[One moment, Rika is peeling that forbidden date off of the wall calendar. July 1st... It's July 1st 1983. She's made it. Finally, after rerolling the dice for 100 years, she's taken a step into the future! She giggles, turning over her shoulder to wave the page triumphantly at Satoko.
Then wakes up underwater.
A ten year old girl pops to the surface, coughing out the water in her lungs. The cold of the lake has her briefly stunned, halting a mind that would otherwise be racing. Though dazed, Rika notices the floating jellyfish that pushes her out of the water. Glowing ink coats Rika's hair and hands, but that isn't what has her mind reeling. This isn't Hinamizawa? But how? Where is she? When is this? How is this possible?
Rika angles her head slowly, following the cliff trail. Unmoving on the jellyfish, as she still isn't sure how to move in this situation. This is hardly her first time awakening in a new world, but it's never been this new.]
This can't be... Did I... die? [The voice to leave her lips is much lower and more mature than her appearance might suggest. After receiving no answer, Rika swallows her nerves... then starts a quiet journey to the cliff.]
(01 a) The Caravan to Camelot
[Every step up the White Cliff was physically difficult, but reaching the top presents a psychological difficulty. Rika is not sure how to react to this situation. Sure, she has an inkling of what 'she' would do... But is that the same as 'Furude Rika?' Where are her friends? Surely they're here. Once she finds them, she'll be okay.
She tries to quietly sail through the situation with only a smile and soft 'meeps' in response, until she hears about her world;]
That can't be! [Her outburst is not in the cutesy child voice that has been nya'ing and mii'ing for the past hour. Rika pales, eyes wide with fright.] How... Why! I... We worked so hard for that world!
(02 a) A Carnival Unlike Watanagashi
[It's so easy to fall into a depression, isn't it? Rika had known that she couldn't peel her sadness off like she did that calendar date, but she had hoped it might be possible. She still holds the page for 'June 31st' in her hand, having been wrinkled and smoothed by tense fists many times over now. Standing at the carnival, the reality begins to sink in. This isn't Hinamizawa. Her home is in danger. That happy ending that she fought so hard for... It may be gone forever.
Her eyes dart between the more Western carnival stalls, reminded of Watanagashi. She can imagine her friends rushing between them, making up contests at each new attraction. Her feet know that pattern of walking between stalls. Before Rika can comprehend her own actions, she's standing at a stall with boba tea. She can hear her friends' voices in her mind, each of their silly reactions to this weird drink warming her paralyzed heart.]
Mii~ What a funny looking drink, isn't it? [A children voice slips out naturally in response to the imagined voices of her friends. Rika beams up at the person next to her.] It looks like frog eggs! Ribbit Ribbit~!
Rika Furude | Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni | Healing Magic
[One moment, Rika is peeling that forbidden date off of the wall calendar. July 1st... It's July 1st 1983. She's made it. Finally, after rerolling the dice for 100 years, she's taken a step into the future! She giggles, turning over her shoulder to wave the page triumphantly at Satoko.
Then wakes up underwater.
A ten year old girl pops to the surface, coughing out the water in her lungs. The cold of the lake has her briefly stunned, halting a mind that would otherwise be racing. Though dazed, Rika notices the floating jellyfish that pushes her out of the water. Glowing ink coats Rika's hair and hands, but that isn't what has her mind reeling. This isn't Hinamizawa? But how? Where is she? When is this? How is this possible?
Rika angles her head slowly, following the cliff trail. Unmoving on the jellyfish, as she still isn't sure how to move in this situation. This is hardly her first time awakening in a new world, but it's never been this new.]
This can't be... Did I... die? [The voice to leave her lips is much lower and more mature than her appearance might suggest. After receiving no answer, Rika swallows her nerves... then starts a quiet journey to the cliff.]
(01 a) The Caravan to Camelot
[Every step up the White Cliff was physically difficult, but reaching the top presents a psychological difficulty. Rika is not sure how to react to this situation. Sure, she has an inkling of what 'she' would do... But is that the same as 'Furude Rika?' Where are her friends? Surely they're here. Once she finds them, she'll be okay.
She tries to quietly sail through the situation with only a smile and soft 'meeps' in response, until she hears about her world;]
That can't be! [Her outburst is not in the cutesy child voice that has been nya'ing and mii'ing for the past hour. Rika pales, eyes wide with fright.] How... Why! I... We worked so hard for that world!
(02 a) A Carnival Unlike Watanagashi
[It's so easy to fall into a depression, isn't it? Rika had known that she couldn't peel her sadness off like she did that calendar date, but she had hoped it might be possible. She still holds the page for 'June 31st' in her hand, having been wrinkled and smoothed by tense fists many times over now. Standing at the carnival, the reality begins to sink in. This isn't Hinamizawa. Her home is in danger. That happy ending that she fought so hard for... It may be gone forever.
Her eyes dart between the more Western carnival stalls, reminded of Watanagashi. She can imagine her friends rushing between them, making up contests at each new attraction. Her feet know that pattern of walking between stalls. Before Rika can comprehend her own actions, she's standing at a stall with boba tea. She can hear her friends' voices in her mind, each of their silly reactions to this weird drink warming her paralyzed heart.]
Mii~ What a funny looking drink, isn't it? [A children voice slips out naturally in response to the imagined voices of her friends. Rika beams up at the person next to her.] It looks like frog eggs! Ribbit Ribbit~!