Author Notes

Thank you to : DeltaNovember for plot ideas, editing and being a cool bro.

Disclaimer : I do not own Hyouka. Please do not sue me.

Summary : As an important day approaches, Chitanda struggles to find the perfect birthday cake. Houtarou, known for his disdain of sweets, is enlisted to find a birthday cake that even his taste-buds would like. But with just a vague memory of the only cake he's ever enjoyed, will Houtarou and Chitanda find the Birthday Cake of Memories?

Birthday Cake of Memories

Oreki Houtarou


At this moment I am without a doubt on the border between life and death.

On the outside this elegant home would look quaint and traditional; perfect for a prestigious family of farmers. There are streams and rivers and fields of rice paddies and crops that ring the white-plastered stone walls. It has a tiny pond with colorful carp. It has a garden with blossoms trees, and flowerbeds all humbly arranged. All of these trappings would make it appear as if there were nothing afoot. How could the sparrows singing in the birdbath hide a demon so sinister?

Oh, but there is a demon here. A demon of death. Death has a name: Chitanda Eru.

"Oreki! Please, try another slice of cake!"

My stomach groaned.

The kitchen of the Chitanda household is littered with used baking pans and ingredients. Flour was dusted nearly everywhere: the counters, the floor, even Chitanda herself. In her haste and need for efficiency, the meticulous baker Chitanda chose to forgo organization and neatness in favor of haphazard mass production. An assortment of cakes, all rejected, were set half-eaten on the only part of the kitchen untouched by her baking, the dinner table.

"No good," I opined. To be fair, my assessment was extreme biased against anything baked, sweet, and creamed.

With a frustrated snap of her fingers, Chitanda gave a puff and turned back to her work. "Let's try a different recipe," she said to no one but herself. "Chocolate and ginger, perhaps?"

...how sadistic could she be?

The father and current head of the Chitanda clan is someone I've never met. There are no family pictures as far as I could see in the house but I imagine him to be grey and muddied wearing a bamboo hat and rolled up sleeves. But he must be a good person at the very least to raise someone as innocent and naive as Chitanda Eru.

But as his birthday approaches, Chitanda took it upon herself to create a birthday cake that would satisfy him. Apparently, he is a man notorious for having a disdain against sweets and sugar. Being the perfectionist, Chitanda wanted to bake him a birthday cake that could appease someone who hated sweets. To do so, she would need a taste tester. Someone who hated sweets as much as him... someone who was readily available, outside the family as to keep the whole thing a secret, and completely compliant.

That's where I come in.

"Here!" Chitanda set another experiment of some unearthly combination on the table and looked at my expectantly.

I sighed.

At the time, a week of excused absences from club meetings in exchanged for a day of cake testing sounded like a great deal. Then it became the lesser of two evils. Now, it's just pure evil.

Biting into the cake, I could taste a combination of spice that made my tongue too uncomfortable and a sweetness that made my throat too loose. Setting down the fork, I turned to Chitanda and shook my head.

Another cake, another failure.

"I just don't like cake, Chitanda," I reasoned. "I don't think your dad's taste will change."

Chitanda proud her hands to the table and leaned in close. My personal space was violated. Her eyes were wide and she opened her mouth, "but it's his birthday! I want to be the one who makes the cake! A cake he'll like!"

"He's your dad. I'm sure he'll like whatever cake you make him."

Furrowing her brows, she leaned back and crossed her arms, bringing a hand to her chin. Rubbing it in thought, she wondered aloud. "There has to be a cake out there somewhere that he would like... we just haven't found it yet."

"You can't find something that doesn't exist."

Ignoring me, Chitanda thought harder.

She had a face of concentration. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and flour was dusted on her shoulders, hair, and pink apron. She looked composed, even in the hectic disaster scene that was her kitchen. It's rare, but sometimes even Chitanda can appear like the eye of a storm; calm and solemn. If I didn't know Chitanda, I'd think she'd make for an ideal wife.

