Vol 1 Chapter 5 (1/2)
5 - The Hidden Seal of the Pedigree Classics Club
While Kah School does provide curriculum for university entrance exams, it does not particularly do s It only holds mock exams for prospective university students once or twice annually, and they do not hold extra lessons during holidays All in all, it was a pretty laid back school
Even so, Kah-school student's life is rose-coloured, then the exam halls would be his natural enemy And so the Classics Club activities had co the End of Seh it's not like we have much to do anye still had to hand the club room key over to the school
Today is the final day of the exams I laid down onAnd as usual, there was nothing particularly different about this white ceiling
In terms of exam results, therevelations
First, fukube Satoshi+ Though he's well-versed in all sorts of useless trivial knowledge, he doesn't have ular studies As the exams have just ended today, I can't exactly tell how he performed, but I do know that he was terrible in the Mid-Term Tests At any rate, back then Satoshi+ explained towhy japanese people nowadays no longer write their kanji in the cursive style[1]” If Satoshi+ thinks soh for hi-terh I don't think Satoshi+ would care one bit If I call him a free soul because of it, he'd probably take it as a coeneric fool
Though she's nora Studies Club, in order to continue pursuing Satoshi+, Ibara Mayaka too has joined the Classics Club She's probably the hard-working type As she would usually rades are in the upper half of the class However, devoting so rades at all To put it simply, Ibara's a bit neurotic — you could say she's a perfectionist Though her tongue may be sharp, her downside is probably that she is too obsessed with perfection, and would end up struggling to find the perfect answers to her exam questions I think she applies the same standards to herself as well
Then there's Chitanda Eru, who stands out ah scores A look at the score ranking board reveals she's ranked 6th in the entire grade Though she doesn't seeh school curriculum for that matter She once toldthe parts, she wanted to learn the entire systeh her words were vague, I could tell why this lady was so intent on getting her curiosity resolved For exa her uncle — she probably wanted to find out the entire ”syste what her uncle said to her back then She's the sort that wants to find out the cause by all means
As for rades were normal
Out of 350 people, I ranked 175th As though it was soht in the etting her good grades or Satoshi+'s eccentricity getting hi unhappy with the mistakes she's made While I wasn't that laid back as to not study for the exaet people telling ed, but to me, it simply means they aren't really that observant I am positioned below the cream of the crop and above the bottoo either up or down I see, so that's why Satoshi+ said that he can't think of anything apart froh-school life
Of course, colour isn't confined to acaderades There's also club activities, sports, hobbies, ros that constitute our hu that one can't see the forest for the trees, after all, and one result cannot be used to generalize for the whole picture Though the japanese dictionary defined life in high-school as rose-coloured, these roses would still need to be planted in the right places in order to blossom
Let's just say I'row in
As I lay onfrom downstairs It sounded like a letter had arrived
Aftersure it was indeed a letter, I was dumbfounded The envelope was covered in red, blue and white stripes, that could only be internationalthe recipient name was correct, I concluded that the only person who could send international mail to the Oreki residence was Oreki Tomoe Nohere was this sent from Istanbul?
I opened the letter right there and found many letters inside, one of which was for me
Dear Houtarou,
I a out at the japanese consulate, so I haven't been seeing much of the city yet
I' city If I could take a time machine and visit this place in the past, I think I'd want to try to lock the city gates e history as a result I' at these ”what ifs”
It's an interesting trip, I'm sure I'll look back ten years froret
So how's the Classics Club? Have the members increased?
