Editing Hyouka:Volume 2 Chapter 6

== 6 - "The Blind Spot of 10,000 People" ==





The next morning, after making sure I had the video cassette in my shoulder bag, I departed the house.

After making a promise to review the movie yesterday at the Hifumi tea house, Irisu handed over a video cassette she prepared beforehand and said,

"We do not have much time left. I shall meet you at a place designated by you tomorrow at 1pm and hear your conclusion about this matter."

After considering my own house or the Cafe Pineapple Sandwich which I so frequent, I decided to meet her to at the Geology Room.

Right now, I was heading towards the Geology Room. It was nearly ten o'clock when I exited the residential streets and into the main street. For the next fifteen minutes of passing through various cars and people, my mind was blank, save for a favourite folksong of mine which constantly played while I move my legs. I've more or less forgotten about the details of the movie. It was inefficient to think at such a state.

At the end of the main street, a glimpse of Kamiyama High School could be seen. As I arrived there, a voice called behind me,

"Hmm, Houtarou?"

Small town this was. I turned to find Satoshi, wearing his standard Kamiyama High School summer uniform and carrying a drawstring bag, getting off his mountain bike with a smile. I waved my hand in lieu of a greeting,

"You're heading to school as well today?"

He nodded and raised his brows,

"How rare for Houtarou to come to school on his own will during vacation. You have some business?"

"Am I not allowed to come to school if I don't have any?"

"Not at all. It's just that it's so out of character for you, something must be up."

I bit my tongue. I never thought about this, but it would seem my energy saving behaviour was just as easy to read as Chitanda's curiosity driven behaviour.

I had no reason to hide. No, as I was thinking of letting them know, which was why I've chosen to meet at the Geology Room in the first place. So I said,

"I'm on official imperial business from Irisu. She had commanded me to designate a killer for Kaitou's death."

Whether it was on purpose or not, Satoshi went stiff for three whole seconds upon hearing that. For some reason, he then revealed a very cheerful face as he said with a raised voice,

"Wow! Who would have thought? You were the last person in my mind who would accept such an errand."

"Oreki Houtarou's righteousness and compassion knows no bounds."

"Nice quip there, Houtarou."

"I'm in a hurry."

Satoshi started walking alongside me as he pushed his mountain bike. As the road wasn't wide, I ended up leaning towards the side of the road.

"That's some change of heart from you. I wonder if it could have something to do with that? Want me to tell you what that is?"

He prodded me, to which I remained silent,

"It's for Chitanda-san's sake, isn't it?"

He said something as a matter-of-factly. To begin with, it was a conclusion made in light of the results of the past few months. Nearly all the troublesome incidents which the Classics Club got entangled in were started by Chitanda, to which a pattern developed where she would coerce me to be deeply involved. Though there was one exception.

This was the second exception. I shook my head and said,

"No, it isn't."

Though it was indeed Chitanda who brought the case forward, but it was not due to her request that I came to school today.

Satoshi raised his brows at my unexpected response,

"It wasn't Chitanda-san? Then was it a whim? Or you're doing it out of charity......nah, can't be. While you didn't say it out, this is also in line with your motto 'If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, make it quick.' right?"

Of course, that was my original intention. As a result of Satoshi being completely frank about it, I got even more displeased. I said bluntly,

"Must I explain even that to you?"

He shrugged his shoulders,

"Not really. But I didn't want to pretend I wasn't interested in knowing why. Should I apologize?"

I smiled and let the matter rest.

We walked silently together for a brief while. As there was nothing else to say, Satoshi moved to get on his bike in an attempt to ride on ahead. While I find no need to stop him, I still called out to him,

"Satoshi,"

"Hmm?"

Though I called him, I didn't have anything particular to say. Realizing this, I tried to be frank about the predicament I was in,

"...... Do you think, do you think there's some things that only you could do?"

It was an ambiguous question. He tilted his head and replied cautiously,

"I'm not sure why you're asking, but...... amongst every person that ever lived in this world past, present and future, I do think that there's one thing that only I could do."

Could he, even in such conditions?

"And that is?"

"Isn't it obvious? It's the 'passing on the genes of Fukube Satoshi'."

He said and smile. He didn't sound like he was joking. It was his way of poking fun at his own Average Joe inadequacies.

"My bad. Allow me to rephrase,"

I thought for a little while,

"Within Kamiyama High School, is there a talent which you consider yourself to be second-to-none?"

He replied at once,

"Nope."

I was at a lost for words at how fast and precise he has answered. Satoshi said with a carefree tone,

"I told you before, Fukube Satoshi possesses no talents whatsoever. Take my passion to become a Holmesian for example, but there's no way I can become one. I do not have what it takes to enter an endless maze of knowledge just to pursue it. If Mayaka were to take up an interest in Sherlock Holmes, I can guarantee you that she would overtake my knowledge in three months' time. I'm the sort that only takes a peek at the entrances and take a pamphlet or two to read. I wouldn't call myself second-to-none on anything."

I never thought I would hear Satoshi say such stuff. Yet Satoshi said it calmly as though he were talking about the weather. As I remained speechless, he smiled mischievously,

"Now I get it, the reason why Houtarou wants to try and solve the movie mystery."

"......"

"Irisu-sempai has recognized your abilities as a 'detective', hasn't she? She must have said you were the only one who could solve this, and you ended up agreeing, right?"

Damn, was he a telepath or what? So I nodded.

"But this sure is some risky business, to lend your skills based on the words of 'the Empress' concerning your knowledge."

"But you aren't suspicious of it yourself."

"Maybe...... Anyway, I'll be going ahead and setting up the video player."

Satoshi got on his mountain bike and proceeded to ride off. As he was about to step on his pedal, I noticed I had something I wanted to say. It would feel bad if I ended up not saying anything.

"Satoshi,"

"Yeah?"

"I don't know what you'll think of it, but I think you're worth more than that. I think there'll come a day when you'll be one of the best Holmesians in Japan."

Satoshi blinked his eyes, but soon returned to his default smiling expression. He shrugged his shoulders and turned to say to me,

"Rather than a Holmesian, I'm just very fascinated by Sherlock Holmes, that's all. Besides......"

"?"

"...... Besides, I now feel it was worth it for me to give that answer to you just now."