Chapter 123: The Price of Ignorance
From Alex's perspective, the eoryline of Higurashi: When They bsp;was, realistically speaking, her stifiagical.
The reason was simple: the so-called “Hinamizawa Syndrome” was studied by a group of amateurs—or, as Alex would call them, "sed-rate hacks."
First, there was Hifumi Takano, the one who proposed the existence of the syndrome. He rofessor, but at best a mediocre one, with no signifit reputation in academia. This ck nition was another reason his theories were ridiculed by experts. While the story attributes this to orders from powerful anizations behind the ses, the truth was simpler: his academic standing wasn’t enough to and respect. If someone like Stephen Hawking casually made such a cim, who would dare dismiss it ht? But with Takano? It was ughable.
Then there was Miyo Takano, Hifumi’s adopted daughter and a graduate in parasitology. However, Alex saw her as someone who had never led a legitimate experimental research group. At most, she was like the manager of a small, low-budget b. As for Dr. Irie, he was even less relevant—a psychiatrist whose field didn’t align with the research. Sure, he could evaluate the psychological states of patients, but when it came to studying parasites and brain fun? He might as well go bad read a few more research papers first.
To Alex, the eory boiled down to this: a mediocre professor jured a hypothesis out of thin air, duped his adopted daughter into believing it, and then she, with her ragtag team of amateurs, set out to vihers. The whole process cked stific rigor or proof and instead resembled a fanatical religious movement.
It was no wohe vilgers of Hinamizawa were fooled. Put this in the academic world, and a single ference’s worth of questions would have sent them pag. Not even quantum meics got away with suonsense.
Ignorance was the real culprit here.
There was nothing worse than so-called “experts” with low academic standards who still mao cause harm.
While Alex was internally critig Miyo Takano and her group, Rika Furude was stepping out of Dr. Irie’s ic, her face pale and drained of color. Just moments ago, she had learned of a tingen within their overarg scheme, something called “Dot No. 34.” This pn stiputed that if the queen carrier—herself—were to die actally, the entire vilge of Hinamizawa would be “disied” with toxic gas to prevent any potential outbreaks.
From Alex's perspective, the existence of such a pn only highlighted Miyo Takano’s inpetence.
Yes, quarantine and "disiion" were standard measures iaireme cases, but this was far from professional. Even in the worst-case sario, such a drastic measure should only be employed after a major outbreak had been firmed. That way, higher authorities might reassess Takano’s research, possibly even fund further studies. This would have been the best oute for her career.
But what had Miyo Takano done instead?
She submitted a preemptive “disiion pn” to act just in case—an approach that was not only reckless but also highlighted her ck of intelligend fht.
This raised questions. Was she simply a product of a sed-rate biology program at some obscure institution? Or did she herself doubt her adoptive father’s hypothesis, res to such extreme measures to cover her bases?
Alternatively, it ossible that rival fas within her anization had iionally created the dot to discredit her. Yet, as the lead researcher, Takano had failed the fws in “Dot No. 34.” That alone spoke volumes about her petence—or ck thereof.
Rika, of course, was unaware of Alex’s thoughts. But now, for the first time, she felt an overwhelming sense of fear. This fear only deepened when Dr. Irie informed her that funding for the Hinamizawa Syndrome research would cease in three years. Rika couldn’t help but recall Alex’s earlier words, her unease growing stronger.
“Could it be… that it really was Takano… who killed me and… everyone else?”
The more Rika learhe more her perception of reality wavered. She had always regarded Takano and Irie as her most dependable allies. But now, she began to suspect that the very foundation of her trust could be her greatest threat.
“Hanyuu! Hanyuu!”
“I’m here, Rika.”
At Rika’s desperate call, a figure quietly appeared beside her.
“What do you think? Do you really believe Takano is the culprit?”
“I don’t know, Rika…”
At Rika’s question, Hanyuu lowered her head, her voice filled with uainty.
“But… I just thought of something… Remember? In all our previous loops, the same thing happened after the Cotton-Driftiival—Tomitake always died, and Takano disappeared… But this year is different. Tomitake didn’t die, and Takano didn’t disappear. Instead, the teacher was attacked…”
As she spoke, Hanyuu bit her lip and ched her fists tightly.
“To be ho, everyone knows about the teacher being attacked. If he weren’t so capable—able to fend off so many attackers—what would have happened? Would we have woken up the day to the news of the teacher’s death, with Takano going missing again? And haven’t we always found it strange why the ‘Mountain Dogs’ attacked the teacher? If Takano ulling the strings behind the ses…”
“You’re saying…”
Rika’s expression shifted as she began to ect the dots.
“Takano… She didn’t actually die in the previous loops? But the police…”
“Didn’t the teacher say? It was just a burnt corpse, impossible to clusively identify as her. And if there were people on the i the police, tampering with evidence would’ve been child’s py.”
“Takano…”
At this realization, Rika bit her lip hard. If she had been doubtful before, she was now almost certain that Miyo Takano was the mastermind. But… even if that were true, what could she do? Should she go to the teacher for help again?
Thinking about Alex, Rika frowned, her face showiation. His sharp judgment and vast knowledge had made Rika realize that this man—someone who had never appeared in any of her previous loops—might just be the key to breaking the endless cycle. Yet, fully revealing everything to him made her uneasy.
Rika could trust Keiichi, Rena, Mion, and Satoko without hesitation; their bond of friendship and trust had been fed through nearly a tury of loops.
But Alex… This was his first appearan her looping world. How was she supposed to face him? While his as had already ged the fates of many—saving Rena and resolving Shion’s crisis, for instance—Rika still couldn’t fully let her guard down. Especially regarding Shion. Rika didn’t know what Alex had said to her, but Shion no longer viewed the Sonozaki family as the culprits behind Satoshi’s disappearance.
“Ah…”
Letting out a long sigh, Rika approached her home, her face softening into a cheerful smile. No matter what, she couldn’t let her closest friend see her troubled expression. Satoko would undoubtedly worry.
“I’m back, Satoko~ Mi~pa!”
“Wele home, Rika! Dinner will be ready soon!”
Hearing Rika’s voice, Satoko smiled brightly from the kit, waving at her.
“Wow, that’s amazing! Satoko’s dinners are the best in the world!”
“Oh-hohohoho, just you wait! I’ll make the most delicious dinner ever!”
Watg Satoko turn back to her cooking, Rika let out a small sigh before g her fists tightly.
This time, she would succeed—no matter what.
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