[Level E]

The below message is a section from the Sound Novels titled: Staff Room. It appears once you have completed this chapter.

■スタッフルーム / 『ひぐらしのなく頃に解』罪滅し編

Hello, this is Ryuukishi 07.

Allow me to thank you for playing Higurashi no Naku koro ni KAI Tsumihoroboshi-hen, it is much appreciated.

Within this scenario, there were a few themes I would like to express further, but among them, I’ll choose this one: I would like to write about the rejection of murder. As long as I am writing under the category of disturbing serial murder novels, this will be a topic I would need to reflect upon.

Recently, especially among minors, there have been many who seek to quickly resolve their problems with the following two methods: “murder” and “suicide.” When we are burden with stress, we choose to either eliminate the source of, or choose to run away from the source of the stress.

For example, let’s say there was a person who is being teased at school.
Here he has two options: “eliminate” the teaser from his present environment, or choose to “run” from that environment. Many teasers are mostly likely good fighters, so even if the person challenges him alone he cannot “eliminate” the problem. Moreover, changing class or quitting the school is not something most people can do, so to “run” is not possible.

As a result, their daily situation continues to worsen, and their bodies begin to yearn for a quick resolution to the escalating stress. As result, the speedy answer of “murder” and “suicide” begins to emerge.

If that person believes “suicide” is giving in to the situation, then they may desire to at least make a standoff with “murder.” Lately, I believe there are many who think this way. However, the reality is committing a “murder” is not a sin that is redeemable.

I believe this person who is about to kill knows this very well.
They act upon this their intense hatred towards the person who cornered them and that they only see murder as an option; their resolve for this came after realizing this will destroy their entire life.

But, of they have such a powerful resolve, before they resort to the final measure of “murder,” there is one step I would like them to take:

Rely on your friends.
If that cannot do, rely on your family.
If that cannot do, rely on your teachers. …and even if that cannot do?

No, there has to be many more who they can rely upon still.

If they can rely upon “murder,” and have the resolve to abandon their entire life, there has to be more they can do!

Heisei Japan has become a good world. There are several established hotlines for these concerns; so even if you don’t have friends or family, there is a place ready for you to rely upon.

The person on the other side of hotline is not a nobody.

They may be volunteers but, they are all veterans who have worked many years as Probation Officers or with the NAYD. I can safely say, these people have rich social experience and passion, even more so than your parents!

They can’t be bad people as they take on this job for free!

If you think that your only choices are to “kill” your adversary, or to “kill” yourself, please as a last hope, try to give them a call. The ones who believe it is useless to consult others, are the ones who need to open their hearts.

Be brave and give them a call.
On the other side of the phone, there will be an unbelievably dependable friend waiting.

“Don’t torment yourself, and talk to someone.”

Just to deliver this message with a long drawn out story like this one, it’s probably fair to say, this person who names himself Ryuukishi 07 isn’t a blessed writer...

That being said, Ryuukishi 07 seeks advice from you as well.
How do I write a more interesting story…? (bitter laugh)

０７ｔｈ　Ｅｘｐａｎｓｉｏｎ
竜騎士07
Ryuukishi 07