Vol 1 Chapter 2 (2/2)
”Of course not”
Phew Chitanda breathed a sigh of relief Such was Satoshi+'s motto: ”Jokes are to be s to be dispelled right away”
” Oreki-san, who ht this be?”
After recovering from Satoshi+'s joke, Chitanda asked a bit wearily Guess I should introduce Satoshi+ to her, or on't get anywhere I said briefly, ”Oh him? That's fukube Satoshi+, a pseudo-human”
”Pseudo?”
A most suitable introduction, which Satoshi+ seeood humour as well
”Haha, great introduction, Houtarou Pleased to meet you And you are?”
”Chitanda, Chitanda Eru”
Upon hearing the naave an unexpected reaction For once, he actually went speechless For someone so talkative like Satoshi+, it was rare to see him like that
”Chi, Chitanda-san? That Chitanda?”
”H to, but I believe I'm the only one with that name in this school”
”Then it must be that I'm surprised”
Satoshi+'s surprise was genuine And if he was surprised, then I should be too I learned so out all sorts of a information Yet as it that uess
”Hey, Satoshi+, what is it this time?”
”What is it, you say? I know you're not that well-infor me that you've never even heard of the Chitanda Clan?”
This tierated way Of course, this was one of Satoshi+'s ways of joking Since I know he's extree, I was not at all ashanorant of one of them
”What about Chitanda-san's family?”
Nodding satisfactorily, Satoshi+ began to explain
”While there are quite a few old prestigious clans in Kamiyama Town, the most prominent are the four 'Exponential Clans' The Juumonji (十文字) Clan that runs the Arekusu Shrine, the Sarusuberi (百日紅) Clan that operates the bookstores, the Chitanda (千反田) Clan with their large farmlands, and the Manninbashi+ (万人橋) Clan of the mountain The first kanji character of their surnames is represented by an exponent of the number ten (十百千万), hence they're called the 'Exponential Clans” The only other clans to be on equal footing with those four are the Irisu Clan that runs the local hospital, and the Toogaito Clan with their dominance in the field of education”
Dumbfounded, I blinked suspiciously and asked, ”Four Clans? Satoshi+, are you serious?”
”How rude Have I ever lied about stuff like this?”
If Satoshi+ says it's true, then it's e? While Satoshi+ was still scowling, Chitanda came to his aid
”Uh I' a famous clan”
”So it's all true?”
”But, this is the first time I've heard about the four 'Exponential Clans'”
As I stared at Satoshi+, he ed his shoulders
”I didn't say I was lying”
”But that was all made up anyasn't it?”
”Well, I alanted to be the one to get a legend started,”
As though wanting this topic to end, Satoshi+ clapped his hands together and said, ”Anyway, Houtarou, what seems to be the trouble here?”
You sure are inquisitive So in order tostory short, I briefly explained the details to him
It was getting a bit dark, so Chitanda went to turn on the lights
After hearing the story, Satoshi+ crossed his arroan
”He case”
”How so? It's just that Chitanda happened to forget that she locked the door, isn't it?”
”No, it is strange”
Satoshi+ uncrossed his arms and clapped his hands
”Lately, schools have been very deement of its classrooms is particularly bothersome In case you haven't noticed, none of the classrooms here can be locked fro anything suspicious inside”
As Satoshi+ explained triumphantly, a suspicion was raised in ent in finding out such trivial knowledge, but isn't he learning a bit toohe's only been in this school for less than a month
”How'd you know about this stuff?”
”Well, I was trying to hidelast week, but then I found out I couldn't lock the door from the inside”
”You know? I think the school designed its doors to prevent specifically the likes of you fro suspicious'”
”Well, I guess so”
”You bet”
We both laughed As a result of our dry laughter, Chitanda took a step backwards Noticing this, I clearedwith the lock then It's getting dark, so I' home”
I stood up fro on
I felt sorab my shoulder I turned and saw Chitanda, who had so
”Please wait!”
”What is it now?”
”I'm curious about it”
Upon seeing Chitanda's close-up face, I winced
”So?”
”Why was I being locked inside?If I wasn't locked inside, then how did I e to come inside in the first place?”
Chitanda's gaze had a sort of power that seemed like it wouldn't accept a foolish answer as a response Feeling overwhelmed by this, I replied meekly, ”So, what about it?”
”If it was a mistake by so me in by mistake?”