Then it all clicked in her mind.

"Oreki!"

"Yes?"

"Isn't there a cake you like?"

"I... think so?"

Without a moment's notice, Chitanda slammed her hands onto the table causing the stack of plates and mixing bowls to rumble. Her eyes were now brought fully to bear against mind and I felt extremely uncomfortable as my heartbeat quickened.

"I'm curious!"

"About... what kind of cake I like?"

Nodding eagerly, Chitanda had a hopeful expression in her face. It finally dawned on me that perhaps the path of least energy would have been to simply tell Chitanda what kind of cake I liked rather than taste-test a smorgasbord of cakes I almost certainly wouldn't like.

Such misfortune.

"So, so! What kind of cake do you like, Oreki?" Her eyes were unsurprisingly beaming with anticipation.

"I don't recall."

That is the truth.

Her smile turned to a frown. "You don't remember what kind of cake you like?" Chitanda tilted her head in disbelief.

"I was young," I explained. "And it was a long time ago."

"Don't you have any clues? Don't you remember anything about it?"

"My sister took me to a neighboring town to some cafe for my birthday. She bought me something sweet and I remember liking it." I caught the look in her eyes as the scent of extreme energy exertion was picked up by my nose. Time to abort. "B-but I mean, it's all the way in the other town and it's a long train ride and all..."

It was a lesson long in coming but here it is: reason does not dissuade Chitanda Eru.

"We're going!"

I winced at her command and like a genie bound a lamp had no power to contest.

"Yes..." I sighed.

"After we clean all of this up!" Chitanda turned and spread her arms around in the disaster area that was her kitchen.

I groaned loudly.


The train ride was uncomfortable.

It was a half an hour long ride across rolling hills, mountains, and scattered towns. The train wasn't packed but because it was rather antiquated compared to the models found in more urban areas, it still felt cramped. Naturally, I began to feel nauseous. What wasn't helping was a certain curious girl who kept poking me to get my attention so she could point out all the sights.

"Look Oreki! There's the famous Buddha statue of Nekoyama! They have a famous animal shelter at the temple there!"

"Hn."

"Look Oreki! That's the Lake of a Thousand Wishes! People would float their wishes down the lake on paper boats!"

"Hn."

"Look Oreki! It's...Oreki? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I lied. I kept my head low and my eyes glued to the floor. The constant shaking movement of the train was hurting my head and I could feel the cake's stewing in my stomach yearning for their vengeance. What did I ever do to them?

"Are you sure?" I didn't have to look at her to know Chitanda had a worried look on her face.

"Yeah. I'm-"

This girl certainly has no concept of personal space. She had brought a hand to my forehead and pressed it, checking for my temperature. Her other hand was pressed on hers to compare the touch and her eyes were closed. It was a caring touch I'll admit.

I just wish those two old ladies down the aisle would stop giggling.

"Oh to be young and in love," said one.

"Lovebirds these days are so daring, aren't they," said the other as they continued giggling.

"You don't appear to have a fever, Oreki," Chitanda ascertained as she continued to press her hand against my forehead and the other against hers. "You appear a bit pale and in pain. Where does it hurt?" Chitanda asked as she leaned forward. I could smell her fragrance and it was sweet. It only made me feel more ill.

"My stomach," I muttered. "It's nothing," I assured her as I kept my eyes on the floor and away from her.

"But... if it's your stomach... then was it something I made?" She gasped at the possibility. "I'm so sorry I made you eat all those sweets. It must have upset your stomach," she apologized.

"It's not."

"But then..."

"Motion sickness," I said.

Chitanda leaned back in her seat.

"When we get back I'll make you some medicinal tea. There's some pickled vegetables and I can make bitter melon stew. My mother says, 'sourness and bitterness cures a stomach struck by sweetness,'" Chitanda hummed in a sing-song tone.

Weakened, I decided it was best to simply not resist. "I'll appreciate it," I said. On the other hand, actual food not loaded with fruits or sugar sounded rather appetizing. Savory... sour... bitter... Perhaps if any part of my life could be rose-colored, I wouldn't mind it being food.

