Volume 3 Chapter 51 (1/2)

5-1 Four People, Four Cultural Festivals[]

048 - ♣16

WANTED!

As the 42nd Kanya Festival draws to its conclusion, the various clubs have held their activities in an orderly manner However, as our

dear readers would no doubt be aware already, that there exists those ould disrupt such order with blatant disregard Indeed, it is

none other than the thief known as ”Juumoji”

This thief would leave a e behind of the clubs which he has stolen from Besides that, he (this writer is not yet certain as to the

gender of the thief) has also left behind so copycat crimes, as a socially responsible publication,

we have' decided not to disclose what it is

In any case, seven clubs have been targeted to date As mentioned in our 4pm edition yesterday, the clubs that have been hit include the

A Capella Club, the Go Club, and the Magic Club as well as how they were targeted And as our previous report mentions, ”Juumoji” is

still on course to stealing ten items

The Wall Newspaper Club would now like to make an appeal to our beloved readers, the students of Ka to

sit by and let this ”Juuet aith his crimes? Can you possibly sit by and let him, most likely a student himself, think

we're inferior to him?

This cannot be allowed to happen!

The Wall Newspaper Club would thus like to seek out detectives willing to catch the phantom thief ”Juumoji” in his act, and reveal his

true identity to all We have great expectations of such a person, and their wisdo such trickery shall be published

in a special edition for all to see

Now that sure was quite a blusterous article, though I don't particularly dislike such style

I didn't really learn much from the part about how the clubs like the A Capella Club and Go Club were targeted The A Capella Club's cooler box had been placed outside the courtyard fro of their performance, while the Go Club left their Go stones inside their club roo the door In other words, the suspect could have been anyone

I was probably reading the article posted on the billboard by the entrance with a s face While I hardly know the people froet a sort of closeness with the such an article

Besides, whatof this special edition As they were supposed to release a special edition once every two hours (come to think of it, that coincides with the ti froht now it's only a little past 7 Theyat school They sure got some spirit

As I too was full of spirits to begin with, there's no way I could lose to them, as I too had arrived at school by 7 To be precise, I was already here when the gates opened at 6 And I was thinking there wouldn't be anyone at this time of day, but there turned out to be quite a nu the Kah School Cultural Festival

Now, for the et

There were two clubs that begin with [KU]: the Quiz Study Club ([KU]IZU KEN クイズ研) and the Global Act Club ([GU]RO-BARU AKUTO KURABU グローバルアクトクラブ) While the [KU] in Quiz Study Club lacked a diacritic (enwikipediaorg/wiki/Dakuten), and would seem like the obvious choice, their activities were already completed by the first day, not to mention they did not book any classroouarantee this to be true) On the other hand, the Global Act Club would be holding a panel exhibition, which was quite rare for the clubs here, which means the door to their room would be open at all times So by process of elimination, the best way to catch ”Juumoji” on his act would be here

I climbed the stairs and headed to the classroom of Class 3-E, where the Global Act Club would have their exhibition Before leaving school yesterday, I went to check if they had anything stolen or if any note was left behind, but could find nothing So bybefore ”Juu him

Even so

There was already someone else in the Class 3-E classroom

”Hey, fukube, you're late”

It's Tani-kun, and it wasn't just him

”Hmm? You're with the Classics Club Thanks for the help last time So, you're into this case as well?”

It was Haba To the ”E the summer vacation, he's from the Detective Fiction Study Club if I rereat deal of attention Looks like Tani-kun's prediction was correct Does that mean I too have been attracted to it as well? Well, I don't deny it though

Besides these two, there was another student I didn't know standing some distance from us As this is the last day, it's not like the clubs would need to prepare for anything extra, so I presume he too is a detective-wannabe That h we may now have more eyes present, it would also ht for ”Juumoji” to make his move

Hiding such anxiety, I spoke cheerfully to Tani-kun,

”Hey,For you to stakeout here, you sure must have some spirits, huh?”

