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Title: Higurashi When They Cry: Cotton Drifting Arc Vol 1

Story: Ryukishi07

Art: Yutori Houjyou

Publisher: Yen Press

ISBN: 9780759529854

May Contain Spoilers

Taking a look at Higurashi gang from another angle, Keiichi and his friends are back for more ominous adventures in the hick town of Hinamizawa.  Having moved from the big city to the humble country village, Keiichi finds himself enjoying the change of pace.  With his new friends to keep him entertained, he’s having the time of his life.  On a trip to a maid cafe in the next town, he thinks he spots Mion decked out in frills and lace.  Wait! It’s Mion’s twin sister, Shion.  Keiichi believes that Mion is playing another trick on him to avoid embarrassment, but he soon finds himself enjoying Shion’s gentler, quieter personality.  Slowly, as he gets to know Shion better, Rena begins to act more and more strangely toward Keiichi.

I did not find this volume as compelling a read as the previous story arc.  It’s still an engaging story with likeable characters, but the creepy vibe from the Abducted by Demons arc is sadly missing.  Instead, the tone is much more light-hearted, as Keiichi and his friends cause mischief and play pranks on each other.  When Keiichi meets Shion at the maid cafe, he is sure that she is Mion.  He’s never heard that she has an identical twin.  He’s highly suspicious that she’s only trying to make a fool of him, and she is acting a little oddly.  Still, she looks so cute in her maid costume that Keiichi can’t help but drop his guard around her.

The story arc follows familiar territory, meandering along with Keiichi as he settles into his new life in the country.  The focus this time is on his relationship with Mion.  She’s Keiichi’s best friend, and he feels comfortable with her.  She’s a tomboy, she has a great sense of humor, and she likes to play pranks on him.  She seems to always be one up on him in the prank department, which is why he thinks she’s trying to pull the wool over his eyes by pretending to be her twin.  Shion is girly and feminine; the total opposite of Mion. Keiichi starts feeling a little guilty because he is instantly drawn to this softer, gentler version of Mion.

It’s when Rena starts acting bizarrely that Keiichi begins second guessing himself and his relationship to Mion.  The constant back and forth doubts about whether Mion and Shion are the same person had me confused a few times, and the psychological tension was limited to these elements, which disappointed me.  There is some groundwork laid near the end that introduces the curse of Oyashiro and the failed dam project to this story arc, so there’s hope that things will take a turn for the creepy in volume two.  As this volume stands, it is a little too similar to the first story arc to feel fresh and exciting.   

Grade: C+

Review copy provided by Yen Press