Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – Episode 24 [End]

Summary: Back from where the previous episode started, Akasaka and Tomitake are in a car racing against the clock to avoid being shot by the Yamainu. The Yamainu snipers who are originally aiming for them are mysteriously shot while the people in the other Yamainu van cannot shoot their car and Akasaka drives right past them. Shion and Kasai are in the forest further away having been the ones who just shot them.

Tomitake and Akasaka are in the city and are using their best efforts to get the organization known as “Banken” to come and assist them in defeating Takano. When the call is finished, they make their way back to Himizawa. Back in the forest, Okonagi is withdrawing his troupes much to Takano’s distaste. Behind them, is the group looking rather serious.

Mion steps up as the group leader and they all fight over what is going on. However, this does not last long and after an introduction of the group by Mion, Okonagi pulls out a gun and aims it at Mion. The Banken decide to arrive at this time with helicopters and Mion survives. While the Yamainu members are being rounded up, Akasaka goes up to Rika and she basically dives towards him crying. He also mentions something about Satoshi being alright or something like that which makes Satoko wonder what they are talking about. They then realize that Hanyuu is missing.

Takano and Okonagi is hiding somewhere else in the forest and Okonagi tells her that it is over and that they have been beaten. Takano still thinks that they can kill Rika yet Okonagi has pulled out of the game leaving Takano all alone in her mission. He throws her book into the mud and hands her a gun. The Himizawa Syndrome starts affecting her and she claws at her throat. Okonagi attempts to shoot her but she manages to dodge the bullet.

With just her remaining to be captured, she tries to escape but runs into Hanyuu with her eyes ablaze and Hanyuu interrogates her while Takano has flashbacks of her past with her parents, in the orphanage and with Dr Takano. After more discussion, everyone else runs up to Hanyuu and face Takano. She has now gone delirious and Takano pulls out a gun and aims it at Mion. Unsure what is going on, Mion covers the rest of the group in order to protect them. Hanyuu steps in front of Mion however and when Takano shoots her, the bullet is repelled off her and hits a nearby tree.

Takano is captured however she starts once again clawing at her throat. Everyone finds out that she has the Himizawa Syndrome also and that she should also be treated. Tomitake grabs a hold of her and hugs her. Everyone looks onto the two of them with a bit of happiness while Rika mentions the Watanagashi festival which for the first time in years, would not have a murder involved. During the ending sequence, it shows everyone in the group at the festival playing games and doing the ritual dance. A few days later, Rika and Hanyuu wake up with Satoko making breakfast. They go over to the calendar and rip off another day. The date is now 1st July 1983, they have beaten the endless June.

Miyoko walks up to a strange lady that looks a lot like Rika. She says some stuff to her which in the end, saves her life as they do not go on the bus ride that caused the death of both her parents. It is a happy ending for all.

Review: *Sigh* Another good anime is over and it is a real shame this series didn’t go for longer than 50 episodes. As a conclusion, it was rather well planned with Takano suddenly having a breakout of the Himizawa Syndrome as well as nearly getting killed by Okonagi. Shame we could not see Shion with more gun action or Hanyuu with her evil glare but as they say “All good things have to come to an end”.

I will do a full series summary in the next few days but I have watched this over a few times and I am now wondering about some things that they cut out of this series which include:

• What was Ooishi doing while everyone else was fighting Takano?
• What happened to Takano after she was caught?
• Is Satoshi’s (and Takano’s) Himizawa Syndrome cured or are they both locked up in the secret room by Irie and if they are cured, what are they doing now?
• Does Shion and Satoshi ever get together?
• What was the sequence after the credits and has Rika gone back in time to meet Takano to stop everything happening, and if so, what would happen to the world? (Who knows, might be a sign of an OVA series or something)

It has been a pleasure to bring this series to you and keep your eyes on the watch for my reviews on the Live Action Christmas event and Movie!

Related posts:

1. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – Episode 23
2. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – Episode 22
3. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai – Episode 20
4. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai – Episode 19
5. Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai – Episode 21