#saikoroshi

Like that Ange has a responsibility about Eva's mistreatement (because she rejected her). Or in Saikoroshi, that Rika's isolation (and her abuse from Satoko) is her fault, because she was too centered on herself. I don't remember how much he thinks that Satoko has a responsibility in Satoshi's disappearance.

He write very good tales of abuse and bullying. He always takes abuse seriously. He also develops the thoughts of the abusers without endorsing or condoning. He's very good at describing bullying as a power relation. And abuse as a cycle where abusees can become abusers.

cinematic parallels.

Saikoroshi is the story of Rika who is sent in an alternate reality. In this world, she doesn't have any friend. She's bullied at school. She lives with her parents, and they're relationship is tense.

Because it's a story with two realities, it can be taken on two perspectives. The first, straightforward, is the perspective of Rika. She's rejecting this world. It's not hers. It's not her friends. She took the place of "Rika Furude" of this world and killed her.

But the perspective from people of this world is compelling. As she acknowledge, nothing looks supernatural to them. It looks like she's just an isolated girl.

And OMG, when Rika talks about Hanyū to Dr Yamamoto, he asks to see her. Rika shows the crystal ball that she uses to communicate with her... and Hanyū doesn't talk. Conveniently, the ball is not charged enough. From his perspective, it's exactly what a girl with an imaginary friend would say.

As we discussed with @anawkwardlady, this episode can be taken as a metaphor of dissociation, with depersonalization. There is a link to make with maladaptive daydreaming, but I'll link her post.

Now, it's time to go to the line

It happens during the discussion between Satoshi, Mion, Reina and Rika/Bernkastel. I've included two screenshots for context, but look at what Reina says.

"Rika-chan, you think it doesn't have anything to do with you. ... Am I right?"

Rika uses dissociation to distance herself from the world and her responsibility. But the narration won't let her.

I think that I understand now: "Frederica Bernkastel" did not kill "Rika Furude". They share the same personality, the same flaws. (Important disclaimer: I'm relating what Ryukishi says, but I don't agree. No, I refuse to blame Rika for her bullying.) Whatever "Frederica" says, it's still about her.

There is no contradiction between the two perspectives I talk before, and they merge at this line. (Again, brilliant VN even if I don't agree with all of the moral of the story.)

Was is a dream or was it real? It was so ambiguous. Hanyuu's answer didn't really clarify for me XD

But isn't it kind of the point? Rika has to learn to be a human. Choosing between her world or a sinless world is a question for a goddess. When you're human, you only have one life, when you make a choice you can't know the other option. You have to look at the future ahead of you, and not at what the present could have been. Even if this world was real, it is better for her to act like it was an instructive dream.

So much happens, so many themes are explored, when I first read it I felt like I didn't really "get" the chapter. Similar to the state of confusion I was at the end of Umineko. AND IT'S ONLY A 6 HOUR LONG CHAPTER