Hyouka (氷菓)

They say high school is all sunshine and roses.

Sunshine, roses, rainbows, and unicorns.

I've heard so much about the bliss and excitement

of being a high school student

that I've written it off as a worn out cliché.

Who's to say that all teenagers even want high school

to be like some fairy tale fever dream?

It seems ridiculous to me.

There's all the studying,

and the sports hysteria,

and the saccharin-sweet romantic affairs.

Those are the worst.

A lot of teenagers have no interest

in that kind of nonsense, right?

Well...

I guess when you rule out all that crap,

there's not much left over, is there?

Wow, Hotaro,

I never knew you were such a full-fledged pessimist.

Wait, a pessimist?

Why have you got a problem with studying, sports, romance?

Things the normal kids enjoy.

You make it sound so dismal.

That's not what I said.

You misunderstood me.

I'm telling you what I hear.

Maybe you're just lazy.

What do you think of that?

Anytime you think something's a hassle

or seems like it might be frivolous, you refuse to do it!

Which explains... your motto!

"If I don't have to, I'm not going to.

And if I have to, I'll do it as quickly as possible."

That's the one.

But just so you know,

by not joining any of the offerings at the veritable

Mecca of clubs which we call Kamiyama High,

you've made a little black cloud appear above your head.

You might think you're slick,

but you're only punishing yourself.

You've crossed over into downright masochism.

You sure like to run your mouth.

You're just now noticing?

We've been friends since middle school.

Whatever. Go without me.

What do you mean, "without you"?

What the--?!

Is that what I think it is? A club application?

Hotaro! You're joining one?

Classic Lit club? Really?

-- Oh, you know it? -- Of course I do!

Since when are you into classic lit?

What's that?

What does a letter from your sister have to do with it?

She sent it to me from India.

Some place in the north called Varanasi.

Oh, yeah?

I see what's going on.

Your sister's blackmailing you.

They're threatening to shut it down

for lack of members.

She wants me to join and help keep the club alive.

But I thought your sister was more into martial arts.

Aikido, actually, which is worse.

If she wants to hurt you, she knows just how to do it.

Then you should do what she says!

Well, it's not like I have anything better to do,

and believe me, I've tried to think of an excuse.

So the club doesn't have any members?

Nope.

Well, then look on the bright side:

You'll have the clubroom all to yourself!

It'll be nice to have your own private space

on school grounds, at least.

Sounds like a dream!

"My own private space?"

Come on, ladies!

I salute people who have that kind of energy.

Knock, knock.

People usually misunderstand me on this.

It's not like I think my way of doing things

is better than theirs, by any means.

And I don't see myself as superior

to those who choose to get involved.

I'm just true to my motto, that's all.

If I don't have to, I'm not going to.

And if I have to, I'll do it as quickly as possible.

There, see?

Ew!

Fourth floor of the auxiliary building.

That's as remote as it gets.

Hello, there.

I didn't know you were in the Classic Literature club.

Oreki, right?

Who're you?

Oh, you don't know?

My name's Eru. Eru Chitanda.

Sorry. I have no idea who you are.

Hotaro Oreki from class 1-B?

That is your name, isn't it?

Yeah.

I'm in class 1-A, so we have met.

I'm sorry, but...

That's not ringing any bells, so...

1-A? Maybe we share an elective.

Wait a sec, you wouldn't happen to be

in my music class, would you?

Yep!

We've only had that class once so far this term.

Her memory is incredible.

So, uh, Chitanda...

What are you doing in here?

Are you lost or something?

Nope!

You see, I joined the Classic Lit club.

This is where it says we're supposed to meet!

I joined the Classic Lit club.

I joined the Classic Lit club.

Are you for real?

Why would you do that?

I have my reasons, but they're kind of personal.

Why did you join?

Oh, uh...

No reason really, I'm just glad we have members.

Are you happy now, Sis?

Classic Lit club lives to see another day.

Well, see ya later.

Wait, you're leaving already?

Sure am. Have fun in here.

And be sure to lock up when you leave.

What?

I can't lock up if I don't have a key.

What's that?

I was saying that I don't have a key.

Oh, yeah.

Here.

Wait a sec...

Why do you have the key to this room, Oreki?

What do you mean by that?

How in the hell was I supposed to get into

a locked classroom without one?

Pardon my French. I'm confused.

I don't understand how you got in before I showed up.

The door was open when I got here.

Well, then you must have just locked it behind you.

Are you saying what I think?

I was locked in here?

Yeah, you were.

So someone came along and trapped me

alone in this room until you showed up?

Look, I'm sure you just did it yourself.

Are you certain that you didn't?

Yes, I'm absolutely certain!

But I'm the only one with a key.

I mean what else could have possibly happened here?

Maybe we should ask the guy who's hiding in the hallway.

Huh?

Satoshi...

Hey! Sorry about that.

I totally didn't mean to eavesdrop on you guys.

You "totally" did.

Okay, guilty as charged.

But I gotta admit, when I see my good buddy, Hotaro,

known for his stoicism, in an empty classroom

with a young lady, and dusk fast approaching,

I get more than a little curious.

I had no intention of barging in--

Hey!

We weren't-- No! I wasn't--!

You've gotta be kidding me.

Of course. Just joking.

Oh, thank goodness.

Sorry 'bout that. This guy has no manners at all.

Nothing beats a good joke!

"Don't ever take life too seriously."

I live by that motto.

Right.

Oreki, who is this boy?

This is Satoshi Fukube, would-be comedian.

I see.

Hey, good one!

I'm honored that you think so, my good friend.

Nice to meet you. And you are...?

I'm Eru Chitanda.

Did you say Chitanda?

As in the very famous Chitandas?

What's the matter with you?

Wait, are you telling me you've never heard

of the Chitanda family?

Kamiyama has more than a few prestigious dynasties.

But none of them are as notable

as the four Higher Power Families.

There's the shrine-owning Jumonji family,

the Sasusuberi Bookstore Tycoons,

the wealthy Chitanda farmers, and the Maninbashi landowners.

Written this way, the kanji for each name

increases by the power of ten, hence the name

"Higher Power Families."

Is that true?

I wouldn't say we're a prestigious family.