Matsuribayashi (祭囃し編) — The Possibilities of Forever

A simple guide to unlocking the secret ending, in a text-only, ASCII-art-esque, step-by-step format.

Intro & requirements

The Possibilities of Forever
Went beyond.

'The Possibilities of Forever' is a not-so-secret final achievement that's earned by unlocking and reading a bonus fragment during the 'Connecting Fragments' section.

There is only one requirement: you must have read the full VN, having completed a save file and earned the 'And So, The Shining Future...' achievement.

Once the requirement has been met, you must simply revisit each Fragment in chronological order, without making mistakes. I personally recommend making multiple save files as checkpoints, and using the skip feature liberally.

The purpose of this guide is to present the information in a way easier for me to understand personally. But I figure it may be helpful to others too, so what the hell, why not publish it?

The guide to each Fragment will look like this:

Fragment number —
“Fragment title” on page ?/7
> Fragment description.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

(NOTE: The title and description of the final Fragment will be spoilered, as that is the actual secret ending.)

If this format doesn't make to sense to you, I've linked a handful of different styled guides in the references section at the end.

Fragments 1–11 — Year 1 / 1979 / Showa (昭和) 54

Fragment 1 —
“A local explanatory meeting” on page 4/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the first row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 2 —
“Rika Furude” on page 5/7
> A conflict between the Houjou family and the Sonozaki family is required.
Positioned on the second row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

Fragment 3 —
“Dam construction operation withdrawal” on page 2/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 4 —
“Jirou Tomitake” on page 3/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragment 5 —
“Kyousuke Irie” on page 3/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the first row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 6 —
“Irie’s background” on page 3/7
> Kyousuke Irie’s reminiscence is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 7 —
“Requesting assistance from a queen” on page 2/7
> Kyousuke Irie’s reminiscence is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 8 —
“At a quarry in Yagouchi” on page 2/7
> Help from the queen carrier is required.
Positioned on the first row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 9 —
“Depression of a Shinto priest” on page 4/7
> Rika and Satoko’s shopping trip is required.
> The Shinto priest contacting the Irie institution is required.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 10 —
“A murder with a dismembered body” on page 2/7
> Repetitive apologies are required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 11 —
“The first sacrifice” on page 1/7
> A live specimen for research is required.
> A tragedy at the dam construction site is required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragments 12–19 — Year 2 / 1980 / Showa (昭和) 55

Fragment 12 —
“The old guy” on page 3/7
> The death of the dam construction site manager is required.
Positioned on the second row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

Fragment 13 —
“Research is going well” on page 1/7
> An L5 stage patient’s dissection is required.
> Help from the queen carrier is required.
Positioned on the first row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◼
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 14 —
“A routine inspection” on page 3/7
> Prior consent for the collection of cerebrospinal fluid is required.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 15 —
“Satoshi Houjou” on page 4/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 16 —
“Satoko Houjou” on page 5/7
> This Fragment is required first.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragment 17 —
“The Houjou siblings” on page 4/7
> A conflict between the Houjou family and the Sonozaki family is required.
> The self-introduction of Satoko Houjou is required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 18 —
“Mion Sonozaki” on page 5/7
> Strawberry milk candy is required.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 19 —
“The second sacrifice” on page 1/7
> The death of the construction site manager is required.
> The hospitalization of Satoko Houjou is required.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragments 20–26 — Year 3 / 1981 / Showa (昭和) 56

Fragment 20 —
“Suffering of a big brother” on page 4/7
> Rock candy as a treat is required.
> Satoko Houjou’s detailed test result is required.
Positioned on the first row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◼
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 21 —
“C103 dose experiment” on page 1/7
> Satoko Houjou’s detailed test result is required.
> Kyousuke Irie’s decision is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 22 —
“An accident at the Shirakawa Park” on page 2/7
> Satoshi Houjou must not be allowed to visit his sister at the clinic.
> Satoshi Houjou’s sense of responsibility as a big brother is required.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 23 —
“H170” on page 1/7
> The discontinuation of Satoko Houjou’s dissection plan is required.
> Kyousuke Irie’s motive to become a doctor is required.
Positioned on the first row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 24 —
“Distrust of the mother of a queen” on page 2/7
> Results of the research on C103 and H107 are required.
> The truth about the Shirakawa Park accident is required.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 25 —
“One, two, three, four” on page 3/7
> Rika Furude’s high fever is required.
> Jirou Tomitake’s slight fever is required.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 26 —
“The third sacrifice” on page 1/7
> Rika’s father being marked as an opportunist is required.
> Rika’s mother’s suspicion is required.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragments 27–34 — Year 4 / 1981 / Showa (昭和) 57