”Saoes for you”

”So? Has it begun?”

With his thumb, Tani-kun pointed to the centre of the classroom,

”As if I'd show any kindness to an expected worthy rival Go investigate yourself”

Heyet, as if the crime has been committed, these three detective-wannabes wouldn't still be here So I shrugged my shoulders

The clock had just moved past 7 As ould need to be by the Gymnasium by 830 to have our attendances taken, if ”Juumoji” were to appear, he too would choose this moment to strike I, andon whoever has co this time frame, ould be able to narron the suspects

Silently, I moved away from Tani-kun and Haba-sempai and leaned on one of the walls by the corridor If I were a hard-boiled detective, I would have taken out a cigarette and sh school, so I took out soum instead

049 - ♥11

The final day has at last arrived

As it's a Saturday, there were more visitors from outside of school than usual Today is also the day where the ”Juumoji Incident” must come to an end It's a et things started, I first headed to the nearest billboard to have a look at the newest edition of the ”Kah Monthly”

There was already someone else present when I arrived

Crossing her arh school student She's e shi+rt, she had rather tanned arh autumn had already arrived, she still wore short jeans that still give out the scent of suently tapped the ground rhythh she was enjoying herself

And right now this person was reading the wall newspaper,a smile appeared on her face,

”I see”

I heard her whisper Unfolding her arishly, and disappeared through the entrance as her guest slippers squeaked against the floor

I wonder where I have e student I just can't figure out where But I'm sure I've seen her face before I was quite confident inpeople's faces and names, after all

”Hmm”

I guess I just can't quite reination

050 - ♠13

As usual, hardly anyone caed to sell up to thirty copies so far, so not that we have anything to complain about

While I' those boxes, even I could feelboxes look quite inti to me

Inside those boxes are printed words that will never be read by a single soul Besides, by staying sealed inside those boxes, the books would slowly transforh they would etch itself into one's heart upon being read, these words are now longing to be read Sealed away in a daht of day, they would continue to fer ”Read me!” in eerie way But still they will never be read, all the way until they rot away, or get burnt completely

Guess I really have too ination With 141 copies to go, not even entrusting 20 copies to Irisu could guarantee ould ever sell out So I was prettyup to a hundred copies of a single anthology If we end up with a large nu, the only fate that awaits thee, or be disposed as recyclable paper

I looked at the cover drawn by Ibara, of a rabbit and dog biting each other, as well as the book binding, glued together by polypropylene

””

Hmm It wouldn't be so bad even if she had cut corners with it

Well, at any rate, there's nothingentle sound ofacross the courtyard at the General Block, I noticed one of the classroo a broken tooth

I switched the hand on which my chin rested

I did not dislike the idea of using the ”Juumoji Incident” in order to draw visitors over to the Classics Club, much like how zoos would covet a panda to raise attendance If the Wall Newspaper et, that'll surely attract people's attention

Yet I was going along a different train of thought, nauarantee of i sales

There were no visitors now, though we do have lots of tihts

[141 COPIES REMAINING]

051 - ♣17

The Global Act Club, as its nalobal current affairs, thus its exhibition panels include stuff like the flood in Bangladesh, or the internal unrest in Indonesia Unfortunately, I wasn't particularly interested in such topics so I can't say whether this stuff is fascinating

Wait a minute, what have we here? A panel reads ”A Mexican cornbread you canordinary dairy products” They've got all sorts of ethnic dishes introduced here Feeling interested, I decided to have a chat with their president, who replied with a bitter looking expression,

”We're not exactly a cooking club This is a global affairs volunteer club, after all Though we also dress in various ethnic clothing, but we thought ethnic dishes wassoh it doesn't look like anyone was interested in how it's made”

