WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 12 of Higurashi: When They Cry - Gou, "Curse Deception - Part 4," now streaming on Funimation.
In Higurashi's "Curse Deception" arc, Keiichi and friends continue their efforts to save Satoko from her abusive uncle. While things are moving slowly, the group’s efforts might finally pay off as they recruit a major asset to their cause. Episode 12 opens up on two villagers tending to an overturned shrine. As they work to restore it, they reveal that Teppei was the one responsible for the damage and that most villagers believe that the Hojou’s will be the next victims of Oyashiro-sama’s curse.
With their first two attempts being unsuccessful, Satoko’s friends return to the child services office with an even larger crowd. Seeing that even more people have come to show their support, the center director agrees to meet with three of the crowd’s representatives. Keiichi, Rika and Irie go in and are told that Satoko’s case will be resolved within the next month. Still dissatisfied with their answer, Mion invites Keiichi and the rest of the club members to attend that night's festival planning meeting to plead their case to the town elders.
At the meeting, Keiichi introduces himself to the elders and they exchange pleasantries. Kimiyoshi, the town mayor, has a conversation with Mion in private and she calls Keiichi outside after they’re done talking. Chie meets up with them and asks Keiichi to stop protesting. When he asks why, she explains that the attention the protests are bringing to the school could threaten its future. Keiichi realizes that both Mion and Chie are under considerable pressure, and asks why the town hates the Hojou’s so much. Mion answers that the villagers have forgiven Satoko, but are all either afraid to publicly forgive her or unsure of how to do so.
Keiichi and his friends head back to the meeting and resolve to convince the elders to act in favor of Satoko’s case. Keiichi brings up the Dam War asks for help in the war they’re all fighting for Satoko. The village elders claim that they don’t want to upset the government, and the school club members realize that they don’t want to lose whatever funding they receive for the Watanagashi Festival. The group mock them for their hypocrisy and eventually win them over. Kimiyoshi tells them that the elders will voice their support for Satoko’s case, but only if they can convince the Sonozaki matriarch of voicing her support as well.
The group of friends then head over to Mion’s house alongside Kimiyoshi and Irie. They meet with Shion and Mion’s grandmother Oryou alongside their mother. Oryou refuses to support their cause, claiming that child services are doing their jobs. Keiichi pleads his case and calls Oryou out on her grudge against the Hojous. The two get into a heated exchange, but Keiichi eventually wears her down and gets her to accept.
With the Sonozaki Family and the village elders now backing them up, Keiichi and his friends finally seem to have a chance in saving Satoko. With this episode, the “Curse Deceiving” arc breaks Gou’s formula, continuing into a fifth part. Though things seem like they’re winding down, absolutely anything can happen going forward. As the season reaches its halfway point, this arc does seem like it will serve as a turning point. While the various re-imaginings of the original arcs have been enjoyable, the overall mystery at hand has yet to be addressed. With any luck, the progression of Satoko’s storyline will reveal more about Rika’s predicament.
