Talk:Hyouka:Volume 1 Chapter 2

Proposed changes. I will leave then here for a week for discussion. Tonmeka (talk) 16:25, 13 September 2014 (CDT)

2 - The Rebirth of the Traditional Classics Club

It's often said that life in high school is rose-coloured. As the year 2000 comes to a close, the arrival of this definition of a perfect day isn't too far off.

Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that all high school students wish for such a rose-coloured life. Whether it's studying, sports or romance, there will always be some people who prefer a grey-coloured life rather than all that. I know quite a few within my own reckoning. Still, it's quite a lonely way to live one's life.

My old friend Fukube Satoshi and I were talking about this very subject in a classroom lit by the golden rays of sunset. As always, Satoshi would smile and say, "I thought so. My, my, I never knew you were so masochistic."

Wrong. Very wrong.

"Are you saying my life is grey-coloured?" I protested.

"Did I say that? But Houtarou, whether it's studying, sports, or what was the other one? Romance? I don't think you've ever been interested in any of those."

"I'm not exactly disinterested either."

"Well, true," Satoshi's smile turned into a grin. "You're just 'saving energy' after all."

I snorted at his tone but couldn't disagree. What he said is true as long as you understand that I don't exactly hate being active. I simply dislike wasting energy on anything bothersome. My goal is to save energy for the betterment of the planet. In other words, "If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, make it quick."

When I uttered my motto, Satoshi shrugged his shoulders as usual.

"Whether it's energy saving or cynicism, it's the same thing, isn't it? Have you ever heard of instrumentalism?"

"Nope."

"In short, it means that I can conclude from the fact that you haven't joined any clubs here in Kamiyama High, the Holy Land of high school club activities, that you are a grey-coloured person."

"What? Are you saying death from murder is no different from death from negligence?"

Without hesitation he answered, "From a certain perspective, yeah. Though it's a different matter completely if you're trying to convince a dead man that his death is due to your negligence in order to exorcise his soul."

"..."

Cheeky bastard. I once again looked at the person before me. Fukube Satoshi: my old friend, worthy opponent and deadly rival, and rather short for a guy. Even as a high school student, he could be mistaken as a girlish weakling, but on the inside he's totally different. It's quite difficult to explain just what that difference is ー anyway, he just gives off a different aura. Besides always smiling, he always carries a drawstring bag, as well as his rapier wit. He's also a member of the Handicraft Club, don't ask me why.

Arguing with him is just a waste of energy. I waved my hand to signify the end of this conversation.

"Yeah, whatever. Just go home already."

"Yeah, you're right. I haven't got any club activities today. Maybe I'll go home."

As Satoshi stretched his waist, he suddenly started and looked at me.

"'Go home already'? That's rare hearing that from you."

"What is?"

"Usually you'd just get up and go instead of wasting energy talking about leaving. Just what are you doing here if you aren't part of any club?"

"Ah."

I raised an eyebrow and took out a piece of paper from the inner right pocket of my uniform jacket and quietly handed it to Satoshi. His eyes widened in exaggerated amazement. It's not like he's really surprised, though it's true that his eyes have widened. After all, Satoshi always tends to exaggerate his reactions.

"What?! How can this be?"

"Satoshi, calm yourself."

"Isn't this a club application form? I'm astounded. Just what on earth has happened? For Houtarou to actually join a club..."

It was indeed a club application form. Upon seeing the club name that was written in, Satoshi raised his eyebrow.

"The Classics Club...?"

"You heard of it?"

"Of course. But, why the Classics Club? Did you suddenly find an interest in classic literature?"

How should I explain this? I scratched my head and took out a letter with scribbled handwriting from my inner left pocket and handed it over to Satoshi.

"Read it."

Satoshi promptly took the letter and started going through it. As expected, he began to laugh.

"Haha, Houtarou, now that sure is troublesome. A request from your sister, huh? No way you could refuse that."

Why did he have to look so gleeful? On the other hand, I was very aware that my expression was somewhat bitter. This piece of airmail from India had arrived this morning and was attempting to make adjustments to my lifestyle. Oreki Tomoe is always like that, sending letters to derail my life.

'Houtarou, protect the Classics Club, the bloom of your big sister's youth.'

When I had opened and read through that self-centred brief letter this morning, I knew I had no moral obligation to safeguard my sister's memories, but...

"What was it that your sis is specialized in? Jujutsu?"

"Aikido and Taiho-jutsu. It's very effective if one intends to inflict pain."

Yup, my sister, a university student proficient in both academics and martial arts, was not content with conquering Japan alone, and had decided to go out and take on the world as well. It would not be wise to incur her fury.

Then again, while I could try to resist with what little pride I had, it was also true that I had little reason to oppose her. My sister had hit the bull's-eye by pointing out that I don't have anything better to do. I might as well be an invisible club member rather than an unaffiliated student. And so without hesitation, I said "I submitted that application this morning."

"You know what this means, Houtarou?" Satoshi said while glancing at my sister's letter.

I sighed and said, "Yeah, there doesn't seem to be a good side to this."

"... No, that's not what I meant," Satoshi said with an overly bright tone. Lifting his gaze from the letter, he tapped it with the back of his hand and said, "There are currently no members in the Classics Club, right? This means that only you get to keep the club room for yourself. Isn't that great? A private base within school for your own use."

A private base?

"... That's an interesting way to look at it."

"Don't you like that?"

Such strange reasoning. Satoshi was basically saying I could have my own secret base in school. I could never come up with such an idea. A private space, huh? It's not like I really desire such a thing and would strive to work hard for it... But it's not so bad if it comes as a perk. I took back the letter from Satoshi and replied, "Guess it's not so bad. I might go have a look."

"Good. Opportunities are there for you to try out."

Opportunities there to try out, huh? Well, it's not like it doesn't suit my personality at all, so I smiled thinly and my shouldered my bag.

I was still faithful to my own motto.