Do not be discouraged even if it's just you alone! Solitude helps er
If there are other people, then excellent It helps to improve one's interaction with others
Anyway, I' that I'm concerned about
Have you (guys) started work on publishi+ng an essay anthology yet? The Classics Club always publishes one every year, so I' with that
If you are, I figured you're probably at a loss for what to write After all, the anthologies aren't stored in the library
You should be able to find the back issues inside an old chemical safe in the club room The key's broken already, so you can just open the box right away
I'll call you when I arrive at Pristina
With love, Tomoe
Hiding in the japanese consulate? Just what have you done this time, Sis? Anyway, it's not that I'm worried The details are probably written in the letter for my old man Nohere have I heard of Pristina? I can't quite re, it's no doubt so
Anyway, I couldn't help but sigh Does ence network that collects information about my activities? And I didn't know the Classics Club kept their back issues so secretly for generations either Indeed, ere looking for the back issues but couldn't find where they were
It was only a few days since Chitanda tasked h she also has another errand for us as President of the Classics Club - the publishi+ng of the essay anthology Chitanda looked troubled when she found out the library archives did not store the back issues, but if reat help
If the purpose is the result itself, then achieving the said result will fulfill that purpose Though I sense another layer being added to such a bothersome definition, it just felt cruel if I withheld such infor with my life
At any rate, I stuffed the letter in the pocket ofin the closet
The following day after classes, I went straight towards the club roo day after the end of the exa sounds of the sports tearound, while ht Music Club, japanese Traditional Music Club, etc While the sports teams are the most visible of the lot, the Kanya Festival is better known for its flurry of activities organized by the arts-related clubs During this time of day, the Special Block which holds these arts clubs would be full of people
And within the uppery Rooh they've only justthe case of the peculiar library book, it see ith each other already Today they were sitting facing each other, as though they were engaged in some conversation As summer had arrived, the summer uniforms that they wore felt breezy Ibara's tanned arms from her short sleeve shi+rt were in contrast to Chitanda's pale white ar more often, yet our lady here doesn't seem to have irls were talking about
”In other words, the articles need to be on topic”
”Do you y?”
”Don't you worry, I think I can get soa Studies Club”
”Can you do that?”
Ah, talking about the anthology, huh? Well, good luck
Suddenly, Chitanda's body went stiff as she covered her face with her hands
What's happening?
” Ah-choo!”
She sneezed And she's doing it in an old-fashi+oned quiet way
”Ah-choo! Ah-choo!”
”What's wrong? You have cold? Or is it hay fever?”
” Ah, I', but it seeht a summer cold”
Hh Come to think of it, her voice sounded different from usual
Anyway, I decided to call them out
”Hey, Chitanda, Ibara,”
”Ah, Oreki-san,”
”Ibara, is the Manga Studies Club okay with you being here?”
”Yup, it's all settled What, you have a problem with me?”
Why should I?
Anyway
I decided to cut the niceties and went straight to the point as I took out my sister's letter from my trouser pocket,
”My sis used to be with the Classics Club, so she wrote y back issues”
Chitanda merely looked puzzled It seems she still didn't understand
”I knohere we can find the Classics Club anthology back issues”
She bit her lips ht words
”Is,”
She was so lost for words that her eyes ide
”Is that true!?”
”Of course it's true What do I gain by lying to you anyway?”
As though affir what I said, Chitanda's thin lips broke into a santly fine lady of the Chitanda clan wasn't exactly grinning from ear to ear, she was clearly quite happy Even if I were to obtain so that I desired a lot, I would not be able to make such a face Compared to this, the Chitanda I saw in the Cafe Pineapple Sandith her deep expressions felt like a different person altogether
”I see, the anthologies, huh”
I could hear her whispering softly,
” Tee hee, back issues”
This Chitanda Eru can be quite a dangerous person
However, Ibara raised her eyebrow and questioned, ”Are you sure about that? Why would someone write a letter just to say that?”
A good question No one in their rightinfor the Cultural Festival in a letter from Istanbul But this was indeed a letter frouess just what it is that Oreki Tomoe would consider important
”Well, fact is I've got the letter here, so you'll be able to tell whether it's true or not Wanna read?”
I unfolded the letter and laid it on the table for Ibara and Chitanda to see As they followed every word in the letter, they gradually went quiet The first to break the silence was Chitanda
” Does your sister like to visit Turkey?”
”She likes to visit the world”
”Such an a sister you have”
While her interest was drawn by the curious part of the letter, that's not where I wanted her to look
”'I'll look back ten years froia' Ahh, such a melancholic sentence”
Well, I agree, but that's not it either
As they read on, they both opened their mouths at the same time
” The chemical safe?”
”The chemical safe, huh?”
Ibara looked around the Geology Room, and then put her arms on her waist and puffed her chest
”H like that here”
”Guess so”
That's not hard to figure out Though Chitanda seeone pale all of a sudden
”Eh!? T, then here are the anthologies”
”Chi-chan! Calm down, calm down!”
As to who Ibara was calling Chi-chan, I could think of no one else but Chitanda ”Chi-chan”, that Ibara sure has given her quite a cute nicknaainst Chitanda, huh? Though it is indeed difficult to be hostile to a person like Chitanda anyway
I waved my sis's letter to a now calmed-down Chitanda and said,
”Chitanda, this letter said 'old chemical safe in the club rooraduated fro that time”
”Ah Is that so?”
