Author Notes

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

Chapter Three

Setting the Stars in Motion (III)

Tuesday the 17th of December, Nine Days 'til Christmas

Chitanda Eru

I wasn't curious. It was that obvious.

It felt as though a wife had caught her husband in bed with another woman. Another woman whom the wife admired, respected. Another woman universally acknowledged as being more intelligent, more beautiful in every aspect. A woman whom the wife thought of as a close friend. A woman whom the wife trusted and thought as a mentor. This was a woman, the wife knew, who could take anyone's heart handily if she so wished. Even her precious underclassman's husband.

But he wasn't my husband... or lover... or anything.

No one spoke. Not I, not Miss Kaho nor Miss Fuyumi. I caught a glimpse of shock on Oreki's face before he covered it with a pillow.

Every move Miss Fuyumi made I watched as if possessed. There was no effort made to cover her exposed pale skin or to fix her disheveled hair. She looked over at Miss Kaho and I, almost bored, as she retrieved her neglected top before feeling around for a bra. Oreki had lifted the infirmary blanket to cover her indecent state which Miss Fuyumi hesitantly accepted with a sigh. With a blanket lifted chest high covering her breasts, she did something that made my heart sink.

She stroked his cheek with her fingertips and smiled at him.

Afterwards came the sound of her black bra being clasped. Then her shirt was restored and her hair was flipped. Silence dominated the atmosphere as no one could or wanted to speak. It was such a shocking sight to be sure: the most beautiful woman in Kamiyama High topless a top of Oreki Houtarou, self proclaimed lazy good-for-nothing bum in an infirmary bed. Even a fool like myself could see I had stumbled onto them in the midst of an intimate moment.

If I was angry, I certainly did not show it here.

"Irisu," Miss Kaho said, breaking the silence. "Care to explain your very improper use of the infirmary?"

I didn't condemn Miss Kaho's aggressive tone. I wanted to know as well.

"Miss Juumonji," Miss Fuyumi replied, "I've forgiven your selfish abuse of the art supply room before. Would you mind overlooking my infraction in turn?"

"You know, Empress, I have half the mind to..." I tugged on Miss Kaho's sleeve to cease.

I wanted us to be friends. Yet even as I held Miss Kaho back, I felt as if my trust had been violated by Miss Fuyumi.

Why?

Slowly behind the covers that curtained the point of contact between them, Miss Fuyumi dismounted Oreki and straightened the wrinkles of her skirt and began fixing her hair. She was careful to not allow any glimpse to her legs, still hidden beneath the blankets. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Miss Fuyumi slip a hand under the sheets quickly and make a swift motion before dismounting the bed. Oreki continued to lay there with pillow over his face and his lower half covered by the lazily tossed blanket. My eyes were focused on his Oreki's lower regions, wondering if they had consummated their relationship.

The thought pained me.

"Forgive me. The next time our passions ignite, I'll be sure to find a more suitable location. A quaint little inn in the Manninbashi mountains perhaps," Miss Fuyumi promised with a bow. I averted my eyes from Miss Fuyumi as I did my best to hold back Miss Kaho from advancing.

"Don't you dare give me that kind of reply." Miss Kaho was upset, though I wasn't sure why. But I couldn't bring myself to denounce Miss Kaho's aggression.

"There is no insult," Miss Fuyumi said with a flat lined lip as she circled around from the far side of the bed over. I had thought she was going to approach us but instead moved over to Oreki who was still on his back. Her hand ran through Oreki's drenched hair and she leaned over and whispered something to him. Miss Fuyumi's other hand reached over the covers in the direction of Oreki's lower regions.

I winced when at the sound of a zipper.

"Didn't realize the Empress was so shameless as to abuse the infirmary beds," Miss Kaho scoffed. Miss Fuyumi tossed her hair back with a stroke of her hand in response before turning to us and smiling. She sat down on the bed with her hand still running through Oreki's hair. Oreki himself was unmoving. I wanted to see his expression.

I wanted him to explain to me why I felt betrayed. I felt entitled to an explanation. Entitled to Oreki explaining to me everything that was going on. What was he doing with Miss Fuyumi? How did this all start? What did he see in her. Why her?