Indeed Whether it's thanks to the Wall Newspaper Club, or by word of mouth, as time passed, the number of detective-wannabes seeradually became rather crowded As I did not hear this from the Executive Committee, it seems the Global Act Club intends to ive them out to visitors In less than an hour after student attendance was taken in the Gymnasium, all the cornbread had been consumed by these detective wannabes I can totally understand the president's lamentations Yet if such a croere to appear at the Classics Club, ould probably be sighing and crying out in joy at the same time

” Nothing's happening so far”

A bored sounding whisper entered h there was still an hour to go Yet I findwith hi ten soon If ”Juumoji” were to release a note every two hours, he would have to strike soon (as Kaht) Still, no matter how many eyes were present, no suspicious movement was spotted

Could it be? A doubt arose in eted the Quiz Club instead? No, it can't be Their activity was long finished, and theirthe Cultural Festival How is a thief going to steal from them in such conditions?

But if I consider the question of what could be stolen, then the Global Act Club would seeic Club had ”candle” ([KI]YANDORU キャンドル) that begins with [KI], but I can't find anything in the Global Act Club that begins with [KU] Since all students would be wearing indoor shoes ([KU]TSU 靴) inside Ka those? I can't really ie the reads ”Hey I've stolen your shoes, mwahahaha” (That said, the shoes froa Club and other fashi+on clubs don't count) If the phantom thief ”Juumoji” can twist ”water” as ”Aquarius” ([A]KUERIASU アクエリアス), then there's got to be soiven up because he couldn't figure out what matches his sequence as well?

Ast the detective-wannabes,

”This is getting boring, I'm off”

Said one

”Texthappens”

Said another Even Haba-sempai had disappeared, apparently off for soinning were probably me and Tani-kun

What's wrong with you ”Juumoji”? You can't simply be scared just because there's many of us! I don't believe this, it's nearly ten now!

Suddenly, Tani-kun placed his hand in his pocket and took out his cell He seemed to have received a text as he turned on the display

It was then when Tani-kun raised his voice,

” WHAT?!”

Huh? What happened?

Tani-kun closed his cell phone and placed it back into his pocket, and appeared to dash off Before he does, I decided to calmly ask him what had happened,

”Did so happen?”

Tani-kun bit his lips, as though gesturing it's got nothing to do withto do with ”Juumoji”

I decided to push his buttons a bit,

”I don't get as many friends like you, Tani-kun, so please do tell me what just happened”

Things sure proceed s to lower yourself Tani-kun snorted,

”Hmph, this 'Juumoji' had set up a decoy for us to fall into”

”A decoy? Could it be that he went for the Quiz Club?”

He shook his head and smirked,

”No,”

”Then who?”

Making sure the other detective-wannabes couldn't hear him, Tani-kun lowered his voice,

”It's the Light Music Club ([KE]IONBU 軽音部) Their guitar strings ([GE]N 弦) were stolen”

The Light Music Club??

In contrast to Tani-kun, I raised ,

”You're kidding ht?!”

Tani-kun's face quickly went sullen,

”If you don't believe o confirm it for yourself I'll be off then,”

He said and dashed out of the Class 3-E classroo after hiht, as I knew it'd be pointless

”Juuine I have been bound by the suggestion of the gojuuon sequence and the release of a note every two hours, and was hoping tohe too would be bound by these rules Yet, upon seeing the heavy security of the Global Act Club, he had opted to go straight for the Light Music Club How could I be beaten by such a siainst that

Thisthe suspect head on would not work against him

In that case, I should focus on finding out what his weak spot is, but I did not have the talent for that After all, I would have already done that if I had knohat his weak spot was

Then

I've been thinking since last night In order to catch this ”Juuht the only as to stakeout in his intended target I could not figure out any other way to do so

Yet ”Juumoji” had easily evaded such a confrontation If he could abandon such rules so easily, how a to catch him on the act?

