Synopsis: Higurashi WHEN THEY CRY: Demon Exposing Arc

A year ago, Natsumi Kimiyoshi and her family left the mountain settlement of Okinomiya, which was haunted by the local folklore of Oyashiro's curse that befalls those who leave Okinomiya or the adjacent hamlet of Hinamizawa. To their surprise, their life remained calm and peaceful until gas erupted from the swamp beside Hinamizawa, causing numerous deaths. Unfortunately, Natsumi was unaware that the catastrophic "Great Hinamizawa Disaster" would soon lead to many terrifying misfortunes. After the incident, Natsumi's grandmother, who had previously lived in Hinamizawa, began exhibiting extremely suspicious behavior. She believed that Oyashiro's curse was imminent and tried to quell it by placing talismans all over their home and killing puppies. These terrifying and erratic actions caused Natsumi and her family to fear for their safety, leading her mother to commit an unspeakable act.