Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai Episode 1

Reunion (サイカイ) is the first episode of the anime. The story serves as an epilogue to and was adapted from the Demon's Script.

Summary
Mamoru Akasaka and his former underclassman Sawada drive to the now-closed Hinamizawa. It has been nearly 20 years since the Great Hinamizawa Disaster destroyed the entirety of Hinamizawa. The pair meet up with Kuraudo Ooishi. Ooishi and Akasaka tell Sawada about the many conspiracy theories regarding the truth of the Great Hinamizawa Disaster, including the existence of File No.34 as well as Girl A. Akasaka explains the contents of File No.34 and explains how aliens supposedly visited Hinamizawa long ago and accidentally imparted on the populace a bacteria that would grow to become Hinamizawa Syndrome. The aliens used their superior technology to treat the villagers and, in order to contain the syndrome, created a strict rule that no one was to leave the village. The influence of the aliens led to the creation of the Three Great Houses. Centuries later, the aliens died and the power of the Great Houses waned. In order to reclaim that power, the Great Houses began researching how to strengthen the syndrome to induce fear into the populace once again. The Great Hinamziawa Disaster was supposedly a botched experiment resulting from this research. Many conspiracy theorists don't believe a gas leak occurred at all, due to the government reporting that hydrogen sulfide was a part of the gas leak. If this were true, the hydrogen sulfide would have rusted the metal within the village, but that hasn't happened.

The group approach the remains of the Hinamizawa school and meet Girl A, Rena Ryuuguu. The now-adult Rena is very quiet and reflects on how mentally unstable she must have been to have taken the school hostage. Ooishi questions Rena about her opinion on the truth of the Great Hinamizawa Disaster. He claims that Kyousuke Irie's suicide, Rika Furude's murder, and the Disaster were all too extraordinary to be coincidences. Rena repeatedly says she doesn't know what happened. Then, Rena concedes that Rika must have been involved in the Disaster somehow. Rena explains that, just before the disaster, Rika approached her at the garbage dump at came at her with a syringe. Rika claims the syringe with save and make her feel at ease. When Rena rejects the show, Rika says that "this" Hinamizawa is doomed and that she is going to look for the "next" Hinamizawa. Akasaka compares Rika's unusual actions to his own interaction with Rika when he first visited Hinamizawa. The episode ends with a flashback to the club prior to the Disaster and, subsequently, Rika's death at the Furude Shrine.

Characters

 * Mamoru Akasaka
 * Sawada (first appearance)
 * Kuraudo Ooishi
 * Rena Ryuuguu
 * Rika Furude (flashback)
 * Mion Sonozaki (flashback)
 * Keiichi Maebara (flashback)
 * Satoko Houjou (flashback)