Hyouka - Volume 03 - The Kudryavka Sequence - Welcome to KANYA FESTA! (1)

it as well as he did. That was why I applauded from the bottom of my heart.
By the way, when I said I am unable to perform, it's not that I do not possess
the skills, but it's more to do with me not being confident enough. Just
because I wanted to learn the secret to the cup and ball trick doesn't mean I
wanted to try it out as well.
You could say I am similar to Houtarou in this aspect.
...However, while Houtarou himself insists that he hadn't done much during
his three years at junior high, he wasn't exactly the worthless person he
claims to be.
I walked in the dark, under the streetlamps surrounded by winged insects in
the residential district. As I was wearing sneakers, I could not hear my own
footsteps. I could hear someone watching their late night TV shows from
somewhere.
Ever since entering Kamiyama High School and coming into contact with a
rare medium called Chitanda Eru, Houtarou has changed. Or I should say,
he's revealed his true worth. And since then he has demonstrated his
sharpness, his clarity of vision, or perhaps instinct, deductive skills if you
will, which I had never known he had before. Ever since that day when
Chitanda-san was simply sitting alone in the Geology Room, I have been
amazed by him many times. Houtarou was no simple colourless and useless
human being. He has become an amazing individual hiding an amazing secret
power within him.
There was a saying that a skilled hawk hides its talons [2] . When I discovered
Houtarou's hawk side, deep inside, did I truly feel happy for him?
This is why I have decided not to expect Houtarou to solve the "Juumoji"
incident, as it's not suitable for a person like him. Instead, I will be the one to
do it.