Fragment 27 —
“Mysterious death of the Furude couple” on page 2/7
> An execution order for the third year’s curse is required.
> A declaration of war from Kuraudo Ooishi is required.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragment 28 —
“Formation of a club” on page 5/7
> Satoshi Houjou’s awareness of his sins is required.
> The mysterious death of the Furude couple is required.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 29 —
“A red capsule” on page 1/7
> The third year’s curse of Oyashiro-sama is required.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 30 —
“Rena Ryuugu” on page 5/7
> A red capsule is required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 31 —
“Footsteps in the fourth year” on page 4/7
> Satoshi Houjou’s awareness of his sins is required.
> The forgiveness of Rena Ryuugu’s sins is required.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

Fragment 32 —
“A notice of leave of absence” on page 4/7
> Satoshi Houjou’s part-time job is required.
> Footsteps following Satoshi Houjou are required.
Positioned on the second row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragment 33 —
“Death of Satoshi’s aunt” on page 2/7
> A bat to beat her to death is required.
Positioned on the second row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

Fragment 34 —
“The fourth sacrifice” on page 1/7
> The death of Satoshi Houjou’s aunt is required.
Positioned on the second row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

Fragments 35–52 — Year 5 / 1982 / Showa (昭和) 58

Fragment 35 —
“A roll of a one” on page 4/7
> A bottle of wine for a toast is required.
> Jirou Tomitake’s promise is required.
> The draft of an emergency manual is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 36 —
“New wind” on page 5/7
> A bottle of wine for a toast is required.
> Jirou Tomitake’s promise is required.
> The draft of an emergency manual is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 37 —
“Disappointment” on page 3/7
> A bottle of wine for a toast is required.
> Jirou Tomitake’s promise is required.
> The draft of an emergency manual is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 38 —
“Preview of lots for sale” on page 5/7
> The Ryuugu family’s move is required.
> The fourth year’s curse is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 39 —
“Deja-vu” on page 3/7
> Completion of the medicine C117 is required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 40 —
“Keiichi Maebara” on page 5/7
> The tea set on the veranda being put away is required.
> Ichirou Maebara inspecting a vacant lot is required.
Positioned on the first row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◼
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 41 —
“An invitation to an end” on page 6/7
> A raw sea urchin and vitamin A are required.
> A big teddy bear is required. She needs moral support.
Positioned on the first row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 42 —
“June 1983” on page 6/7
> The revenge of Miyo Takano is required.
> Keiichi Maebara changing schools is required.
Positioned on the first row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 43 —
“A Fragment of Onikakushi” on page 6/7
> The game board must be set up.
Positioned on the first row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◼
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 44 —
“A Fragment of Tsumihoroboshi” on page 6/7
> A Fragment from the Onikakushi chapter is required.
Positioned on the second row, first block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◼ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 45 —
“A Fragment of Watanagashi” on page 6/7
> The game board must be set up.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 46 —
“A Fragment of Meakashi” on page 6/7
> A Fragment from the Watanagashi chapter is required.
Positioned on the second row, second block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◼ ◻ ◻

Fragment 47 —
“A Fragment of Tatarigoroshi” on page 6/7
> The game board must be set up.
Positioned on the second row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◻
◻ ◻ ◼ ◻

Fragment 48 —
“A Fragment of Himatsubushi” on page 6/7
> The game board must be set up.
Positioned on the first row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼ ◻
◻ ◻ ◻ ◻

Fragment 49 —
“A Fragment of Minagoroshi” on page 7/7
> A Fragment from the Tatarigoroshi chapter is required.
Positioned on the first (only) row, first block, like so:

◼ ◻

Fragment 50 —
“A Fragment of Matsuribayashi” on page 7/7
> Seven Fragments are required.
Positioned on the first (only) row, second block, like so:

◻ ◼

(NOTE: This Fragment does not need to be opened more than once.)

Fragment 51—
“Leftover Fragments” on page 7/7
> Do you need the final miracle?
Positioned on the first (only) row, third block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◼

Fragment 52 —
“Flags from kids’ meals” on page 7/7
> …She needs to be rescued too.
Positioned on the first (only) row, fourth block, like so:

◻ ◻ ◻ ◼

References

Pages I have referenced, all of which present the same information, but through different ways, such as screenshots, flowcharts, etc.

Other Steam guides:

1. 'The Possibilities of Forever Achievement' by Chao2 — screenshots
   
2. 'Fragment dependencies' by fllthdcrb — flowchart
   
3. 'secret ending' by moppy — numbered boxes

Fan wiki pages on this chapter:

1. 'Matsuribayashi' on the 07th Expansion Wiki[07th-expansion.fandom.com]
   
2. 'Matsuribayashi-hen' on the Higurashi: When They Cry Wiki[whentheycry.fandom.com]
   
3. 'Matsuribayashi-hen' on the When They Cry Wiki[wiki.whentheycry.org]
   
4. 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai' on the Visual Novel Database[vndb.org]
   
5. 'Higurashi When They Cry Hou - Ch.8 Matsuribayashi' on SteamDB[steamdb.info]

Cover art close-up

[BLOODSPLATTER]

my bad! i'll pop open the game soon and make corrections. thank you for the heads-up

[Cerezaku]

There's a mistake in the ASCII art for fragments 7, 36, 37, 46, and 47 (the page numbers are right though) other than that easy to follow guide