”No, I think there's so with the lock”
”I'm really curious about it”
She said as she advanced forward, forcing me to move back
At first I thought Chitanda to be a sort of graceful lady, but that was merely my first impression based on her appearance I now realized that I was looking at her true self Especially her large energetic looking eyes, which are in contrast to her overall appearance Those eyes reflected her true nature ”I'm curious about it”, that sentence alone had made this ”Exponential Clan” lady the poster child for curiosity itself
”Why has this happened? Oreki-san, and fukube-san as well, will you help think about this?”
”Why do I have to”
”Well, it looks interesting”
Interrupting ht away As expected fro home Not interested”
It goes without explanation, for y And if I don't have to do it, I'm out of it
Yet, Satoshi+, who ought to know my modus operandi very well, said, ”Oh, come on, Houtarou, help us out I'd do it if I could, but I can't come to any conclusions just based on my own database alone”
”This is stupid, I'm”
As I was about to continue, Satoshi+ glanced sideways Following his glance, I saw Chitanda
” Ugh”
With her lared upwards at me I subconsciously took another step backwards away fro the intensity of personalities, she wouldn't lose tofro with her whims
Glancing alternately between Chitanda and Satoshi+, I nodded softly towards Satoshi+ and honestly took his advice Otherwise, we ht incur misfortune upon ourselves
” Yeah, I guess it is interesting I'll think about it”
I had no choice but to say that in a deadpan tone Yet that response was enough to get Chitanda to relax her glance
”Oreki-san, have you thought of a solution already?”
”Hold it right there Houtarou is the type that likes to think before he ether, he's capable of getting things done”
Stop being so talkative Though ood
And so I began to think
When Chitanda entered this room, the lock was opened Yet when I arrived, it was clearly locked
If Satoshi+ is to be believed, then there's no way Chitanda could have locked the door from the inside However, rather than such an arbitrary reason, it could be that it was the result of an unconscious action For example, the door was in a se within the lock ered after she was inside and locked her in as a result
After explaining this theory, Chitanda tilted her head while reserving her judgh Satoshi+ instantly raised his voice
”That would be ione into a sen The key would not have come out in such a state”
No rooround, huh?
If that's the case, then that leaves the lock being locked knowingly by someone So I asked, ”Do you remember what time you entered this room?”
Chitanda thought for a while and said, ”Right before you About three minutes, I think”
Three minutes, that's too short There wouldn't be tih
Now this is getting tricky As I was starting to think all over again, Chitanda suddenly shouted, ”Ah!”
”What is it, Chitanda-san?”
”I know Think about it, who else has the key?”
”Huh? Who?”
Chitanda had a joyful look in her s about this As expected, our lady here turned towards me and said, ”Oreki-san, of course He has the key”
Just as predicted Rather than concluding that it was a good deduction, she realized so and said, ”Ah, but is this even possible? Isn't Oreki-san a trustworthy person?”
Are you supposed to say such things in front of the person concerned? While I was speechless, Satoshi+ laughed and said, ”Well, I don't know about Houtarou being trustworthy or not, but I don't think he's the sort of person that would have fun by locking you inside He's got nothing to gain from it, after all”
Spot on there You knoell - I wouldn't do anything that doesn't benefit me
This means it wasn't me that locked the door
Then as it?
I don't get this So I proceeded to scratch my head
I don't even have a clue For soot any clues?”
”Clue? What do you mean by that?”
What a straight counter question
”A clue is a clue”
Satoshi+ helped elaborate on my over-simplified explanation
”So that's different fro that feels different or strange, Chitanda-san?”
”Hmm, now that you mention”
Is there so y Rooently, ”A while ago, I heard so from beneath my feet”
Sounds?
So someone did lock the door? I had no idea
No, what if, that's the case?
I see I've so Satoshi+ noticed my expression and said, ”Houtarou, you see”
I silently picked up
”W, where are you going, Oreki-san?”
”We're going to witness the reenactet to see it”
I sensed Chitanda frantically following ht behind her, no doubt
It was already quite late as closing ti The Baseball Tea up their equipment Chitanda and Satoshi+, whoo, ended up acco me
Chitanda walked beside ured out already?”