”So, Oreki, do you knohere the club rooo?”
To avoid any oversight, I made sure to visit the staff room beforehand
”I've asked the supervising teacher, and he said it was in the Biology Lecture Room”
”You sure are quite prepared for this”
”Well, it's efficient”
”How enthusiastic of you”
That's not exactly true, I'm normally not that enthusiastic
”The Biology Lecture Room that's just one floor below us Now that we know, shall we head over there?”
Having said that, Chitanda left the room at once
If there's anyone that's enthusiastic, it's her
The Biology Rooy Rooy Room, located in the corner of the Special Block, was the rey Room, located on the third floor, would also be considered a backwater area While I did say the Special Block was full of people, there were exceptions Like the Geology Room, which was hardly surrounded by any other club rooy Room was the same as well While the corridor was lively with people, the path towards the Biology Room was full of e towards it besides us
Along the way, Chitanda sneezed many times
”Is your cold that bad?”
”Please don't worry too , but it's just a sensitive nose Ah-choo!”
I don't know If it werethis many times As expected of our lady here, who can be extremely modest
Walking ahead of us, Ibara turned her head around and said to us,
”Oreki, do you have the key with you?”
”Nope, someone else seems to have borrowed it”
”Ah-choo!The key's been borrowed? Does thatused by some club?”
”As long as it isn't some fool that's borrowed it, it could be possible”
”Oreki-san it's rude to call people fools”
I got scolded If she gets upset by even that, then not even Satoshi+ or Ibara would have been able to retort, so I s by the corridor wall entered my field of vision I wonder what that was Neither Chitanda nor Ibara seemed to notice it It was a small box, and as it was painted in the same white colour as the corridor walls, it was rather inconspicuous Looking at the opposite side of the corridor, I saw another similar box I Wonder if someone left these behind? As it didn't see down to pick up so that's worth less than one yen is not worth the effort, as the energy spent is more or less equivalent to one yen So it's basic coy savers like me
We now stood before the Biology Roo whether to knock or not, Chitanda had already reached out for the door knob
”Huh?”
The door wouldn't open
”It's locked”
”So it seems”
The two girls turned to look atconcerned while Ibara stared coldly It's bothersome to have them to look at me with such eyes
”No, I really don't have the key with me So I wouldn't knohy the door's locked”
Once again, Ibara tried to open the door, but could only hear the lock creaking Quite aptly, Chitanda said what I was about to say, ” Again?”
Yes, that again
”Chi-chan, what do you mean?”
”Umm, it happened in April”
I don't think Chitanda knows this, but it seeh's classroom doors are jinxed As Chitanda recounted that story in April, I began to think of how to get around this situation without a key
” And that's hoas”
”Hed to do all that, huh?”
I turned ly,
”IS ANYONE IN THERE?”
Of course, I expected no answer
However, there was an answer The blunt sound of the door being unlocked was heard
”Yes?”
The door then opened from the inside
Standing there was aa thin shi+rt and uniforh he looked entsia type than the athletic type of person Upon identifying our grades from the colour of my collar, he smiled politely and said, ”Oh, sorry about that I had the door locked You guys interested in joining the Wall Newspaper Club?”
If you're inside then you should've opened the door right away, da, I said, ”This is the Wall Newspaper Club?”
”That's right Aren't you here to join?”
Theout of the room At that moment I s froentsia fellow here has a penchant for deodorants He raised his brows upon seeing”You got a probleh he quickly reverted to his courteous manner and said, ”Then, how may I help you?”
We exchanged glances with each other, and decided it was best for our President Chitanda to speak
”Good afternoon I'm Chitanda Eru, President of the Classics Club You ht?”
The guy called Toogaito raised his brow in amazement,
”How do you know my name?”
A good question Anyone would be amazed if they were suddenly addressed by naer After all, that's what I felt back in April And like back then, Chitanda ently
”We met at the Manninbashi+ mansion last year”
”Manninbashi+ Wait a minute, you said your name's Chitanda, could you be related to Chitanda-san from Kanda?”
”Yes, he iscare of him”
Hh-society reunion I knew that as an old clan, the Chitandas were farmland owners, but I never expected them to be so well-connected It seems this world that I've never seen before really does exist Co about the old clans of Kast them
”Ah, no, the pleasure's all mine I see, you're with the Chitandas”
”Yes Ah-choo!”
