These two books, The Hell of Brains and The Black Death Hall Murder Case, should keep me busy for two days. Takahashi was especially fond of the deductions in both books. They could be considered two of the finest examples of deduction in Japanese mystery fiction.
Just as Takahashi was about to take the books to the desk to check them out, he turned a corner and bumped into a petite girl with silver hair and violet eyes. The books in her hands scattered across the floor.
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
As Takahashi crouched to help the girl pick up her books, he said:
"Haha, I got a little excited when I found books I liked and wasn't paying attention. I'm really sorry."
"It's all right. I was at fault too. I was only thinking about where to put the books I was carrying and didn't watch where I was going. Thanks for helping me. Huh?"
The girl suddenly noticed the books in Takahashi's hands.
"Do you like mystery novels too?"
"Of course. I think mystery novels present the basic law of storytelling—the connection between cause and effect—with exceptional clarity. Nearly every scene in this genre points toward something, echoes something, or extends something. That's very rare in other kinds of fiction. Every plot point and every scene needs a necessary reason to be in the story, because readers treat each scene as something connected to what comes later. Even if a plot point eventually turns out to be a red herring, that so-called 'red herring' still has to appear in the right context, as part of the misdirection. Every scene needs to be bound together by a recognizable purpose. It's like building an arch bridge—you know, the Roman kind. Every stone has to be placed precisely and fit together with the others. Take away even one, and the whole structure will come crashing down and collapse."
Takahashi couldn't help saying a little more when the conversation turned to a subject he liked.
"You have a really deep understanding of mystery novels. I like reading them too. If you have time, would you like to discuss them sometime? Oh, by the way, I'm Shiina Hiyori."
"I'm Takahashi Shinma. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
After leaving the library, Takahashi walked into a café with two mystery novels in hand. Reading them while drinking coffee and eating dessert was a real pleasure.
But as soon as he entered the café, he spotted Ayanokouji, Horikita, and Kushida...
He heard Horikita say to Kushida:
"Kushida, I wouldn't say anything even if you stopped pestering me. You're not stupid, so you should be able to understand what I'm saying. I'm leaving."
Then Horikita stood up and left.
"She's used to keeping to herself."
Ayanokouji said, trying to comfort Kushida.
His instincts told Takahashi he should leave quickly or he'd end up in a lot of trouble. But Kushida spotted him first.
"Takahashi, over here."
"What a coincidence, Ayanokouji. And Kushida."
"Takahashi, we've been at school for a while now, but we haven't really talked much."
"That's true. You have so many friends, Kushida. You're always surrounded by people during breaks, so I never get the chance to come over and chat."
"Haha, you're joking, Takahashi. Could we be good friends?"
"Of course."
After parting ways with Kushida, Takahashi and Ayanokouji walked back to their dormitory. Their rooms were on the same floor. As they walked, Takahashi suddenly asked:
"Ayanokouji, don't you think this school is a little unusual?"
"Hm?"
"We got a hundred thousand points this month, but upperclassmen are still eating free mountain vegetable set meals in the cafeteria. The convenience store also has free daily necessities."
"Maybe the school provides free mountain vegetable set meals and daily necessities to ensure students can meet their basic needs, in case they spend their points recklessly and run out of money to live on."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
As he spoke, Takahashi nodded in agreement.
After returning to his room, Takahashi walked over and opened the window, letting the breeze brush against his face.
At that moment, Takahashi thought, If I treat Ayanokouji as the average of everyone's abilities in Class D...
Meanwhile, after returning to his room, Ayanokouji sat on his bed and looked at the drink in his hand. Takahashi had treated him and Kushida to it on their way back, when they passed a vending machine. As he gazed at the drink, Ayanokouji closed his eyes and thought, Takahashi.
Before you continue