超ヒロイン戦記 - Super Heroine Chronicle/Flow Chart/Episode 30: Doubt (Meru Route)

Episode 29: Turbulent Shadow

[Bird noises]

Rem: That's the sound of a hornbill......? If we're still in Japan, that means it's early summer in the month of June.

Rem: At any rate, let's go out to the main road.

[The group reach a small village]

Lingyin: Wow, it's a countryside village!

Rem: The air tastes so clean here too.

Aria: !?

Aria: Wait! Everybody stop!!

Rem: What's wrong Aria?

Aria: I'm fine! Rika! Where's Rika!?

Lingyin: Who's Rika?

Hibiki: What's the matter Aria? There's no one called Rika among us, is there?

Aria: Wha....huh?

Dejiko: Usada's name was Rika, right nya?

Usada: My name is Usada Hikaru! Besides I've already told you, call me Rabi en Rose!!

Laura: Either way there's no Rika here.

Charl: The greenery is very pleasing to the eye.

Aria: Usada, Laura, Charl, are you still with us?

Laura: What are you talking about? Of course we are.

Aria: Umm.... But isn't there someone missing?

Lingyin: Who is it?

Kurumi & Haruka & Aoi: ?

Louise & Tifa & Siesta: ??

Puchiko & Houki & Sonico: ???

Shiryuki & Claude & Koto: ????

Meru: What's the matter?

Aria: (No......... Absolutely no one is missing!)

Aria: (Am I the only one who feel this way? And I've forgot something too......I know something, but I've forgotten it!)

Rika: Aria! Good, you made it!

Aria: Rika? You're Rika right?

Rika: Aria? Have you lost your memory?

Rem: Aria, what's wrong? Who's that girl?

Aria: I'm sorry, Rem! You'll have to wait for a bit! I have something important to say to her!

Rem:......Okay.

[Aria goes off with Rika]

Aria: What........Time has rewinded?

Rika: I'm sure Aria remembers. Tomorrow is the day of the Cotton Drift festival, and Aria repeated that day several times.

Aria: Yeah........After talking to you, I've remembered a little.

Aria: I have died here in Hinamizawa village. It was here that you and Satoko were killed, ugh.....

Rika: Aria has done a great job. I remember everything.

Aria: Rika, who are you? And what's going on in this village?

Rika: It's very sad.....But it will happen again.

Aria: That's not enough for me! Isn't that why you came back, to do something?

Rika: .......I want you to help Rena.

Aria: Rena?

Rika: Something is wrong with Rena. If things continue as they are, it is likely that Rena will...

Aria: Die....?

Rika: Do you remember Aria? You scratched out your throat and died.

Aria: Ah!!

Aria: That's right! I was confused and full of fear and doubt. I lost my mind and died in Hinamizawa. Is that going to happen to Rena?

Rika: Mii.........There's nothing I can do about it. Aria, I want you to meet with Rena.

Aria: All right, where should I go?

Rika: Rena is doing something at the Hinamizawa branch school. If you go there, you will see her.

Aria: The Hinamizawa branch school.....Hmm, I remember that!

Rika: I will take you to meet Satoko.

Aria: Hopefully everyone's memories will come back. I'll leave that to you.

Rika: We don't have much time before the Cotton Shed Festival. Let's do our best, Aria.

[Aria goes to find Rena]

Aria: The path to the Hinamizawa school is clear.......

???: It's this way.

Aria: !?

Aria: Rena.

Rena:......?

Aria: (I messed up! She'll be suspicious that I know her name! I can't let that happen!)

Aria: You're Rena Ryugu, right? I'm Kanzaki H. Aria. Do you remember my name?

Rena:......I don't know you? I wonder?

Aria: (Uh.....This feeling is...!)

Rena: What's wrong? I wonder?

Aria: (This is bad, she's suspect of me! If my memory is correct, I don't want to be suspected ..... If only!)

Aria: I was asked to come here by Rika from the old shrine. She wants me to meet you.

Rena: Rika?

Aria: That's right. Is there something you need help with?

Rena:.....

Aria: I'm a Butei, a person who is asked by the public to solve problems and issues.

Aria: Even if I don't look like it I'm a second year high school student! So I'm older than you!