”Summer cold? Must be bad for you Take care of yourself”
Upon learning that Chitanda Eru was froaito's attitude changed in a strange way While he was still courteous, his gaze was now ? I can't begin to iine, but it does seem there is some sort of power influence between the old clans Maybe it's just aze and he spoke as though picking his words carefully
”Well, what is it?”
On the other hand, Chitanda didn't seeaito's reaction and said, ”Yes, actually, I heard that the back issues for the Classics Club's essay anthology were stored here in the Biology Rooht?”
” It hen I was still in first year Though they moved the club rooms all over the place last year”
”Then, do you knohere the anthologies are?”
Toogaito paused for a , ”Nope, never seen them”
Quietly listening to their conversation, Ibara turned and looked at ently Anyone with an intuition would realize that Toogaito was behaving strangely
”I see”
Though she has an ae And so Chitanda looked dejected and was about to leave when Ibara interrupted, ”Excuse me, Sempai, do you mind if we search around for them?”
”And you are?”
”Ibara Mayaka of the Classics Club Since you have no use for the anthologies, ht?”
Though I see no point in doing so, I decided to go on a fool's errand and back them up
”We'll try to do so without obstructing your club activities Or is that too much trouble for you?”
”Please”
”I ask of you as well”
Upon our constant barrage of requests, Toogaito gave a sullen look
”Well, I would rather not have outsiders in the club room”
Upon hearing that line, Ibara quickly jumped on it
”But Sempai, while this is a club rooht?”
I held back ht to refuse students entry into the school classrooaito looked rather troubled as a result, but as Ibara was rather persistent, he finally relented
” Alright then Youup”
And so the President of the Wall Newspaper Club opened the door to the Biology Room
The rooned in the exact say Roo tools, they were generally the sah it does have one extra door Above that door was a sign that read ”Biology Preparation Rooe room was, and it was not possible to enter it directly froy Room
There were hardly any other aito explained, ”We norh as there's no activities today, only I'm here to think about what to publish for the Kanya Festival”
If I remember correctly, the Kanya Festival starts in October So about two and a half months from now
”What's the difference between the Wall Newspaper Club and the Newspaper Club?”
Chitanda asked a totally irrelevant question, which Toogaito answered courteously
”There are three periodicals published in Kah There's the 'Seiryuu' distributed to the classrooh Student Council News', posted outside the Student Council office in irregular intervals; and the 'Kaust and December, and is posted on the notice board by the school entrance We're in charge of the 'Kah Monthly'”
”Who publishes the other two?”
”The 'Seiryuu' is by the Newspaper Club, while the 'Kah Student Council News' is of course by the Student Council Though we have the longest history of the three periodicals The 'Ka its four hundredth issue soon, the other two haven't even reached their one hundredth”
Four hundred issues, huh? Besides us, the Wall Newspaper Club too has a long-standing tradition of its own Come to think of it, if Chitanda's uncle ith the Classics Club 33 years ago, then the Classics Club has been around for at least 33 years No ht become, it surely cannot coain, it's not like my life has been tumultuous so far
”Doesn't seem to be in this room”
Ibara concluded after looking around the rooy Roo That leaves the Preparation Roo that room, ”May we please check the Preparation Room as well?”
” Yeah, go ahead”
Upon hearing Toogaito reply behind me, I entered the roo as well as the sound of some motor I wonder what that was
As expected, the Preparation Rooy Room
This rooy lessons, though right now only h ismore than practical experiments, it would seem most of the other experiment tools and equipment were stored away in another separate room As a result, this became a tool room for the Wall Newspaper Club
There was an a camera, a collection of pens of various thicknesses and colours, cardboard boxes cluttered beside a photocopier, and a sht our eyes, it was the makeshi+ft table in the centre of the narrow room Rather than a table, it was merely a thick plywood board placed on top of a cardboard box On top of it were spread a bunch of B1 papers with scribbles that can only be read by their author, with a heavy-lookingnoise ca blown by the wind
Wind?
There ind inside the rooh the as open, the wind came from indoors That must be where the motor sound came from It was hard to spot as it was placed beside the stack of cardboard boxes, but there was a small electric fan in front of the makeshi+ft table and opposite the , and its wind speed was turned to the maximum
There was so by the as a Ka there casually
”?”
”Oreki, what do you think?”