"Listen to me, Irisu. I'm not done with you." Miss Kaho was becoming more and more upset as I held her back. Miss Fuyumi gave her a bored look before returning her gaze to Oreki with a smile.

"And what is there to discuss?"

"What the hell you were doing just now." Miss Kaho asked, though it wasn't a question. I must admit, I wanted answers as well.

"That's a story for another day," Miss Fuyumi offered.

"I want the story. Now."

"Shall we discuss things over some tea? I know a wonderful little tea house in downtown Kamiyama," Miss Fuyumi suggested without a glance towards us. Her attention was fully focused on Oreki. "I'll pay, of course."

"Bribing us with milk and cookies?"

"I'm a bit famished. I believe Houtarou is as well after the recent activities," Miss Fuyumi giggled to herself. It felt like a hole was carved into my chest and my spine was chilled to the core. I have never seen Miss Fuyumi so delighted, so elated. She always appeared composed and refined in every which manner.

Yet here she was acting like she was... I daresay... in love.

"I want answers, Empress," Miss Kaho demanded with a hiss. Miss Fuyumi shrugged in agreement before giving Houtarou's hair one final run with her hands.

"Over tea," Fuyumi assured. "Will you be joining us, Houtarou dear?"

"Irisu..." Miss Kaho growled.

Miss Fuyumi smiled before returning to coaxed Oreki out of the bed with sweet touches and gentle gestures.

"Houtarou dear... Honey."

Oreki didn't say a word to me. No words of parting to anyone. Anyone but Miss Fuyumi and he vanished as Miss Kaho screamed after him to see him about the Star.

He vanished without a single word to me.

Oh well, I thought. Tomorrow I'll see him. Poke and prod him until the truth leaks out of him! That's right! Tomorrow...

...that's right. Tomorrow I won't see him.

That Bearer has his duties.

Fuyumi led us to her favorite tea shop. It was rare for all three of us to be together without our families around. Our mothers would watch us play when we were little. Miss Fuyumi's mother would say that she was always the ambitious one. Strong and independent yet so distantly ahead. Miss Kaho's mother complain of her daughter. How she had great potential, yet so indecisive and lazy. She rows the boat at her own pace so much that she never starts the race. But she was fierce when provoked and utterly loyal to her friends. Just a nudge, her mother would wish.

And my own mother would say, "Fuyumi has elegance, Kaho has intelligence but I was the loveliest of them all."

She was wrong.

I seated besides Miss Kaho across from Fuyumi who quickly ordered her favorite drink. Some sweet chocolate concoction from France which name I can't pronounce. Miss Kaho went for her usual green tea sweet tea. And because Miss Fuyumi was offering to pay, Miss Kaho held no reservation of ordering various treats and side dishes. The waitress looked surprised at the growing list of demands.

And I asked for coffee. Black.

This only made the waitress more surprised.

"Eru..." Miss Kaho whispered to me who turned to the waitress and said a few words to her. The waitress nodded and bowed as she went to take our orders. I returned my eyes to the table.

"So!" Miss Fuyumi began with an enthusiasm that caught Miss Kaho and I both off-guard. "I hope your families are well," she said.

"They are well," Miss Kaho replied as she kept her hand on my shoulder. I kept my eyes on the table. "But I've been feeling nauseous lately."

"If you're experiencing persistent discomfort, my family is always willing to treat you," Miss Fuyumi offered.

"Oh I already know the cause. It's a symptom that I can easily remedy. I suspect it has to do with a certain cur that infests the school."

"A cur?"

"A cur in heat. I just recently caught that very cur in the nurses office in a state of shame and disgrace," said Miss Kaho.

The waitress had returned with our orders, and Miss Fuyumi paused her response. She placed the drinks before us. Instead of seeing black before me I saw a whip cream with a red dot center.

"A strawberry-vanilla-chocolate sundae for the lil' Miss who's having a bad day," the waitress winked at me as I was about to protest. "It's okay. I was young once too! But you know what? Who needs 'em, right? There are always other fish in the sea and if you want that one so bad, just steal him back." And with a quick bow, the waitress left.

Miss Fuyumi covered her hand over her mouth. Miss Fuyumi was giggling.

"Oh sorry. I just..." Miss Fuyumi looked unable to contain herself.

"You just what, Irisu?" Miss Kaho asked.

