TimeLooperAnalysis

So apparently, if what Eua said near the end is to be taken seriously, apparently Meguri happened before Sotsu, at least via the Sea of Fragment passage of time. So Meguritoko's journey ended in boredom for Eua, but Sotsutoko's journey was the most exciting. Huh.

Satoko looked aimless. She is living without a purpose now, more than ever. Or maybe she lives with a feeling of anxiety at the back of her throat. Unlike in Sotsu, where Satoko and Witchtoko had a sort of 'split' which in the end allowed them to take their own paths, Meguritoko didn't feel like she had any revelation or emotional maturity.

She doesn't know if she can loop, so she is stuck in this "Half-Witch Half Human" state. She is both Satoko and Witchtoko and neither at the same time. Satoko's heart has grown tired and weary, so now she's going through life like a paper would in the wind.

I'm going to miss Witch Satoko. Something about her character just struck with me. Doubt she'll ever have another story medium, but I'd be glad to be proven wrong.

I don't know if the author did this on purpose, but I warmed up to the idea that there was never an Eua-Rika confrontation. It's like Eua finds Rika too boorish.

Eua is also basically the devil on Satoko's shoulder and no one else's. Just like how Hanyu and Rika have a special bond, so do Eua and Satoko (albeit a very twisted one).

This chapter is essentially "Satoko moves on from her fear of the future and lives with the club". There was no uncle to be seen, which is something I would've liked to have seen expanded on more.

Ending is mostly meh. A lot of ideas from Sotsu either changed or thrown away. I would've liked seeing the split scene happen in Meguri, though that didn't happen either.

The story got too stuck in the school for the conclusion to feel satisfying. I'd like to think the journey mattered a little more than the ending.

I'd give Meguri a 6/10. It starts strong but loses a lot of momentum near the end.

Goodbye Witchtoko. May we meet again when something else cries.

So Shion remembers a lot of Satoko's fragments. Their bond is very heartwarming, even if, at the moment, Satoko can't appreciate it.

We're still in the school so like...yeah. Lol.

So...Satoshi is back. Yeah. I get that he was necessary, but just pulling him out like this keeps making him feel like a plot point.

I do very much like that the group is trying to help Satoko even through her attempt at killing them. Hardly anyone is that good-natured.

At the same time, I can't help but feel very horrible for Satoko. She tried her best to bring the group together during her 'trial' fragments to stave off tragedy but couldn't convince them, while Rika is successful (which I can't help but feel is because of her status in Hinamizawa).

Maybe I'm reading too much into this but there had always been this power structure and Satoko is at the very bottom.

Man, Satoko's life sucks. Whether she's a human or a looper.

I wonder if the author is going to bring Eua into this?

These are just my surface thoughts with a surface level Japanese comprehension. I might like the chapter more once I can actually read it in English.

We're still at the school. It has been, what, over half a year now? Maybe more? That and we won't get another chapter until December 1st. Technically November 30th at 7 PM my time.

Anyways, what I liked about this chapter is that Satoko basically states that Rika's happy future is not Satoko's happy future. That Rika has forgotten about Satoshi. That no matter what choices Satoko made, everyone died.

Another con, at least for me:

Satoko being unable to use the shard was because of Rika's own doing. Apparently she switched it out for a fake. Which is a really weird choice since Rika genuinely looked terrified when Satoko took out the shard.

It's this sort of inconsistent writing that really takes me out of the story.

Remember, some details might be wrong since my Japanese reading skills are very subpar.