Hiyori

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Shiina Hiyori (椎名ひより) 4
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Class C; Traditional Literature Club 4 5
Occupation/Role	Traditional Literature Club member; reviewer, performer, and academic tutor 12 19 29
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

Hiyori developed an early attachment to mystery fiction through her father, a mystery novelist. After discovering traditional literature, she came to regard mystery novels as vital to her life and traditional literature as its “seasoning.” 4

She meets Sima Zhenglong through their shared interest in mystery novels, comparing his notes on The Decagon House Murders and finding that their interpretations closely align. She then becomes the Traditional Literature Club’s first recruited member. 4

Personality

Hiyori is initially quiet, reserved, and reluctant to draw attention to herself. Her calm manner and intellectual curiosity make her particularly receptive to literary discussion and analysis. 4

Beneath that gentleness, she is perceptive and increasingly assertive. She recognizes Zhenglong’s manipulative tendencies, negotiates help from him after being drawn into Class C’s point collection, and later takes decisive control of situations involving Ichinose and the clubroom. 6 25 30

Her bond with Zhenglong brings out a mischievous, confident side. During their literary performances, she deliberately adapts beyond the script, openly challenges his assumptions about her, and refuses to let Ichinose interrupt the stage they share. 19 25

Abilities & Skills

Literary Analysis and Writing

Hiyori is highly knowledgeable about mystery and traditional literature, able to closely compare interpretations, evaluate manuscripts, and collaborate on literary adaptations. 4 12 13

• Identified strong similarities between her own reading of The Decagon House Murders and Zhenglong’s notes. 4
• Reviewed Zhenglong’s fragmented manuscript and judged that its chronology could form a fluid, powerful narrative once integrated. 12
• Participated in a “deduction game” designed to reconstruct and rewrite an unfinished story. 13
• Discussed literary beauty and the separation between an author’s intent and later interpretations of a finished work. 25

Performance and Improvisation

Hiyori performs literary scenes with Zhenglong, portraying Komako opposite his Shimamura in their adaptation. 13 19

• Delivers improvised details and emotional nuance beyond the stated script. 19
• Uses playful physical gestures and dialogue to deepen the ambiguity of her performance. 19
• Maintains composure despite performing before Ryuen, Sakayanagi, and eventually the entirety of Class C. 19

Academic Tutoring and Administration

Hiyori takes on substantial practical responsibilities for Class C through the Traditional Literature Club. 11 29

• Returned student IDs after Class C pooled its personal points. 11
• Assisted Ryuen with calculating the points submitted by Class C students. 11
• Tutored Class C students and helped organize study plans after the exam scope changed. 29
• Recruited Ichinose and other Class B students to share the tutoring workload. 29
• Reviewed Hasebe Haruka’s test paper during special-exam practice. 40

Tea Preparation and First Aid

Hiyori is capable of attending to others’ everyday needs within the clubroom. 30 46

• Retrieved the first-aid kit when Sakura Airi arrived with a sprained ankle. 30
• Applied medicine to Sakura while participating in the discussion of her situation. 31
• Brewed tea that Zhenglong and Sakayanagi consider notably better than Kamuro’s unsuccessful attempt. 46

Relationships

• Sima Zhenglong — Club president and closest literary partner. They bond over mystery fiction, collaborate on manuscripts and performances, and develop mutual affection and exceptional trust. 4 13 19 25 46
• Ryuen Kakeru — Class C’s leader and a frequent presence in the clubroom. Hiyori assists him with Class C’s point calculations and intelligence work. 11 36
• Sakayanagi Arisu — A recurring guest and audience member at the Traditional Literature Club. Hiyori helps her navigate the clubroom and remains composed when Sakayanagi needles her about Zhenglong. 12 25
• Ichinose Honami — Academic collaborator whom Hiyori recruits to help tutor Class C. Hiyori also directs Ichinose toward helping Sakura grow more confident. 29 33
• Sakura Airi — A student Hiyori assists after Sakura is brought to the clubroom injured; Hiyori provides first aid and later helps support her increasing confidence. 30 31 36
• Hasebe Haruka — A Class D visitor whom Hiyori initially receives at the clubroom and later helps by reviewing her work. 38 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Joining the Traditional Literature Club

Hiyori becomes Zhenglong’s first club member after discovering their shared taste in mystery novels and their unusually similar interpretations of the genre. 4

She accompanies him in establishing and maintaining the club’s activity room, even after expressing dissatisfaction at being drawn into his larger Class C plans without being consulted. 6 7

Literary Collaboration and Performances

Hiyori reviews Zhenglong’s manuscripts and agrees to participate in his literary “deduction game,” taking the role of Komako in an adaptation with Zhenglong as Shimamura. 12 13

Their performance draws an unplanned audience of Class C students as well as Sakayanagi. Hiyori nevertheless completes the scene and makes clear that she is not simply playing a passive role. 19

Supporting Class C and Ichinose

As the club grows into a working base for Class C, Hiyori handles point-distribution tasks, calculations, and tutoring responsibilities. 11 29

After Ichinose seeks to compensate Class C for the prior conflict, Hiyori has her bring similarly motivated Class B students to assist with Class C’s exam preparation. 29

Sakura Airi Incident

When Zhenglong brings Sakura to the clubroom after her encounter with a stalker, Hiyori retrieves medical supplies and helps care for her. 30

Hiyori supports the effort to help Sakura become more confident, though Zhenglong later admits he does not want to part with Hiyori’s help for that task. 31 33

Special-Exam Preparation

Hiyori continues tutoring and reviews Hasebe’s work while Ichinose and Sakura practice the special-exam card game in the clubroom. 40

Trivia

• Hiyori follows Zhenglong’s Japanese social-media account using his phone because his special arrangement allows outside communication while ordinary students’ phones cannot add him. 7
• Her father is a mystery novelist. 4
• She refers to Zhenglong’s literary collaboration with her as a “collision of souls.” 13
• She is comfortable enough with Zhenglong to tease him after recognizing that their performance had been watched by all of Class C. 19