The sick crushing sounds were in no way pleasing to the ear.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

While each blow got harder and harder, it was clear they were dead. Red blood spatters painted the otherwise clean walls, along with the little furniture in the room. Still, he did not stop. For the sake of his own life, he continued to beat the lifeless corpses. Eyes still wide with horror he felt, the young man continued to strike mercilessly. How could they? They were his friends! No, no they were not. He was simply an outsider, a transfer. In this dark, secretive town no outsider could be welcomed. Well, besides one of the two bodies in front of him, apparently. But they didn’t have to deal with her now, did they?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Finally the hits started to get lighter. It wasn’t like it mattered. Their skulls were already crushed into their brains. The wooden bat clattered to the ground as he huffed heavily, eyes glued to his handy work.

Was it over?

Arc One; Spirited Away

In the small, sleepy town of Hinamizawa, no one would ever expect anything out of the ordinary. The air was clean and crisp, the people were nice enough. Who would guess that something wicked was brewing, every single year? Maebara Keiichi is soon to find out.

Being a new student to the one room, one teacher school of Hinamizawa, Keiichi has arrived just in time for the annual Watanagashi Festival. As special as it seemed to the citizens of the small town, it's just a festival, right? But approximately one month before the anticipated festival, some horrible news is stumbled upon from the past. At first his friends assure him nothing is wrong in the small town, but he is doubtful - after all, who could deny that he got some more than interesting information from the traveling bird photographer, Tomitake-san?

As the evidence becomes overwhelming and the days grow closer to Watanagashi, Keiichi has come to believe that he is being lied to by those adorable girls from his class. And, it isn't just the girls he hangs around with, by the looks of it. Now more than ever, he is noticing the skeptical gazes of the towns folk.

The brunette teenager does a good job at hiding his findings, for the moment. But what is going to happen weeks, even days before the festival? Who will show up next that will make or break Keiichi's beliefs?

Most importantly, how do you fit in; police? Town member? Maybe even a transfer student yourself?

Plot © Rena and Rika [Asuka and Hina-chii] 2008