Hyouka:Volume 1 Chapter 1

1 - Letter from Benares

Dear Houtaru

I am currently staying in Benares. Although in Japan this place is commonly known as Benares, calling it Varanasi is probably more acurate in terms of pronunciation.

Benares is a great town, Houtarou. This is a town of funeral ceremonies - after all it has been such since a long time ago. It seems like whoever dies here can ascend to the heaven. Or am I wrong?

Oh yes, the place is said to be "free from the wheel of reincarnation." What it means is that dying here is equivalent to becoming an enlightened being by Buddhist sense. In China, a long austerity is required to reach this state of "release". But here you simply pass away and then everything is okay.

Well, that is a pathetic story for the Chinese.

Maybe it is a bit late, but congratulations for being successfully admitted into a high school. It is the Kamiyama High School after all, isn't it? What a boring choice. But congratulations anyway.

As your big-sis, let me give you, someone who has safely become a high school student, a piece of advice.

Enter the Classics Club.

The Classics Club is a humanities club in Kami-High with a long tradition. Also, I am not sure if you already know it or not, but I also belonged to the club in the past.

I heard of this from someone else, but it seems that our tradition-rich club has no new-comer for three years and currently with no member at all. If no one joins the club this year it will be disbanded. As an old girl of the club it is certainly not something I can stand.

However, if there are newcomers in April then the situation will turn out differently. Houtarou, safeguard the Classics Club, the youth of your big-sis. For now you only need to put down your name to join.

Moreover, it is not really that bad as a club. It is particular great in autumn.

After all, you don't have anything better to do, do you?

I will call you after reaching New Delhi.

With love Tomoe