This requires a rethink

There's got to be so else which I could do

052 - ♠14

As expected of a Saturday, by noon there were already more visitors than before

Thanks to Irisu'swell, it seeed to sell as well As a result, Chitanda had ca ten more copies over

Most of the visitors that ca this part of the school grounds on a whied women, who decided to buy a copy each as they chatted idly away Including those te've now sold nine copies today As long as this keeps up, this could be so to look forward to

”Thank you very much,” I said with a stiff smile as I saw them off

I feel like taking a leak

It's ti the only person in the store becomes bothersome, as I couldn't find someone else to stand in for ies, it doesn't feel right to leave any interested buyers waiting So I locked the candy box storing the , and then took out a piece of paper and wrote: Currently away Anthology Hyouka - 200 yen per copy If interested, please leave money on counter

UnderIt was the heart-shaped brooch that Ibara threw at me yesterday For soies and wrote another note: Please feel free to exchange brooch with so of equivalent value

Now then, nature is calling out to me

Phew

I'm home

Hey, I'one Instead, I see 200 yen being placed on the table Did someone buy a copy? When did they come?

I noticed soe Upon seeing it,it, I knew right aho had visited

You shouldn't leave the store unattended like that You wouldn't want this brooch, I presue iteood way for you to kill time

It's my sis So she did co the five ht, personally, it's actually not that bad

Starting with sis's fountain pen, this Straw Millionaire Protocol has gone froe, a Glock pistol, weak flour, and a brooch, and now it's gone full circle back to e? As it's co of interest I took a look at the stack of Hyoukas

True enough, on top of that y-like book similar in size to Hyouka Bound in the back with polypropylene glue, it's quality was inferior to that of Hyouka, though it was rather thick The cover featured an illustration of a girl's face froa drawing

At any rate, I returned the candy box to its original position and placed the 200 yen my sis left behind inside I don't supposed I need bother counting howEven if it'smy back on the chair, I picked up the book my sis left behind

On the side of the cover was a vertical row of small words Seems to be the title Ashes at Dusk? What a morbid title And besides that title was the name of the author ”Anshi+nin Takuha”? Sounds like a Buddhist ot that name pronounced properly

Looking at the title and author na an occult book toto see the contents, turns out it was indeed a irl exiting a train station built of wood Whoa, this drawing is pretty good

I see If it's a h it feels weird for sis to show such blatant goodwill Well, if she had brought it all the way here froratitude and start reading this

Before that, I decided to see if there was any afterword by the author, and sure enough, it was on the last page

Here it is

How did you find Ashes at Dusk?

If you ask e of the background art and didn't really contributethis, rather than thank me, you should thank its writer and illustrator

Neither three of us belong to the Manga Study Club We are sia who had decided to try and create a ing about how good it is ourselves That is for the readers to decide

We do not intend to disband after just a in next year's Kanya Festival Our writer ”A” plans on writing a mystery story for it, and I aatha Christie's most famous works As such, the title has already been decided

So stay tuned for our next work, The Kudryavka Sequence Yeah, I know, anothertitle (LOL)

I look forward to ain in next year's Kanya Festival

”Anshi+nin Takuha”

It ritten in neat handwriting

””

I raised ain

Kanya Festival, this h School's students There can be no mistake, this was created for the Kanya Festival

And then there's this ”Kudryavka Sequence” While I have no idea what on earth this ”Kudryavka” ued by the word ”Sequence” No, if it was just that word alone, I wouldn't have been that interested Rather, it was the atha Christie's most famous works”

Moreover, this was brought over by ain looked at the memo she wrote

This would be a good way for you to kill time

Why is it a good way for a, then the way she said it was strange This was definitely not her way of saying ”Since a for hiht

”What bothersootten me into?”

