She asks her to lead the formal ending. She dutifully stands, and her bearing elicits an admiring gasp from other girls, including Corkscrew Twin Tails-Chan. Satoko's notes consist of the two unfinished basic algebra equations with doodles of a fish, the teddy bear with wings surrounded by stars and hearts, a smaller fish, a bird with three large eggs in a nest, a person with glasses, and a dog with the kanji for dog. She closes her book while lamenting about how anyone could know class could be this exhausting. She gets up to turn to Rika only to find her surrounded by six admiring girls. Along with Corkscrew Twin Tails-chan, Long Braids-chan invites her to join them in the "salon" for tea. Unkempt Brunette-chan reassures her that the upperclasswomen will not mind. Corkscrew insists that it will be a great practice for when she enters high society. Rika pauses a bit, then looks towards Satoko. Satoko feigns disinterest as she tells Rika to go since it will be a great experience. Rika turns back and starts to ask if it is really okay for her to go. She starts to use her characteristic "boku" but stops and switches to the more acceptable "watashi," as explained below in the Trivia, to politely ask if it is really acceptable to come. The trio insist, and Rika turns to invite Satoko, but she continues to feign disinterest in such "stuffy affairs," and turns away. Visibly disappointed, Rika says her name, but the trio and others turn back to her to also invite her to debate in the salon.

As they leave, Satoko maintains her back turned towards them. She mutters out loud that Rika is still living her dream, and she should let her do as she pleases. She then looks at the backs of the girls walking the corridor. Rika appears highlighted by the sunshine through the window. Satoko continues to muse that she is sure Rika will eventually tire of "this fanciful, overblown world." A view of the outside, then school girls without their blazers mark a passage of time. In the salon now dressed in just their blouses, Rika opines to the trio that they are all led to believe that no matter how fiercely they struggle and resist, they cannot change the results of the dice that are cast. The trio listen with rapt attention. Rika concludes that that is her definition of "fate," then sips her tea. Unkempt Brunette-chan happily replies that she is always moved when she listens to Rika's outlook on the world. Long Braids-chan agrees and declares Rika's debate skills to be unrivaled. Corkscrew Twin Tails-chan cannot believe they are the same age. Rika looks up from her tea satisfied. The music turns ominous as the scene pulls back to reveal Satoko watching from a window. She has an expression of displeasure. She is interrupted by the teacher calling her. In the midsts of the trio laughing, Rika suddenly turns and notices the teacher talking to Satoko. She cannot hear the conversation; she can only see the teacher turn and Satoko lower her head and follow. One of the trio asks her what is wrong, but Rika insists that it is nothing.

Outside, the teacher informs Satoko that, starting the next day, she must attend study hall after school. Satoko looks down as she asks that she needs to study even harder. The teacher suggests that she already must know why she is telling her this. Her grades have dropped dramatically since the first day of school. If they do not improve, she continues but leaves the obvious consequences unstated. Satoko angrily insists that she studied very hard to get in. She cannot understand that she must study even harder. Unfazed in a manner that suggests to When They C ry Wiki that she is somehow related to Officious Glasses-chan, the teacher concludes that Satoko has missed her point: no one will force her to attend the study hall. Satoko takes the bait and proudly declares that she will not attend. Without a change in emotion, the teacher interrupts her to inform her that she will just need to come to the faculty office and submit her formal withdrawal from the academy. The stuns Satoko, and the teacher affirms that she can leave the institution: "The choice is yours."

She turns and walks away. Satoko bows her head and clenches her fists. Night passes, then the bell rings just before 3:00 P.M. A sullen Satoko packs up her bag and stand up from her desk. Before she leaves, Rika calls out to her. Without turning, she asks Rika what it is about. She then turns with a dark look. Concerned, Rika offers to help her if she is having trouble with her studies. Behind her stand the trio with another student who appear to gaze at Satoko with less-than-cordial expressions. With suitable music, the scene darkens to obscure Rika and highlight the other girls staring at her. Letting out her patented laugh, to the surprise of other students near her, Satoko insists that Rika not belittle her. Rika is not the only one who has become quite busy after school, she insists. She turns away as she tells Rika not to make assumptions. As she leaves, Rika reaches out her hand, but Corkscrew remarks about how "unbecoming" her laugh was. She continues that she cannot believe that such a girl was deemed fit to attend their academy. As Satoko continues to walk away, Long Braids encourages the others to retire to the salon. Rika continues to stare after Satoko with her hand up. She lowers it, then meekly agrees.

Outside the Study Hall, Satoko pauses. She takes a deep breath and enters. She finds a stack of papers on a desk, with the room full of girls intently scribbling. None acknowledge her nor look away from their work. She sweats a bit, then turns to the stack of papers. They are the "St. Lucia Academy First Semester/Midterm Supplementary Practice Problems." She takes one set and sits at a desk. With a sad look, she stares out of the window whiich shows blue sky. It transitions into sunset as a passage of time. Satoko dutifully works at the problems. The window shows night. Satoko gasps a bit then wonders, out loud, if this will be every day. The girl next to her ask her if she is a first year student. Satoko responds that she is, and the girl opines that there is still hope for her. She explains that most of the girls in the room were pulled out of the Regular Class when they started their second year. This surprises Satoko. The girl continues that prestige matters more than anything for the academy, so if she cannot meet the standards, they will not allow her the honor of graduating. The girl continues that a lot of the girls in the room come from wealthy families which prevents them from dropping out. She adds that it is not like they can either since their parents are paying this expensive tuition. Struggling students like them have to spend all of their time studying just to stay. She turns to Satoko and urges her to work hard. If she can get her grade up, she will be fine. If not, she will get dropped into the Special Class (特別クラス・tokubetsu kurasu) like the rest of them. Satoko looks at her with concern and repeats "Special Class" as a question. "If that happens," the girl continues, "then kiss goodbye to the free time you have in the Regular Class."

The higurashi c ry as the scene focuses on a building, then on a window which shows Rika talking with Corkscrew Twin Tails-chan. Satoko watches her from the outside with her hand resting on a tree trunk. She stare with her left eyebrow twitching. She can see that Rika is at a table drinking tea whilst chatting with the happy Corkscrew Twin Tails-chan, Unkempt Brunette-chan, and Long Braids-chan. "Hey, Rika (ねー梨花・nē Rika)," she asks out loud as she watches Rika happily chat, "do you remember what you said to me?" A lone higurashi sits on the tree. "You said you wanted to experience this life together with me," Satoko continues.

Satoko repeats, "Hey, Rika (ねー梨花・nē Rika)," then, "this (これは・kore wa), . . ." as her eye opens wide, the c ry of the higurashi increase, and the scene cuts to black as she completes the sentence "is the same (同流ことです・dōryū koto desu)," and the End Titles start.

Adult-Voiced Rika returns to announce the next chapter.