CHAPTER 3

„Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I'd give up all the world to see
That little piece of heaven looking back at me."

Skillet, Lucy

Take it as it comes

Oreki lived in his student apartment ever since he started studying. Some have asked him why is he doing this, but he couldn't find a simple answer. Perhaps it's because his sister permanently moved to his place, and he desired peace. This is the answer he always gave, because it was easier to explain. Every other explanation took too much energy. Such as it is, Oreki didn't really want to move anywhere. Neither did he really want to share his apartment with anybody else. Alright, his persocom was a different thing, but it was a rare exception.

When Junko decided to move in, Oreki protested. They knew each other only for a few months, and sudden decision to live with him annoyed him. It's not like he didn't care about her, but this was too sudden.

„Listen, Junko." Oreki said when they sat on his sofa. He wanted to stretch his legs, and she sat upon another end and turned on TV, munching on chips.

„What's poppin'?" Junko asked.

„Whenever I get home, I stretch my legs on this sofa. That's my ritual."

Junko looked at her legs, then at him. Leaning onto sofa. she said:"Well put your legs here.", pointing at her thighs.

„No. I want my sofa." Oreki turned his head around.

„Oh, what's wrong with my legs?" Junko asked, obviously confused. Oreki realized just how oblivious she was to everything that happened. Back then, he didn't realize just how many red flags he ignored.

„Nothing is wrong with your legs." He turned around.

Junko let out a sigh, taking a recliner in the corner.

„Do what ya want." She said, continuing with munching.

„And clean up after you eat." He turned around, taking a nap. Junko never felt tired at afternoon, so she walked around the apartment until it became boring. When it also became boring, she took her laptop and turned K-on playlist, blasting her ears off with pink, star themed headphones.

„Kimi ga inai to nani mo dekinai yo, kimi no gohan ga tabetai yo~" Junko sang, quite loudly.

„I can't sleep. You're singing too loud." Oreki muttered. Junko just continued singing, completely oblivious to Oreki's complaining.

„You're singing too loud!" Oreki yelled. Junko turned her head around, making a small „Eh?" as she did.

„Oreki-ya, you said something?"

„You're singing too loud. I'm trying to sleep."

„Boo, Oreki." Junko lowered her thumb down and continued listening to music, this time only muttering to herself. Oreki put the pillow over his head, drifting into sleep. This time he dreamt about Chitanda, about a mountain range around Kamiyama, about mushrooms and vacant places.

Junko remained awake, and when she exhausted the playlist she walked around a small apartment. Actually, she was curious about Oreki. What kind of secrets he kept? Junko felt overwhelming curiosity taking over. Oreki had one drawer that he always kept locked, for some reason unknown to her. She knew it because in one sleepover, she saw him taking things out.

Oreki would, then, carefully arrange it over his table, writing something down. Junko would pretend to sleep, but in truth, her curiosity never waned.

„Oreki-ya... are ya sleepin?" she whispered, checking whether he'll wake up. After all, if Oreki's involved in something suspicious, it's her duty to check it out. After all, Junko made a promise.

„Alright, I will protect him." That's the promise she made to her. He's sad, alone, and depressed. To deserve returning home, Junko had to keep her word. Yet, until this very day, she couldn't admit to Oreki.

„I'll just take a sneaky, little peak. It's for your own good, Oreki-ya."

She quickly found a key, hidden under the rug. Unlocking the drawer was easy, and it slid open without a sound. Junko turned around, since her stomach twisted into a knot. If Oreki finds out, she'll fail her task.

On the hindsight, the drawer was empty. The only things she found were a small hairpin, rolled up paper, old magazine with teal covers. Writing in kanji said:"Hyouka". There was also an envelope, with photos. Junko carefully slid one out. It showed her deceased cousin, Chitanda Eru, wearing a cheerleader outfit. Junko felt a sting of jealousy.

The last thing inside drawer was a small notebook. Flipping the pages, Junko realized it was a diary of sorts. Most of it was a mess of random thoughts, but one line in particular caught her eye.

„I can't believe I'm writing this, but I miss her. When we were in high school, she annoyed me, but I came to rely upon her at the same time. I never wished for this to happen. Have I killed her?"

Junko closed the notebook, putting it back to the drawer. No matter how inquisitive she was, some things are better left untouched. She neatly put all the things back just as they were, before. When she locked the drawer up, Junko turned back to return the key. And then she felt a cold sweat covering her whole body. Oreki stared at her, deadpan face, for who knows how long.

„What are you doing, Junko-san?" he asked with a cold voice.

„A-haha, you know, Oreki-ya! I was just cleaning! What a coincidence!"she tried hiding the truth behind a laughter. Oreki remained serious.

„What are you doing, Junko-san?" this time, his voice felt menacing.

Junko turned left and right, plotting an escape. But there was no point. Judging by his voice, Oreki planned to kick her out anyway. Seeing there's no way to escape her fate, Junko decided to admit, everything.

„There are some things I haven't told you, Oreki-ya." she started, and then stopped or a while. Still, seeing Oreki this angry terrified her. This fear finally broke her silence.

„Your sister, Tomoe, sent me here. We were friends, but I... I stole from her. She was angry in the beginning, but gave me one more chance to make things right. Tom-chan told me how her younger brother in Japan recently lost his girlfriend. Out of concern, she had me look after you. To prevent you from doing something stupid, you know?"

Junko thought this will calm him down. Oh, how wrong she was.

„And this gives you right to rummage through my things?"

Oreki was no less angry.

„You promised you will move on, Oreki. Why are you still keeping her pictures? I thought we had something..." Junko asked. After all, even while it was her duty and salvation, she fell in love with him.

„You and I have nothing! You dare to tell me what to do with my things, after breaking my trust like this?!"

Truly, Junko never saw him so angry. His face darkened, his pupils constricted and the veins in his throat popped out.

„But I love ya, Oreki-san! Ya promised ya'll move on! We burned her picture together! Why can't you accept my feelings? I've given my best to take care of ya, and ya still kept that!" Junko decided to fight back. If she falls, she's going to fall proud.

„I don't love you! I might even fall for you, but you crossed the line, too many times!"

„Oreki, please stop now... ya're hurting me..." Junko muttered. Her lips fluttered.

„Damn right I am! You're nothing but a thief. You tried to steal Chitanda away from me. Persocom disappeared because of you! Now you're trying to steal my memories. You disgust me."

You disgust me.

Words kept ringing in Junko's ears. Her heart squeezed in the chest, and eyes got misty. A knot formed in the throat, made of many tears that threatened with bursting.

„I thought ya and I had something... am I really just a thief to ya, and everybody else? „ she asked, trying to suppress her tears.

„Honest people have respect for each other's privacy."

Junko opened her mouth, wanting to say something. She finally managed to muster:"I just wanted to help, Oreki-ya... please, let us get rid of those things and move on..."

„Get out of my apartment." Oreki finally had enough.

„But, Oreki-ya..." tears streamed down her face.

„Get out!" he yelled. Junko swallowed her tears and it made her nauseous. Her body twisted in pain. Still, she decided not to show any more weakness. Her heart grew cold, bitter as words just left her mouth:"Fine. But we'll see who's going to have last laugh."

And with a heart of stone, she left Oreki's apartment for good.

With this, we finally moved into third and final chapter of this story. I hope you all liked it. ^^