Omochikaeri is closely associated with Rena Ryuugu, one of the main characters in Higurashi When They Cry, a series that began as a Japanese visual novel by 07th Expansion before expanding into anime, manga and games. Rena uses the phrase, often translated as I want to take it home, whenever she sees something she finds adorable. Clips of her delivery circulated through anime forums, videos and soundboards, turning a character-specific habit into a shared shorthand among fans for extreme cuteness that survives beyond the series itself.