Rena: Hmm, is that why you have a sword?

Aria:....Did you notice when you were standing behind me?

Rena: Yes. 2 of them.

Aria: That's right. You may not know me, but I know you.

Aria: Be careful, think carefully about what you need, and try to find the answer. Okay.

Rena: I'm suprised.........Is this our first time meeting? I wonder?

Aria: I'm going to tell you the truth. This isn't the first time we've met. I wonder if you'll remember it soon.

Rena: Yeah.....

Aria: What is it that's troubling you? Are you ready to talk to me?

Rena: Do I have to sign a contract? I wonder?

Aria: So you're hiring me as a butei. Okay, let's do it.

Aria: Article 2 of the Butei code, You must always keep uphold the contract with your clients. I will never betray you.

Rena: So, before we sign the contract, I'll tell you what I'm asking you to do.

Aria: It's good that you understand so quickly. There are some requests that you just can't sign.

Rena: The nature of the request is....

[Rena explains]

Aria: So... Are you being completely serious?

Rena: Yes. The worship of Oyashiro, the Oni-gakushiis done by worshippers to restore the faith in Oyashiro.

Aria: Are you saying that the Sonozaki family, Mion's family is the leader of this?

Rena: Yes. Oni-gakushi is the practice of erasing inconvenient people in order to conceal the secret, true identity of Oyashiro. They also use it to strengthen their faith.

Aria: You don't want to hide the identity of Oyashiro? Does that mean you know who they are?

Rena: Oyashiro the deity worshipped in Hinamizawa. But Oyashiro's true identity is not a god.

Rena: The worship of Oyashiro was the result of a parasitic worm virus from the Onigunuma.

Aria: A virus...?

Rena: A strange parasite that turns infected people into demons, who then attack other people

Rena: It was the Oyashiro who cured them in some way.

Aria: So do you think Oyashiro is a doctor or something?

Aria: If what you say is true, and it is made public, it will destroy the faith in Oyashiro.

Rena: That's why worshippers have been holding the Oni-gakushi every year to reinforce the belief in Oyashiro, and to weed out those who would become evil.

Aria: (Remove people who are evil? Are Satsuko and Rika really evil? And I didn't kill anyone else, I only killed myself, didn't I?)

Rena: I've been under surveillance for a few days now. I think it's probably the Sonozaki family.

Aria: The Sonozaki family....

Rena: That's why I wrote down all the facts in three notebooks, gave them to the police and asked them to search the Sonozaki family.

Aria: (The Sonozaki family: Mion and Shion. I don't think they are involved in the Oni-gakushi.)

Aria: (But if it was the parasite that Rena talked about which was driving me crazy, then what happened in previous time loops would make sense.)

Aria: (But I think there's something wrong with what Rena said. I just don't know what it is.)

Rena: So, I'll leave you to your first task miss Bueti.

Aria: Yes, what do I do?

Rena: First of all.....

[Back with the others]

Rem: This is the place! This is where Aria should be!

Tsubasa: She said she's hiding in that building, taking hostages.

Louise: What the hell are you doing Aria!!

Hibiki: Can't we just go in?

Aoi: There are Dejiko, Siesta, as well as Rika, Satoko, Mion and Shion from Hinamizawa, who are being held hostage.

Kurumi: And then there's Aria's accomplice, a girl called Rena Ryugu.

Charl: Rena Ryumiya has asked the police to forcefully inspect the Sonozaki house within 24 hours, otherwise she will blow up the building.

Puchiko: It's the same as a bank robbery.

Houki: I believe in Aria, but if we don't have a clear picture of what's going on, we don't know what to do.....!

Shirayuki: Rika said that Rena was a good girl.

Shirayuki: So I know that Aria and Rena are doing something meaningful. That's what I believe.

Koto: Shirayuki, do you have a psychic sense that can tell you what is going on?

Shirayuki: No, it's not a special power. I think it's more of a mutual undertsanding between shrine maidens? I'm sorry, I don't know.

Koto: Hmm, that's complicated. But if you say so, then I believe you!

Shirayuki: Thanks Koto.

Sonico: Even so this is still a big problem, isn't it? What can we do to get the hostages released?

