Nageki No Mori

Nageki No Mori is a song used in Super Mario Continuance (REITERATED). It is the theme song of Mario. The song was created for Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Matsuri, a video game released for the Playstation 2. The version used in the book's soundtrack was the acoustic version.

Story Significance
Like every other piece used in the soundtrack for Super Mario Continuance (REITERATED), the piece was not originally made for the book. It was picked for its parallels to the story through its lyrics, mainly parallels to Mario as a character. It was also picked because of the breakcore version's usage for the opening of (MARIO) The Music Box, the fangame that Super Mario Continuance (REITERATED) is based on.

The lyrics were interpreted by the author as someone desperately trying to go back to someone they used to be, or somewhere they used to be. Basically, a longing for the past. A simpler time. It is hinted at in Super Mario Continuance (REITERATED) that Mario missed the Mushroom Kingdom when he was still alive, despite having the knowledge he could never go back. He missed Luigi and Princess Peach, who he believed himself to have killed in Aduraice Mansion. This is why the song was picked as Mario's theme. The English name for this song is "The Forest of Grief". This name works for Mario, because he does grieve from time to time despite being a happy man.

The reason the acoustic version was used over the breakcore version is that the acoustic version is much more calm, solemn, and bittersweet than the breakcore version, which is intense, sorrowful, and even a little scary. This is supposed to represent how Mario's pain has eased over the years, but hasn't gone away. It is also supposed to represent Mario being more humble now than he used to be.

Lyrics (Full English translation from the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Wiki)
In the deep forest of grief,

The cicadas cry...

That day was a very sunny day, but I breathed in a cold wind

Time, in just a tiny instant, stopped its needle.

One-way, that cannot return twice

A lost child looks for a bright place

People who change and people who desire so

Let me pass, and you come here

Someone cried; where is that sound?

Please try peeking quietly, quietly

Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands

Is the pale moonlight from one tree?

If you hear a lullaby on this path

Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again

In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry...

Fearing those who are kind, and them giving screams

I wanted to cut away my hair and I closed my eyes

One-way that cannot return twice

A lost child looks for a bright place

Whose name does your eye that dye red call for?

Let me pass; it'll be fun

The abandoned shadow casted on the shrine; surely, surely, that child doesn’t exist anymore

The day also has a sunset face of a demon, and with a childish smile, I wriggled my wings

If you cry about not having a face, not having a face on your figure reflected in the opposing mirror

Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again

In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…

Someone cried; where is that sound?

Please try peeking quietly, quietly

Good night, good children sleep and the awake children project hands

Is the pale moonlight from one tree?

If you hear a lullaby on this path

Then the festival will start and the flames will vanish again;

In the deep forest of grief, the cicadas cry…