Keiichi learns about the yearly murders from Shion, Miyo, and Jiro. At the festival, Shion drags Keiichi away from Rika's dance and the two run into Miyo and Jiro, who are breaking into the ritual tool shed. They decide to go inside to look at it with Miyo.

Rika receives a visit from Hanyuu and is told about an artefact, the holy sword Onigari-no-ryuuou.

A year after escaping near death, Rika reminisces about Hinamizawa; Satoko receives some surprising news; Rika decides she wants to go to St. Lucia Academy.

Satoko tries again by using Miyo, who now also retains memories from previous loops.

After watching Rika express her continued resolve to escape her fate to Hanyu in the Sea of Fragments, Satoko awakens alongside Rika in a new world. In need of a more reliable murder weapon, Satoko manipulates Teppei into giving her the contact information for an arms dealer.

Mion begins to develop feelings for Keiichi. Posing as Shion, she delivers a dinner box to him to thank him for giving her the doll. While working at a games shop one evening, Mion runs into Keiichi and Shion who appear to be on a date. After Keiichi and Shion leave together, Mion becomes tearful and angry. On the night of Watanagashi, Shion and Keiichi sneak into the ritual storehouse while Mion wonders about their whereabouts. Mion begins to scratch her neck after Satoko suggests that the two must be off alone together.

In a new loop, Rika tearfully confides in Satoko about her "nightmares." Satoko suggests that the nightmares may be messages from Oyashiro and encourages her to stay in the village. Later, the games club members participate in a baseball game which ends in victory when Satoko hits a home run. After a celebratory barbecue, Satoko visits Teppei in Okinomiya. She asks him to move in with her, explaining that the entire village has been bullying her.

Satoko continues deceiving her friends and her uncle by posing as a victim of abuse.

Keiichi continues to lead protests outside of Child Welfare Services to save Satoko. After seeing Keiichi's determination, Oishi suspects that he has been tricked by his friends into unwittingly taking part in bullying Satoko. When the Sonozaki family begins pressuring Child Welfare Services into action, Oishi offers to escort a social worker to the Hojo residence.

Eua overpowers Hanyu and forces her to watch Rika's death at the hands of Keiichi and Satoko in two separate fragments. While purchasing a present for Satoko's birthday in a new world, Rika begins to experience memories of being killed by Oishi.