Keiichi Maebara has just moved to the very small town of Hinamizawa. ? He's making friends and generally enjoying his life, until one day, when he learns of a grisly murder that took place in the little village. ? His friends won't tell him any of the details, which only adds to his uneasiness. ? At the town's yearly festival, he learns that there has been a death on that night every year for four years, and they're all attributed to the Curse of Oyashiro-sama, a punishment for those who supported the dam project that would have put Hinamizawa underwater. ?? Another death occurs, and a policeman asks Keiichi for his help investigating what he suspects to be murder. ? He informs Keiichi that not only is there a death every year, but someone goes missing. ? He warns him not to tell anyone, especially his friend Mion Sonozaki, whose family was heavily involved in the anti-dam protests. ? Keiichi only becomes more suspicious, especially when he overhears Mion talking with his friend Rena about how the Oyashiro-sama's Curse would demand one more person. ? He confronts Rena about hiding things from him, and she acts like a completely different person, accusing him of lying, as if she knows he's helping the police. ? As Keiichi's paranoia mounts, he learns that Rena was listening in on a phone call between him and the police officer.
