A/N: Hoo boy... First fanfic for Hyouka... We'll see how this goes. (:

Random prologue is not random. I had a friend read it for me and asked her to guess at the plot. She didn't do half bad picking out all the clues I'm already throwing your way, either. That said, details are evident of what is going to happen later if you're willing to play detective. ;) Personally, I'd love to see people try to solve mystery before Houtaro and the gang does. (:

Japanese pops up here and there. If it's too confusing, just tell me and I'll stop. (But personally I think it's kinda fun to use...)

Shipping: Yes or no? I will honestly only add it if people want it, so let me know. (And don't worry; if I add it, it won't interfere with the plot at all.)

Everyone says this, but I love reviews - especially constructive criticism. (:

Aaaand last but not least: I don't know Hyouka, only the plot and any necessary OCs...


Prologue: Strange Calls and Family Ties

"Oreki residence."

"Oreki, huh? So I finally got it right!"

"Uh…"

"I don't suppose I could be fortunate enough to be speaking with Houtaro-kun?"

"Uh… I don't mean to be rude, but who is this?"

"Ah! Sumimasen! I shouldn't have expected you to recognize my voice – it's been a long time since we've seen each other, after all! You were just a little thing still… I'm your uncle – Uncle Kohei!"

Houtaro stared blankly at the wall opposite him. "Never heard of you… Sorry."

"Somehow I'm not surprised. You're mother and I don't exactly get on very well. But no matter! I'm going to be passing through Kamiyama soon and thought I might stop by." A pause in which Houtaro could hear sound in the background – an announcement of some kind? "I have to be going now, but you'll let your parents know I called, right?"

"Uh… Yeah, I guess…"

Another pause. "Actually, let's just keep this between you and me, eh? We'll make it a surprise for the rest of the family!"

"Uhm… Okay."

"That's a good lad! I'll be seeing you soon!"

Houtaro continued to stare blankly at the phone after the line went dead. "Strange…" Shrugging, he put the hand-held back in the cradle and returned to his breakfast. He'd have to hurry a little now to keep from being late for school. He sighed. Just who was that anyway? He may not interact much with his extended family, but he thought he knew most of the names of his aunts and uncles, at least… Quickly downing the rest of his food, he decided to keep it from Chitanda at least – she would be too curious, and he really had no way to solve a mystery like this one at the moment.


"Houtaro… Earth to Houtaro!" Satoshi intoned, waving his hand in front of his friend's face.

Houtaro came back with a start. "Nani?"

Mayaka giggled. "We've only been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes!"

"Where did you go, Oreki-san?" Chitanda asked, tilting her head to the side. "I'm curious!"

Houtaro frowned. "I didn't go anywhere. I'm sitting right here."

"You know what she meant," Mayaka frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's odd for you to space out like that."

"What were you thinking about, Oreki-san?"

Those shining violet eyes had him caught just like always. He was cornered, and he knew it; she would always get him to fess up with those too-innocent eyes of hers. Staring into them, he couldn't hide – he felt like his very soul was visible to her. Resigned to his fate, Houtaro sighed, glancing towards the door for the sake of avoiding the other members' stares. "Just… Something strange that happened this morning, that's all. It's really not that important."

"Hontouni? What happened?"

Shifting his gaze was a mistake: There were those all-seeing eyes digging into his soul again. He groaned quietly. "Nothing… It was just a phone call…"

"A phone call's got you spacing out?" Mayaka huffed. "And here I thought it was going to be something interesting."

"What made it strange, Oreki-san?" Chitanda continued.

"Why are you so curious? It's really not that important…"

"I'm just curious as to what made you curious!"

"Who said I was curious?"

"You said it was strange…"

"Not the same thing."

"And you were obviously thinking hard about it."

He couldn't deny it. Houtaro shrugged. "It was just strange that a relative I've never heard of would call, that's all."

Chitanda stood up suddenly, slamming her hands onto the table, leaning forward into Houtaro's personal space. "A relative you've never heard of? How is that possible? I'm curious!"

Houtaro leaned back, turning his head to the side to put a little distance between them. "It's not really that surprising; I don't really know my extended family very well…"

"And you're bad with names," Mayaka added with a smirk. "Even if it was someone you should know you'd probably get the person's name wrong."

"Oh, shut up…"

"Well, it's true."

"Either way," Houtaro concluded, "it's not that important."

Chitanda sat back down. "It's still got me curious…"

"I shouldn't have said anything," Houtaro muttered. "I'm sure I'll know after school anyway… I'll just ask Tomoe – if she's home by then, that is."

Chitanda shook her head. "Not that…"

"Something else, Chii-chan?" Mayaka asked, turning to her friend.

"Hmm." Chitanda nodded once. "Oreki-san…"

He glanced up. "Still about me?"

"Hai. You said you don't know you're extended family well… That seems odd to me."

"Why? We just live far from most of them so I don't see them often, that's all."

She smiled. "Actually, I'm more curious about your immediate family. It just donned on me that I don't know much about them – about any of your families, actually!"

"What's to say?" Satoshi asked with a sigh. "I'm an only child, and my parents are both businessmen. Not much of interest there…"

Mayaka nodded. "Same for me, Chii-chan. There's not much to tell about them."

"Oreki-san?" Chitanda asked. "What about you?"

"I have an older sister, and my parents both work, sometimes even going out of the country, so I don't even see them much," he answered blandly. "Nothing to tell…"

"Hmm, no wonder you don't really know your extended family," she spoke almost sadly, "if you don't even see your own parents much…"

He shrugged. "Doesn't bother me. Tomoe is more than enough, believe me…"

"It's still sad, Oreki-san. Who takes care of you?"

"I can take care of myself."

"What about when you're ill? Or injured?"

"Can't remember the last time I was ill or injured so horribly I couldn't take care of myself."

"That's so sad, Oreki-san…"

"Yare, yare…"

But, even though he'd said it wasn't important, it wouldn't leave him alone. He couldn't stop thinking about it. With an irritated sigh as he pushed open the front door of his house, he couldn't help but think that Chitanda was definitely rubbing off on him (although if this was actually a bad thing, he still wasn't sure). "Tadaima," he called as he closed the door and slipped off his shoes. Just as he'd hoped, his sister quickly made herself known. It was convenient she home; he was could make quick work of the mystery that had been haunting him since that morning now. "Aneki, do we have an Uncle Kohei?"

The smile that was always on her face faltered slightly. "Where did you hear that, little brother?"

Houtaro hesitated; he didn't like that look – it meant something was wrong. "He called this morning – while I was getting ready for school. Why?"

"What did he want?"

"Nothing much. Just said he'd be passing though Kamiyama and might stop by. Is something wrong, Aneki?"

Tomoe turned away from him. "Oh, not really. He's mom's brother, and they just don't get along well, that's all." She started back towards the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes."

So much for the quick-fix solution for, as he watched her retreating back, Houtaro couldn't help but feel as if she was hiding something – something important. He sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. Mountains out of mole hills, he thought; Chitanda-san is definitely rubbing off on me…


~When the Past Tangles with the Present~