My stomach grumbled a bit as Chitanda clasped her hands. Retrieving package from her bag wrapped in cloth, she produced a plastic container. The plastic container really suited Chitanda. It was pink and had floral patterns all over it with a cutesy cartoon farm animals and vegetables all over the lid. Opening the container, it revealed an assortment of nine rice balls.

"There's tuna, dried plums... that one is ginger. Please, enjoy," she offered.

They were pretty good, I admit as they slowly disappeared. Chitanda herself took only one and told me to finish the rest. They were a welcome reprieve from the morning onslaught of sugary death down my throat.

And so, the train ride continued in silence as I continued munching, but for some reason Chitanda had a big smile on her face.


The neighboring town is quieter than Kamiyama.

Exiting the station built of brick like those you see in Spaghetti Westerns my sister makes me watch, Chitanda and I were greeted by a colorful garden, cobblestone streets and old-fashioned buildings.

It had a charming vibe.

If I recall correctly, Satoshi told me there's a large number of girl-only schools and academies here. That would explain the abundant number of females on the streets. It would also explain the large number of flower, clothing, and confectionery shops. My eyes hurt a bit from the sheer number of colors. The smell here was even flowery and sweet, like a daisy trying too hard to be a rose.

"Oh," Chitanda looked around in wonder before jumping excitedly. "I've never been here before."

Unexpected. "That's surprising," I said. "This place suits you," I admitted.

Covering her mouth to stifle a giggle, she confessed, "I was actually suppose to go to a school here." Still taking in the view, she continued, "but when I made it clear I wanted to go to Kamiyama High, my parents didn't pressure me to come to one of the academies here. So since I never had to come here for school, I never really had a reason to come."

Maybe there's an alternative reality where she did come here.

"Do you regret going to Kamiyama High?" I asked Chitanda who was inspecting the bouquets of flowers set outside a florist shop.

"Of course not!" Shaking her head furiously, Chitanda explained, "this place is beautiful but... it doesn't have the same feelings of home."

I didn't need her to say anymore. "So where are we going?"

Chitanda looked at curiously. "Where are we going?"

"Yes..." I said looking at her.

"But don't you know which shop has the cake you like?"

"...no. I do not remember."

"Oh..." Chitanda looked downcast upon the realization: we came here without knowing which shop had the cake I liked.

I didn't want to see Chitanda's frown so I thought about the cake. I don't remember the cake itself that much but I remember the situation. My sister had just remembered it was my birthday and took me on a train ride to give me the best birthday cake of my life. Then we went to a shop... we sat down... and she... oh that's right...

...she ordered... that.

"Chitanda."

"Oreki?" She looked at me like she was defeated at Sekigahara.

"I have an idea of which shop it could be."

Her ears perked up.

"Really? Which one?"

"It was a shop that has a Lover's Special."

In an instant, I felt the force of my body pulled by a girl whose strength must have defied several laws of Newtonian physics. Her hand was clasped tightly around my wrist as she pulled me towards the shops and cafes scattered about the town.

I imagine she must have been excited to have a lead.

"Onwards!"


It's been a long day.

There were forty-two cafes, bakeries, and confectionery shops in town. Of those, only twelve offered anything resembling a Lover's Special. And even amongst those, none of them offered a dessert that even closely resembled a cake. They all sold an assortment of pies, pastries, fruit tarts, doughnuts, and cream puffs. But no cake.

I heard a painful grumble.

My stomach is not pleased with me.

I'm so sorry my poor stomach. I'll never do this to you again.

The day was dwindling away as Chitanda and I at an umbrella table by the train station refreshment stand. It was run by an elderly lady in an old kimono. They offered sandwiches, lunch boxes, and drinks - the selection etched out on a chalk board. Desperately needing a drink to wash away the sweet taste in my mouth, I had a bottle of water while Chitanda sipped warm green tea.