Rem: The police have spoken to the Sonozaki family directly, based on Rena's order, and have determined that the Sonozaki family is not behind the Oni-gakushi.

Hibiki: In other words, the police won't act?

Rem: That's what it seems like.....

[Battle map]

Episode 30 Doubt

Rena: What are the police doing!? Don't they want to break into the Sonozaki house!!

Aria: Calm down, Rena! Even if you act like that, it's not going to work.

Rena: We don't have any more time!

Aria: Huh...

Rena: Aria, I'm going to tell you something I haven't told you yet.

Rena: In fact, the parasites are space men

Aria: Space men!?

Rena: They have dominated the human body through parasitism. But a man of sense saw this and tried to expose the truth.

Rena: They get rid of people who have a good instincts, they make copies, and they make it look as if they are alive.

Aria: (What are you saying....no matter how you look at it, doesn't that seem like a bit of a stretch?)

Rena: I am one of those intuitive people. That's why the parasite will exterminate me. I'll be dead by the end of the night with a hole in my neck.

Aria: !!

Aria: (That's the same as me! That's when I first met Rena! She was so confused that she tore open her own neck and died!)

Rena: Before then, I have to make the Oyashiro worshippers destroy the Sonozaki family. Don't you understand?

Aria: My contract with you is to protect Rena! I wont help you any more than that!

Rena: No, we have to work together. Otherwise Rena will die with the hostages when the bombs go off.

Aria: (Kuh...........Are you saying I'm too late? Rika!)

Rika: Aria....This is....

Rena: Shut up, Rika! If you don't keep quiet, the other hostages will end up like Mion over there, won't they?

Mion:.......

Shion: Rena.....why are you doing this?

Rena: Shut up! Sonozaki family!

Dejiko: I mean, why is Dejiko being held nya?

Satoko: Aria asked me to come to school with her and I found Rena in this situation....

Rena: Can't you hear me telling you to shut up!? Do you want me to put duct tape over your mouth? If being tied up is not enough for you.

Rena: If the police don't act, we'll die! Just wait like a good girl. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Aria: (Rena's thoughts are out of control......! The main problem now is that Rena herself is about to die from the parasite.)

Aria: (Rena is torn between the evils of the Sonozaki family and the unknowable secrecy of Hinamizawa.)

Aria: (How can I save her? Take a hostage......Rena!)

[Enemies spawn]

Aria: Eh!? What is this!? Rena!!

Rena: Ha-ha-ha-ha! They're on Rena's side, aren't they? That's good! Come on, protect her!

Aria: Rena! They're different!

Rena: It's Aria that's different, isn't it...?

Aria: Huh.....

Rena: We have a contract, don't we? You will protect Rena, won't you? You're not going to betray her, are you?

Aria:.....Yes. I will always keep my promises to my clients. So don't be too hasty, Lena.

Rena: It's obvious. If Rena blows this place up, the police won't act. I need you to do your job!

Aria: (If we don't get rid of at least one group of enemies, we won't be able to free the hostages! I'm counting on you all! Please!)

Victory: Defeat all enemies. Defeat: Alll allies defeated.

[Deploy]

Rem: I never thought they'd come out at a time like this!

Tsubasa: We can't help anyone with these things here!

Hibiki: Let's leave the inside to Aria and support her as much as we can!

Rena: There's people coming......Aria, aren't they your friends?

Aria: That's right. They've come to kill the evil ones.

Rena: They're protecting Rena too, right?

Aria: The police won't act if you're like that. It's the effect of someone who doesn't want the police to act!

Rena: Well, it wasn't Rena who called them, but I'm sure you did.

Rena: But if you try to do anything against Rena, you know what will happen, don't you?

Aria: I wish I could tell them that, but there doesn't seem to be any way to do that.

Aria: (There will definitely be opportunities during the fight. If I can make them into something....!)

[Defeat a couple enemies]

Rena: Hmmm, Aria's friends are strong.

Aria: You've fought together with them before. Don't you remember?

Rena: I don't know. Rena doesn't remember any of those people being in Hinamizawa.

Aria: It's not the first time we've met here. I'm sure you've been to Akihabara.