I htened my back

The art looks good, and the afterword said it's enjoyable, so I ive it a read While it wasn't explicitly written, but the person rote the afterword see Even if this was a randoreat way to kill time

[121 COPIES REMAINING]

053 - ♣18

I've finally organized hts

My conclusion was: There's nothing I can personally do about it

For better or for worse, I' up

In other words, there was only one thing left which I could do right now So I said calmly,

”I' on you, Houtarou”

054 - ♥12

I a for a person

It is none other than the President of the Broadcast Club Thanks to the Juu more visitors than usual have reached my ears from various people, and not just fukube-san alone I am very curious as to who is this ”Juu with such thefts Mythis Yet it's only now that I began to think of such things Until noe had only learned the what and the hohich was pretty frustrating

If we could attractthe Juuht now, I a theone part of a syste to offer an interview on behalf of the Classics Club with the Broadcast Club during their lunchtime broadcast

With advice froed to enlist the assistance of the Wall Newspaper Club in pro our cause, the next step would be to speak with the Broadcast Club

However, just when I thought I would meet hiirl, whose voice I recognized as the host of the lunch time broadcast, heard my request and tilted her head,

”The Prez' is probably somewhere around here Wonder where he went Well, since he's not yet decided what to put in today's prograht have a chance if you speak with him”

Thankfully, I knehat the president looked like, so I should be able to find hi around the campus in search of him And yet, I couldn't find him

I caOreki-san a visit while he watches the stall While I did stop by before to collect another 10 anthology copies as requested by Irisu-san, but he was fast asleep

As I cliy Room To my surprise, it was Yoshi+no Yasukuni-san, the president of the Broadcast Club which I was looking for As I did not expect to see hihtened my uniform scarf and chased after him,

”hello, Yoshi+no-san”

Yoshi+no-san stopped and turned around idened eyes His unpretentious hairstyle and thick eyebrows stood out,

”Yes?”

I bowed politely,

”My name is Chitanda Eru, the president of the Classics Club I was looking everywhere for you, as I was hoping to request so from you”

Yet Yoshi+da-san did not wait formy name, he startled

”So you're the Classics Club president! What a coincidence, you ca for you for a favour”

Oh?

I wondered what it was, and soon enough, Yoshi+no-san began explaining,

”Is the report by the Wall Newspaper Club true? That 'Juuet would be the Classics Club? 'Juuht now, you see? So I was thinking of doing so about that for today's lunch broadcast, otheron't have anything interesting to talk about for the rest of the afternoon Thank goodness for this incident to happen As for ould be our guest, that would naturally be the president of the final targeted club So you interested? Don't worry, all you'll need to do is answer a few of ot a pretty voice, so it'll be just fine How about it?”

Oh my

I didn't even need to apply any of Irisu-san's negotiating skills that she taught uest in a radio broadcast, as I was only thinking of having theuest That would be like fukube-sanhis speech before the Quiz Club president in the First Day

Will I be able to do this?

A long silence ensued Yoshi+no-san scratched his head,

”Well, you don't have to do this if you don't want to, of course”

”No, wait,”

The sight of the mountains of Hyouka floated inshe ht of Oreki-san and fukube-san's hard work as well

I should not be hesitant, so I bowed deeply once again,

”I'll be lad to do this,”

”R, really?”

Yoshi+no-san broke into a broad smile,

”Then, do please coin at 1230 Youyou then!”

”No, the pleasure is all mine”

I wonder if I could say I felt relieved? Instead, I felt anxious While Yoshi+no-san all I needed to do was answer a few questions, I' private I took a deep breath

Oh yes, I cay Rooh it's supposed to be left open for the whole day I knocked and opened the door

Inside were Oreki-san, as well as fukube-san, who raised his hand to greet me,

”Hey, Chitanda-san Irisu-seed to sell her copies quite well, hasn't she?”

”Yes, she's asked for another 10 copies,”

I said while looking at Oreki-san, who seey and didn't bother to lift his head Could it be that he didn't notice ed his shoulders,

”He's reading a a And he see to what I'”

His eyes fixed on the book, Oreki-san spoke,

”I heard you The thief had skipped [KU] altogether and went for the Light Music Club, which began with [KE]”

”It's no use just listening if you don't get the i, you know”

”Hang on, I'”

You see? fukube-san gestured to ain

Upon thirty seconds after he told us to ”hang on”, Oreki-san finally closed the an to tease him,

”Who would have thought Houtarou would be so ia? Maybe you should consider follow Mayaka as her disciple?”