"Steal him!" Miss Fuyumi finally let loose the laughter. "I can't imagine Eru stealing someone away! Just the thought!"

I said nothing. It was true. Miss Kaho thought differently.

"Never thought finding yourself a hump of meat to lug around brought the funny bone out of you," she commented.

Miss Fuyumi smiled. "Love changes a woman."

"Changed you into quite the bit-"

"Lady Juumonji," I interjected raising my tone. "Now is not the time for fleeting passions to cloud our judgement."

Miss Kaho eyed me as if she had seen a ghost and sighed. "Of course, Eru. Of course," she said as she slouched back into her seat and reaching for the hastily arriving side dishes and treats.

"Lady Fuyumi," I said as my attention turned to the Empress. "Your relationship with Oreki Houtarou is your personal matter. I assure you that Lady Juumonji and myself are here on the most cordial of terms. I apologize if our dispositions and actions may have provoked your otherwise. Our business is ours. Yours is yours."

I bowed my head like the defeated to the triumphant, unable to look her in the eye.

"Are you trying to convince me that he is not your business? Truthfully?" Miss Fuyumi dully replied as she stirred her drink with the straw.

"Of course, Lady Fuyumi."

"And not yourself?"

I said nothing.

"Irisu..." Miss Kaho growled through cookies crumbs and chocolate-smeared lips. "Is this a trick? An elaborate, sick, twisted, utterly despicable scheme?"

"What kind of scheme would this be?" Miss Fuyumi asked with a sip.

Miss Kaho closed her eyes. "It's a classic Empress tactic. You do something to throw your target off balance. Something spontaneous and unsuspecting. For boys it would be to show them great interest. Flirting. Time after school discussing business. They're unprepared and eager to serve. They give themselves for you. Then, just like that," Miss Kaho snapped, "discarded."

Miss Fuyumi sipped her drink. "Continue."

"For a girl. You'd strike at the heart instead of the penis," Miss Kaho boldly stated. I blushed at the last word and wiped some cream from my lips.

Miss Fuyumi laughed.

"And what would I have to gain from any of this?" Miss Fuyumi asked after the laugh subsided.

"We are the future of Kamiyama. In time, we each will lead our clans. But I see you've started earlier than us," said Miss Kaho.

"How so?" Miss Fuyumi smiled. She expected more.

"This is against the Chitanda clan, isn't it? It has nothing to do with Eru at all!" Miss Kaho practically jumped out of her seat at the exclamation.

Miss Fuyumi furrowed a brow. "A bold claim. Please continue."

"Eru," Miss Kaho looked at me. "Your family at the Christmas Party. What are the clan heads doing while everyone is at the party?"

"They attend the annual meeting between clan heads," I answered. I was not following along so well. "Like they do every year. We usually play board games or watch a movie while they discuss things."

"Do you know what they're discussing this year? At all?" Miss Kaho looked at me intensely, as if demanding an answer she believed I knew.

"I...I don't know!" I felt embarrassed at my lack of knowledge. My father typically kept the matters business matters private. There was a distinct line for him between business and family. Rarely did he ever allow it to blur.

Miss Kaho sighed. "Your grandfather's land. They're discussing that."

My grandfather's land? Before the war during my grandfather's time, the Chitanda clan held all the lands of Kamiyama town. They sold most of it after the war to support the fledgling post-war government and slowly bought it back throughout the years. The Chitanda clan only held half of what it once was. But if I recall correctly, my father said we were on the cusp of regaining all of it.

Wait...

"Are they discussing the purchase of the remainder of my grandfather's land?" Miss Kaho nodded.

"A branch of the Manninbashi clan had purchased the land throughout the years. They were poor farmers and because of that the branch is nearly extinct. The main Manninbashi family wants nothing to do with the farmland. Your father's good relationship with the Manninbashi clan allowed him to reach a deal to purchase the land at half the price the land is worth."

"Really?" I stared in amazement at Miss Kaho's knowledge.

"The deal will be finalized at the Christmas Party once all the clan heads meet. The Chitanda clan will own practically all the land it once owned and more. With Chitanda farmers, the land would become even more profitable and the clan wealth would increase."

I gasped, I didn't realize my father had such grand plans in store.

Clap. Clap.

Miss Kaho and I turned to Miss Fuyumi.