Satoshi+ too asked froht, you know We're not supposed to have secrets between us”
Stop saying so my head, I said, ”It's not exactly a secret It's just that it's so simple that it doesn't require much explanation”
”It may be simple for you, Oreki-san But I still can't understand”
Chitanda pouted While it's bothersoy I straightenedand wondered where I should start
”Alright, how about if I say that you were locked inside by so a master key?”
As I said so that was a matter of fact to me, Chitanda's voice was raised in surprise Looks like we'll have to start the explanations here
”Ehh? How is that so?”
”The Geology Room is located far off in the caular key, he would need to return it to the staff room before I could have borrowed it Three minutes would be too short for anyone to attempt to do that”
”I see So it ular key, that would leave the ht?”
Exactly And naturally, it's to be expected that the master key couldn't normally be used by students
Furthermore, there is another piece of decisive information
”Chitanda-san, you said you heard soht?”
”Yes”
”If the sound comes from the floor of the fourth floor, ould you norht of first?”
Satoshi+, who looked quite relaxed, answered, ”The sound co of the third floor?”
”Right And that's our master key user”
The only person ould work on fixing stuff on the classroos after lesson time would be
”I'ure out that it's the janitor”
Chitanda said while nodding eagerly
The person thaton the third floor was the janitor, as carrying a large ladder As he eed from a classroom, he placed the ladder on the floor and took out a key froan to lock the doors of the third floor classrooms one by one In other words, he first unlocked all the classroo on inside the classrooms And when he was done, he would then come back to lock them all at once If someone happens to enter the classrooms when the doors were unlocked, then that unlucky person would have ended up getting locked inside Much like Chitanda here
As to what the janitor orking on, I had no idea By going through so e ladder with hiht bulbs for the classroolow starters or fire alar like that At any rate, Chitanda's question has been largely solved
And thus a case is closed
”You see? Told you he'd get things done if he puts his thoughts together”
”You're right I'm amazed”
I don't seeAfter all, it was Satoshi+ that told ement syste fro Oh well, they can think whatever they like of h all that trouble, but upon looking at Chitanda and seeing such honest adful eyes, I ended up sing any complaints that I may have had
”Well, anyway Even though you were in an indoor environment, I still don't understand how you didn't hear the door being locked”
Yet Chitanda didn't take that as a criticism or sarcasm, and merely smiled
”Well, I could explain that I was yes, I was looking at that building from the ”
She said and pointed towards a building by the road It was the Martial Arts Dojo It was a shabby looking wooden building, worn down after being exposed to the ele I decided to take a leaf out of Chitanda's book and voiced my honest opinion, ”Seems like you're really mesmerized by that”
”No, it's just that I find this building to be quite mysterious”
”Hmm”
I don't see how this building was mysterious, but Satoshi+ see when he muttered, ”Well, it does look particularly old”
”Yes, it is”
Is that so? It could be, though for her to have been distracted by such an old building, I had no idea whether she was being elegant or just carefree
Before long, we caht Like us, there were other students heading home from school
”By the e haven't properly greeted each other yet,” Chitanda gently said
”Greeted?”
”Yes, the Classics Club is going to commence its activities froether”
The Classics Club! I've totally forgotten about that! I was supposed to just go take a look at the club rooht as Chitanda had joined the club But this is all in hindsight now My application has already been submitted and subsequently filed on record In this school, it was i it for one month
As I lowered my head, Chitanda turned to smile at Satoshi+
”Are you joining the Classics Club as well, fukube-san?”
Satoshi+ crossed his ar, but very soon replied, ”Well, it sounds interesting Alright, I'm in”
”It'll be a pleasure to get to know you, fukube-san”
”No, the pleasure's all mine Pleased to meet you as well, Houtarou”
I glanced ly at Satoshi+, who decided to play dumb
As the traffic light turned green, I started to walk Sticking my hand in my pocket, I felt the letter inside It was the letter from my sister Indeed, ever since this letter fro had been set in motion
You happy now, sis? There are now three people within your youth that is the Classics Club The traditional Classics Club has now been resurrected This is also probably goodbye todays As for why
”Ah yes, we still haven't decided on a president yet What should we do?”
”You're right Though Houtarou definitely doesn't seem to be the sort of person to be a club president”
These folks probably wouldn't put up withways If it were just Satoshi+ alone, I could still handle him somehow, but the main problem is
Our eyeseyes
The ue feeling about this
Translator's notes and references
Ju/wiki/Instrumentalism
Ju/wiki/Taiho_Jutsu