What's the difference between these doujin s

As Oreki-san glared at fukube-san, besides looking as lethargic as usual, I so as well Turning his eyes aith some embarrassment, he muttered,

”This, is good”

”Really? Let me have look at it as well afterwards”

This was the first time I ever saw Oreki-san with such an expression, and it piqueda closer look, the cover had a cute yet sad-looking girl drawn on it The way the girl's expression was draas a, and the way the fabric of her sailor uniform, which was similar to mine, was draas also an eye-opener I could even sense the wind blowing fro as well

Umm

As a habit, I tilted my head fukube-san saw me and asked,

”What's wrong, Chitanda-san?”

”Well”

I looked at the illustration once again A pitiable yet cute looking girl The way the fabric is drawn

”Haven't I seen this drawing somewhere before?”

”Must be your iination,”

Oreki-san immediately responsed,

”I only got this a from my sis earlier today, so there's no way you could've seen it”

Is, that so?

I looked at the ain No, there's no mistake I'm confident of this myself,

”I've seen this before This drawing, or rather, the drawing style of this a”

”Froo?”

fukube-san asked, to which I shook my head,

”No, probably recently,”

But I couldn't quite remember when! If I can't clearly reliet it too soon

Umm, ummmm

”I, I”

”Chitanda, we've got our hands full right now,”

Oreki-san as though chiding me I understood it myself, we're at a very busy period Even e aren't busy, Oreki-san would frequently give a gri It's so I understand very well But, I couldn't helpit,

” I'm really curious about it”

I placed my hand on my throat,

”It's on the tip of ue,”

”S it back,”

”I can't do that,”

”Then do so about it,”

”Let es!”

Giving a sigh, Oreki-san handed theat the cover, I don't re the title Ashes at Dusk anywhere else before See

Flicking through the pages I ca of a boy, to which I exclaimed,

”Ah!”

”What? You re?”

For soh he was disappointed, which got htly,

”Yes, probably The drawing of this boy, it rese it by the notice board besides the Conference Room, one of the Cultural Festival promotional posters, I think”

I lowered ood with a, so while it does resembled what I saw, I couldn't say I was absolutely sure

”That poster, huh?”

fukube-san see about that poster, which made sense since he works with the Executive Co all this ti,

” Hmm, it does feel like that poster, but I'ure out sos,”

That's it, that's a wonderful idea!

”Oreki-san, can I borrow this a for a while?”

Oreki-san leaned backwards as I ain Shaking his head gently, but rather than refusing ned,

”Sure thing As long as you're feeling curious about soet done until it's finished Just,it,”

”Yes, I'll be right back!”

I said as I held Ashes at Dusk a towards my chest

055 - ♦11

Both fuku-chan and Chi-chan were looking forward to the third day of the Cultural Festival in order to boost the sale of Hyouka, yet they're not alone in wishi+ng to sell all their anthologies in the final day The saa Club

Before ere even ready to begin the day, a fewbesides the opened door of the First Preparation Room in expectation of visitors Thankfully, there werein than the previous two days Personally I too was glad about it, withthe character posters without even asking for the price If ere serious, ould break even if we sell each poster at 100 yen, though it's actually taboo to be sellingthe festival as per the school rules Even though President Yuasa was not one to erous risks, she still sold many posters to anyone ould ask for them

We've ended up digging a hole for ourselves

As we didn't draw a lot of variations for the characters, all that's left is just to draw the characters in differing poses Dressed in a khaki Mao suit with side an aruessed as to what I was cosplaying, yet it was Kouchi-seuess,

” Could it be, the parakeet chasing detective?” (enwikipediaorg/wiki/Rainbow_Parakeet)

”Yes”