"It's a wonderful idea," Miss Fuyumi smiled. "But I'm afraid it may not fall through."

"What do you mean, may not?" Miss Kaho leered.

"My family's hospital offers the Chitanda clan a rather generously discounted insurance plan for any of its farmers and families, currently employed or retired. However, the deal expires by the end of this year."

Miss Kaho muttered, "it all falls into place..."

"But certainly," I asked earnestly, "your family will renew it?" My thoughts drifted to the faces of families who grew the rice and harvested the crops. If they were to pay a greater cost for their service, then it would be my duty to assist them. Regardless of the cost.

"Perhaps," Miss Fuyumi wondered aloud.

And suddenly, I felt like Oreki.

"Miss Fuyumi," I began. "Is your family planning on not renewing it? So my father cannot purchase the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have his father's land restored?"

"Perhaps," she repeated.

"Why?" I asked, feeling tears wet my eyes. My father rarely spoke of anything with great engagement at the dinner table. The only thing he truly loved was to restore the Chitanda clan's possession to that of his father's time. It was our clan's dream. The dinner table dream. His dream.

"My father asked me what my opinion on it was. If we accept the deal renewal, then the Chitanda clan will purchase more land and become even wealthier as time goes on. So wealthy that they would eclipse us in prestige."

"This isn't a war," Miss Kaho said.

Miss Fuyumi shook her head. "It's a matter of power. We plan to build additional hospitals but we cannot do that if the Chitanda clan controls all the land and stubbornly refuses to sell an inch. So my father gave me the choice. He told me if I were to be head of the Irisu family, then I must start now. I told him I would reject renewing the deal."

I felt my heart sank.

Miss Kaho uttered "witch" under her breath. At least I hoped it was witch.

"Without the deal, the Chitanda will not have the funds to purchase the land. They would be so honor bound to paying for the insurance of their workers that they would sacrifice such an impossible opportunity. The Manninbashi are polite but impatient. They won't hesitate to sell at the next offer. And whoever these new owners are, they will not be so generous."

So like Miss Kaho said, it all fell into place.

"But then I thought to myself, perhaps this is an opportunity."

"An opportunity?" I asked through the tears.

"You and Miss Kaho both misread the situation. This has nothing to do with your grandfather's land. It's all yours. I just ask for a simple offering. A trade. As simple as that."

"What do you want to trade?" My mind raced to petty objects. Mirrors or dolls. A pencil or an eraser.

"A trade between you and me, Eru. Oreki Houtarou for your grandfather's land."

I come to the Sarusuberi bookstore when I'm at my lowest.

Maybe I should be flattered. Miss Fuyumi believed Oreki was so taken with me that I posed a threat to their relationship. If I were her, I think I would have done the same. But honestly, I do not believe Oreki ever looked at me the same way, if he looked at me all. And so, I wish them happiness.

My father would recover within his generation what was lost in an instant.

All it took was that I would never speak to Oreki again.

Miss Kaho quickly left after finishing her drink and taking a fair portion of the treats home. She had to meet Oreki to hand the Star to him. Miss Fuyumi offered to message him a reminder. I would have done so, but Miss Fuyumi had made the choice clear.

It'll be hard to adjust, I noted to myself. The Sarusuberi bookstore maintains a small museum . They have artifacts all the way from the founding of the town to the more modern events. They carry art from the days of the Ashikaga shoguns. They have a vase from the Ming Dynasty. They even keep a suit of samurai armor worn by a Sarusuberi warrior.

But most prized of all are their collection of books, painstakingly transcribed into volumes. They have books and journals from various figures in the town history. The originals themselves remain behind glass and key but transcripts can be bought. They offered a view into a different time. It fascinated me.

Naturally, I own all of them.

The elderly bookstore manager was a pleasant lady who offered me tea and cookies in the reading room on the second floor. It was rare I accepted but today I decided to not refuse her hospitality.

I was in the midst of selecting a reading when I saw him enter the bookstore.

"Oreki!" I exclaimed in a hush whisper. The books made me forget this wasn't a library.

"Chitanda," he lazily greeted.

"How did you find me here?" I asked.

"Juumonji said you'd be here. She was right."

"You've received the Star?"

He gave a soft "hn," before taking out the artifact out of his bag.

