During the annual festival, Keiichi is informed by Tomitake and Miyo Takano, about "Oyashiro's curse". A series of murders and disappearances has occurred on the night of the festival for the past four years and are all supposedly caused by the curse of the village's tutelary deity, Oyashiro. The next day, Keiichi meets Oishi Kurado, and learns that Tomitake committed suicide by damaging his throat and Takano disappeared. He becomes Oishi's informant. Keiichi notices changes in Rena and Mion's behavior and suspects them of hiding something from him. He too is accused of keeping secrets because of his ties to Oishi. Keiichi delves deeper into the history of the curse, learning that Satoko Hojo's brother, Satoshi, has been apparently transferred out of school in Hinamizawa. At that point, Keiichi realizes that Rena has been eavesdropping on him the whole time.