"It appears we've failed," she sighed. Looking down, Chitanda stared into her tea as if trying to read her fortune. "I don't think I'm destined to find the cake that would please my father." She smiled as she joked, "I mean, I couldn't even make you a cake you'd like... what hope is there?"

Chitanda looked sad.

The sight was strange. It was different. I just knew I didn't want to see her like this.

"When is your father's birthday?"

"Tomorrow."

Oh. That leaves no time.

"We could..."

"It's fine," she said. I was out of suggestions and ideas. It was a desperate time limit. As I thought on, nothing would come to me. This was the limits of my abilities. A lifetime of energy conservation has given me the ability to find the way out, pulling all the pieces of a puzzle together with minimal effort exerted. But here, it would appear no matter what I threw or how much I energy is exerted, the outcome has been decided.

If I knew it was hopeless... then Chitanda...

Chitanda began sniffling.

This must have meant a lot to her.

"Oi, oi. What's the matter? A lover's quarrel?" The elderly refreshment stand owner came to our table. "Most of the time, lovers tend to come here since the boys have to depart. So it's pretty common to see this sort of thing."

"It's not that," I assured while glancing towards Chitanda who was wiping her face with a handkerchief. "We're just looking for something."

Rubbing her chin, the old lady exclaimed, "whatever it is you're looking for! Don't!"

"Huh?"

"Things come to you naturally, just like love. If you throw away your lives looking for one flower, you'll miss the garden."

"That makes sense," Chitanda said. Her eyes were red but she was smiling.

"Oh ho! Good to see you smiling, young lady. How about I treat you two to a Lover's Special? On the house."

I could tell Chitanda's heart stopped.

"You have a Lover's Special?" Chitanda asked excitedly.

"Of course, of course!" The old lady laughed. "But keep it a on the hush-hush, dear. It's part of my secret menu," she leaned forward with a wink. After Chitanda gave the old lady a bow and the old lady gave Chitanda a pat on the head, she left to her stand before returning with two plates.

"Here you two go! Purple Fruit Cake! Enjoy," the old lady said as she set the plates.

"Thank you. But why is it called Purple Fruit Cake?" Chitanda wondered aloud at the display before her.

Giving us a wink, she departed back for her stand.

I wasn't quite sure why it was called Purple Fruit Cake, especially since it was two.

But nonetheless, Chitanda was mesmerized.

Set in front of Chitanda was a strawberry cake. The fruits were sliced and scattered a top of cream and drizzled with red syrup. Chitanda poked through the cake with a fork as she found the pink meat of the cake. There were three layers of fluffy pink with white cream intersected in between. It looked wild and overly sweet.

Taking a bite, Chitanda declared, "it's a bit spicy! But it's good."

Set in front of me was a blueberry cake. Blueberries dotted the top layer of white cream. As I cut through the cake, I found there was no layers, only a solid mass of bread with blueberries speckled throughout. I was thankful there wasn't any cream as I took a bite.

"It's a bit bitter," was my verdict.

Yet, it tasted familiar but strangely incomplete.

"Your cake looks good too!"

It made no sense to call it a Purple Fruit Cake. After all, it's not one single cake but two separate cakes. Wouldn't it be more sensible to call it a Red and Blue Fruit Cake? I mean, there's no purple in this at all and the bitter taste in my mouth is starting to really irritate me...

Wait.

This bitter taste is irritating me.

"Chitanda."

Chitanda looked at me curiously. "Oreki? Is something wrong?"

"Do you think your cake is a bit too sweet and spicy? Like it's missing something?"

Looking towards the sky with a dab of pink cream on the corner of her lip, Chitanda thought a bit. "Yeah. This cake is delicious but it feels incomplete." It was also familiar... this cake is incomplete somehow. My sister and I did something. Something to make it memorable...

What was it?

"I love this cake, but yours looks so good too, Oreki!"

Of course.

That was what it was.

"Do you think you need something else? Like something less sweet? Something with bitterness?"

