Hyouka:Volume 2 Chapter 1

1 - Let's Watch a Movie Preview!

There was a saying that all men are created equal. At the same time, it was also said that nobody is born perfect. If both these phrases were valid, then the order of heaven would be unenforceable. As a person'a value would change depending on the region they're from, one cannot just dismiss their values entirely. Let alone being born perfect, just being born with one talent is difficult enough. While the common folk may be envious or jealous of geniuses around them, for me their talents are just a part of our daily lives, so I don't see what the fuzz is all about.

It was the end of the summer vacation . I was having such a conversation with my old mate Fukube Satoshi, who nodded in agreement with my thoughts,

"Exactly. For the past 15 years that I have lived, I don't seem to be the sort to possess any talents at all. Though there's a saying that great talents mature late, but that sounds more like working hard through nurture rather than talent. So guess wishing for some talents is a distant dream for us."

"Well, geniuses are geniuses for a reason. If we common folk can obtain their talents, then we wouldn't need to be envious of them."

"My, longing for the life of a common folk now, aren't you, Houtarou? ...... If it's you, then..."

Satoshi then casually quiped,

"I think you're actually quite talented."

I have no idea what he was talking about. As I gave a puzzled look, Satoshi chuckled and said,

"I know very well that I'm not the talented sort, but the same cannot be said about you, Houtarou."

"Wha?"

As his manner of speaking is usually filled with jokes, I thought a little about accepting the good parts of what he just said at face value. I had two rebuttals to make, firstly,

"If I had to say it, I think it's premature of you to call yourself a normal person. Aren't you pretty good at collecting vast amounts of knowledge?"

Satoshi shrugged his shoulders,

"Well, I guess, even if it sounds like bragging. Though I wouldn't go so far and say that I'm good enough at winning quiz shows. The knowledge I learned isn't that vast."

Really?

Anyway, second rebuttal,

"If I'm not a normal person, then there's no way I could observe people,"

"Then I won't say anything more. Though I'll still have reservations about you not having any talents,"

"Where have you ever seen me using my talents anyway?"

"Hmm, where huh?"

After pretending to think, he pointed his finger towards Kamiyama High School,

"There."

"The school?"

"No, the Geology Room, AKA the Classics Club room...... You were simply amazing in solving the 'Hyouka' incident. Truth be told, I never expected you to be that good. That's why I said I'm having reservations about you not being talented based on that,"

He said while smiling. In contrast, I looked bitter.

The "Hyouka" incident. It was not a criminal incident, neither was it civil. "Hyouka" was the name of a series of essay anthologies published by the Classics Club, a mysterious organization which I and Satoshi belonged to. The reason why the anthologies were named as such cannot be explained in a few sentences, and for very good reason as well. Thanks to such a reason, I was involved in all sorts of bothersome events. And Satoshi was commenting on my role in such events.

He continued,

"The one who solved all that was you."

"Now you're exaggerating. I was just lucky."

"Lucky, huh? I wasn't talking about how you think of yourself, but how I see you,"

He can say such haughty stuff with such a calm tone. As I was used to his manner of speaking, I was hardly annoyed.

Besides being an old mate, Fukube Satoshi is also a good rival. As a guy he was short in stature, and his weak-looking appearance would easily be mistaken as that of a girl if seen from afar. However, he is actually quite spirited, especially when pursuing things that interest him. So much so that he would prioritize that over other things that are considered "necessary" by everyone else. He is always seen carrying a smile and a drawstring bag. As he swung the drawstring bag around, he asked,

"By the way, what time is it now?"

"Check your own watch."

"It's inside my bag, it's too bothersome to take it out."

He tapped at his bag and said. Satoshi considered carrying a wristwatch around too troublesome, and would prefer to check the time via his cellphone.

"I'm the one that's feeling bothersome here."

"'If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, hurry up and finish it.' Right?"

Satoshi smiled while poking fun at my motto. I checked the time on my wristwatch and corrected him,

"It's 'If I have to do it, make it quick.' ...... Anyway, it's just past ten."

"Do you really have to memorize every word of that, it's not like it's some grandiose motto or anything. Wow, is it ten already? We'd better hurry. Chitanda-san may be able to forgive us for being late, but it's Mayaka I'm scared of."

That I agree. Ibara Mayaka can be very scary when she's angry. I don't know if Satoshi knows this or not, but I have a feeling Chitanda Eru's the same as well. As Satoshi picked up his speed, I followed suit.

Crossing the traffic crossing, we came upon the school gates. It was a typical day in Kamiyama High, where there're students everywhere despite being a school vacation.