It was a peculiar piece of metal. I could see its familiar edges pointing out from the newspaper wrap. It was deformed with dents and clearly weathered. The grey metallic shine was there, a sign it was freshly polished. It had four points with characters etched into each. Miss Kaho said it was because of the North-South and East-West motif.

"Would you like to see the Star of Kamiyama exhibit?" I asked excitedly.

I had already forgotten my deal with Miss Fuyumi.

He nodded uncharacteristically not protesting the invitation or declining it.

But it was an exciting prospect.

I grabbed his hand and led him deeper into the rear of the bookstore. I saw the bookstore manager push a few of the attendants out of the rear bookstore at our coming. I saw her mouthed, "there are no cameras in the back, Lady Chitanda."

I blushed when she gave me a wink.

Except for events, the bookstore rear is usually empty. The front is where most of the trending books are sold and where the great artifacts are located. It is well guarded with attendants and watched by guards. The rear held the exhibits on the town history and classical books. They were mostly projects made by local children showcasing the history of the town that change annually like the seasons.

It was a quiet walk down the hallway and soon we stood before a dimly lit room with posters covering the walls. Each was a poster with drawings and pictures but little writing. It's believed that art is as great an expression as literature. What history is known, does not need to be retold in words but rather pictures. So people can see, rather than read. And maybe, experience. At least that's how I thought of it.

"What do they mean?" Oreki wondered as he looked around. My hand was still holding onto his.

"The schoolchildren draw pictures to represent the history of the town. This wall is the one for the history of the Star."

"The Star," I pointed to one at the top corner. "was made to celebrate Christmas."

Oreki squinted his eyes. "I don't see it. All I see is an asparagus." I looked again. Now I can't unsee the asparagus.

"Ooh! Oreki..." It was amusing. Oreki didn't look at me but kept his eyes focused on the picture.

"I think I see the Christmas Tree now. Is the one next to it... a giant dragon general? And he's terrorizing the villagers?"

I laughed. "That's the Tokugawa Shogun banning Christianity."

"I'm trying," he said to defend himself. His eyes were ever focused upward towards the pictures.

"I know," I said softly.

I didn't have to tell him now. Or maybe he knew and came to say farewell? Miss Fuyumi is unexpectedly possessive and understandably so. I leaned closer to him as he tried to guess through the remaining pictures. I laughed more than I should have. He saw kittens, blue spaghetti and giant robots fighting in Tokyo.

I think I'll just enjoy what little time I have left with him.

"Chitanda, tell me if I'm wrong," Oreki said, "the Star of Kamiyama was meant to celebrate Christmas. The Christians celebrated it in the mountains because the shogunate banned Christianity. Then a giant sea otter comes in and starts reading books?"

I laughed.

"No," I said politely. "There's a rumor that the Star of Kamiyama is actually a key to a puzzle. Nobody knows what this puzzle is what the prize is. But apparently, it holds the legacy of this town."

"Do you want to find it?" He asked in a low voice with a hint of dread.

"Yup," I answered. Before I had realized it I had brought my nose to his. "I'm curious!"

Oreki gave a nervous smile as he waved it off. "It's getting late, Chitanda." He pulled my hand, still clasped in his out through the bookstore. The attendants gave whispers amongst themselves but I didn't mind if their silly rumors reached even my father's ears. The manager gave me a quiet cheer.

"Oreki," I began as we stood outside the bookstore. "There's something I have to tell you."

"We can't speak anymore," he answered as he finally released my hand. "Fuyumi." I winced. They were on a first name basis.

"So you knew..."

He shrugged. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do," I whispered.

"Then it's a minor concern."

"But..."

"Farewell, Chitanda," he said as he turned around to leave.

Maybe it was just plain stupidity. Maybe it was the thought of never being able to speak to him again. Maybe it was the pressures of clan and town and the exhaustion that comes with it. Maybe it was the cold weather and I wanted to be closer. Maybe I had a bit of a sinful side to me. Maybe the cramped space of the bookstore fueled my hormones. Or I was just rationalizing it all too much.

Whatever it was, I had crossed a line when I pulled on his shoulder and stood on my toes in the cold street.

I kissed him on the cheek and immediately retreated for home.

Author Notes

Chapter Three Fin

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