Rena: Akihabara? What's that?

Aria: It's a city with people like her.

Dejiko: Nyoi!?

Rena: Is there such a thing?

Aria: Yes, there are a lot of good things. Don't you remember anything about that place?

Rena: Dejiko.....?

Dejiko: I just want someone to take it home from here nya.....

Rena:....

Aira: (Rena.......You're not completely mad, are you?)

Aria: (I have to find a way to do something. But first we have to secure the hostages...)

[Defeat another enemy]

Rena: Aria's friends are amazing. But are you sure you're not trying to trick Rena by asking for help from those people?

Aria: I told you i'd uphold the contract.

Rena: The contract was to protect Rena. You aren't going to say, "I protected her by stopping her from blowing up the school", are you? I wonder?

Aria: Your reasoning is a little off. I don't want to solve the problem so easily. However, I don't want it to end with you dead.

Rena: So what are you going to do?

Aria: That's what I'm thinking about. What would you do if you were in my position Rena?

Rena: A-ha-ha-ha! You're going to ask the criminal to figure out how to fix this?

Aria: What are you talking about? Your a member of the club same as me, and one of my partners.

Rena: Huh.

Aria: You're also my contractor. You're not a criminal.

Aria: It's natural to think together about how to get the best result.

Rena: What does that mean? I wonder?

Aria: Rena, Rika listen to me. I was wondering what was wrong, but now that i've seen you I understand.

Rika: Huh.......

Aria: You can't be alone. I had that problem too, you can't take on problems by yourself.

Rena:....!

Aria: You know Rika, don't you? After I met you for the second time, I stayed sane for the most part.

Rika: Ah...!

Aria: That's why, Rena. I'll always be by your side until the end. I'm on your side.

Rika:....Aria.

Rika: (I knew I had made the right choice with Aria. She is getting closer to the right answer........little by little)

[Defeat another enemy]

Aria: Hey, Rena. Where are the bombs?

Rena: Bombs?

Aria: This place is full of vaporised gasoline. You probably have a lighter or some other device to light the fire, don't you?

Aria: However, you must have insurance. Either a remotely operated or timed explosive device in there somewhere?

Rena: As expected of a butei, you're right.

Aria: I might be good at reasoning, but I don't know where it is.

Rena: I'm not going to tell you. If you knew, you'd go and stop it, wouldn't you?

Aria: We'll wait until the limit. But when you can't stand it any longer, you should release the hostages.

Rena: I hate it!!

Aria: Do you want to be alone? Don't worry, I won't run away. I'll stay with you forever.

Rena: That's a lie! It's a lie, a lie, a lie!!

Aria: Don't underestimate me!

Rena: !?

Aria: Do you think I'd say that I was on your side if my resolve was so weak?

Rena: What are talking about!?

Aria: Have you forgotten? You had a problem, so Rika asked me to help you. That's why I signed a contract with you.

Aria: I'll say it again. I'm here to help you. There is no other purpose.

Rena: That's a lie!!

Aria: Why can't you believe me?

Rena: Uuuu!!, Ah, you're wrong!

Aria: Rena!

Rena: Stay away!

Rena: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Do you believe someone you've only just met? What kind of idiot would do such a thing!?

Aria: Calm down! Don't let that parasite or whatever get the better of you!

Rena: The police don't want to do anything, so that's enough! I'm going to finish this!!

[Rika takes our her lighter]

Aria: A lighter!?

[Rika runs into Rena]

Rika: Eh!!

Rena: Huh!?

Aria: The lighter! All right, hold on!! Satoko! Shion! Carry Mion!!

Satoko & Shion: Right!

Dejiko: Can you help me nya?

Rika: Aria you need to come too! We have to protect everyone from the enemy outside!

Aria: Rika! You....!

Rika: This is not the first time this has happened. If only I had had a little courage before! So this time!!

Aria:.....All right!

[Aria and the hostages move out of the school]

Lingyin: Aria coming out! It looks like the hostages are with her!!

Aria: Everyone! Quickly make sure They're safe! I have to go back immediately!

Louise: What are you going to do?

Aria: There's still someone I need to help!

Rena: Your terrible Aria....you said you'd stay by my side....