"Oh! That sounds like a good complimentary dish. I should write this down," she said as she began fishing through her bag.

"Chitanda."

"Oreki?" Chitanda looked up, pausing the search through her bag for pen and paper.

"May I try some of your cake?"

Chitanda went a red at the request. "I..I-I... y-yes," she nodded nervously. What was there to be nervous about? I was about to head to the stand to ask for an extra fork before Chitanda stopped me. "Oreki..."

"Yes... Chitanda?"

In one hand she held her fork and on the tip of that fork was a piece of pink cake covered in white dream with a small strawberry slice on top. Her other hand was held underneath the fork, a gesture to prevent any accidental spilling onto the floor. Both her hands were shaking.

"H-here," she offered.

Now was not the time to have reservations. Steeling myself, I took a bite of the cake.

"Oh." I munched on. "It's good."

"I know, right? This cake is delicious," Chitanda smiled. "We should thank the lady again."

"That's not what I meant. I meant this is what is missing from my cake," I explained as I retrieved a piece of my cake for Chitanda to sample. "Here," I said as I held it out for her. "Try a piece of my cake. Just do it."

"O-okay," Chitanda agreed as she closed her eyes and took a bite. As she continued to chew, the pink dab of cream on the corner of lips began to turn violet. "Oh my! It's good! The spiciness from the strawberry cake is being washed away by the blueberry bitter taste." Putting a hand on her cheek she murmured with her eyes closed, concentrating on her sense of taste. "It's heavenly."

"This is the Purple Fruit Cake."

Chitanda's eyes snapped open. "Of course! Red and blue makes purple! The red is the strawberry cake and the blue is the blueberries!" She got it. I sat down and went back to my cake as she continued on. "The strawberry cake is spicy and the blueberry is bitter. So if you eat only one cake, you wouldn't feel as satisfied if you had them both!"

"Yep," I said as I began poking through the blueberries on my plate.

"I guess that's why it's the lover's special..."

And so, that phrase clicked for me.

"Oh. I remember now. My sister took me here to get this cake. "

"Really?"

"She heard about this place from her friend but she didn't have a boyfriend to go with so she took me on my birthday. She got us two cakes from here and I got the strawberry one. I didn't like it so I asked my sister for some of her blueberry one. I liked it better. And then she said something."

"What was it?"

"'You wouldn't have liked the bitter one if you didn't have the spicy one first'," I recalled.


The train came shortly after.

We thanked the old lady and returned the plates and fork. Boarding the train, Chitanda and I found some seats. It was late and there were not many others on the train. It was virtually deserted and it was nightfall. The air was cold and the train rattled as it began making its way back to the Kamiyama station.

Although we had found the cake I liked, I don't know if Chitanda found the answer she was looking for.

Then I heard a yawn.

"Chitanda?"

I looked at my partner and her eyes were droopy. Anyone could see the day of cake making, shop visiting, and constant travelling had taken its toll on her. She was exhausted and drowsy. But still, she didn't have her answer.

"Oreki..." She murmured softly. "The cake..."

"Don't push yourself. Just go to sleep."

As if on command, she slide her head onto my shoulder.

There are moments were Chitanda can be pretty rude and intrusive. She was putting her head on my shoulder without asking for permission. Her hair was pooling all over my arm like a black waterfall. It didn't feel bad but the fragrance was unsettling.

"...about tomorrow," she whispered softly. It was as if the dream world was slowly dragging her away.

"What kind of cake do you plan to make?" I asked as I began to feel sleepy as well. The exhausting events of the day had finally caught up to me.

"A Purple Fruit Cake wouldn't be appropriate to serve my father... especially on his birthday."

"Oh," I stared out into the dark landscape dotted with the lights of towns and stars. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I have a good idea of what kind of cake I want to make."

"Really?" I yawned. "What kind?" She burrowed deeper into my shoulder with a yawn.

Chitanda smiled, "...secret."


Birthday Cake of Memories

Fin