Rena: You're going to be killed, aren't you, Rika? You'll be killed by an angry Rena!

Rika: I'll play with her for you, Aria.....Come on, you snake....!

[When her turn comes around Aria moves back to Rena]

[Defeat all enemies]

Hibiki: The area around the building is clear!

Tsubasa: The rest is up to Aria.....

[Everyone leaves except Aria and Rena]

Aria: Rena.....

Rena: Why did you come back, Aria?

Aria: I told you..........that I would be there for you until the end.

Rena: We were fighting for our lives against the aliens. If we lose the human race, it's your fault.

Aria: They're from space.....With our understanding of space I can believe that much, but don't you think your theory is still a bit unreasonable.

Aria: However, you can trust me. Don't club members have their own special way of doing that?

Rena: Fufu........I guess the winner will be the righteous one!

Aria: That's what I'm talking about! I'll be with you all the way, just come and get me!

Rena:...!!

Victory: Defeat Rena. Defeat: Aria is defeated.

[Aria vs Rena]

Aria: If you win, I'll admit you're right.

Rena: If Aria wins, what will you do?

Aria: Of course, you'll be my assistant! Your powers of observation and reasoning skills will be put to full use for 24 hours!

Aria: And then we'll solve all the mysteries of Hinamizawa and the whole world, and we'll have a great victory!

Rena: Ahahahahaha!! That's a big claim!

[Defeat Rena]

Aria: You probably don't remember this, but I had a great match with Rena in our club.

Aria: At that time, I thought I wanted to play like this again!

Rena: ......That game ended in draw....?

Aria: Oh, you remembered? It was a tie, but I felt like i'd lost.

Rena: Ahahahaha! Don't hate me if you lose this time!

Aria: I'm going to check one more time! If I win, you'll become my assistant and you'll have to solve the mystery.

Rena: I don't want to back down! If I win I get to dress you up in cute clothes!

Aria: You'd better pick out a good one.....Looks like you won this time!

Rena: Eh?

Aria: I said I had trouble believeing you when you said it was an alien invasion, but I believe everything including that.

Aria: Even if you scratch out your throat and die, I'll take care of you unil the end. That's what I promised.

Rena: ...........Even though I won, It's a bit boring.

Aria: What, now....!

Rena: I want to be just like Aria. So we can travel together, solve mysteries, laugh together, fight together, and then.....

Aria: Rena.....? Are you travelling with us now?

Rena: I don't know. But I like it that way.

Aria: I accept the change. But we've got to settle this!

Rena: Of course!

Aria:.....

Rena:....Kill me. Finish it.

Aria: It's already over. I'm sorry it had to end like this.

Rena: ......Why, why did this happen?

Rena: I did something terrible to everyone! I thought I loved everyone...! I thought I trusted everyone...!

Aria: Rena.....

Rena: I remember.....Aria. I met you many times and at first I didn't believe in you, but something changed and we became friends.

Rena: We traveled together, we played together, we fought together. And then, forgetting everything, I'm........!

Aria: It's alright. It was the same for me. If I hadn't met Rika, I wouldn't have be her with you right now.

Aria: I can't do it alone. It isn't enough to work alone, because you can't spot your mistakes.

Aria: I don't think it's appropriate for me to say this, but....

Rena: Aria...waaaaaaa!!

Rika: (Rena.....she too was able to remember. One more person to escape this never-ending month of June....)

[Stage end]

Reporter:---------Next in the news

Reporter: A major disaster has occurred in Hinamizawa village, Shikotsu city.

Reporter: We have't got all the deatils yet, but it would seem a highly poisonous volcanic gas erupted from an area in the Hinamizawa district, becoming a gas flow and hitting the Hinamizawa area.

Reporter: Here is an image of the number of households hit. More than 1000 people have been reported dead.

Reporter: The SDF are still assessing the damage. As a result, the number of victims is expected to increase further.

[Go to https://akurasu.net/wiki/%E8%B6%85%E3%83%92%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E6%88%A6%E8%A8%98_-_Super_Heroine_Chronicle/Flow_Chart/Episode_31:_Truth_of_Pressure_(Meru_Route) [ Episode 31: Truth of Pressure]] to continue]