Episode 17 of Hyouka spells case closed – the thefts of the festival are brought to a rather fascinating conclusion, and simultaneously, the matters of manga which have been pestering the tsundere go solved as well.
Given today’s petty standards, the term “elaborate” is hardly fitting of representing the complexity met and overcome within Hyouka for this festival arc – a variety of incidents seemingly unrelated proved to actually tie around a single manga. This manga was the source for much – and to be more specific, it is the basis for two whole separate fronts of story. Focusing on the lesser half of the tale, on the tsundere side of the matter, the author of the story for the supposed “masterpiece” manga was a friend of the tsundere’s sempai.
This writer was apparently not a major otaku – yet she gave it her best attempt, and apparently, the result toppled anything which the sempai believes she herself could have been capable of. Someone who took little interest in a subject debuted at expert level – far above even those who devote themselves to the topic at hand.
Incidentally, it was only a while back that we were shown the tsundere was reading a manga whilst at home – and while deciding it wasn’t nearly on par with the “masterpiece” she was looking for, it was still quite something. That manga was written by her sempai – and the irony is certainly unforgiving indeed, yet at least now the tsundere has come to understand the pain of her sempai.
However, that’s perhaps the most diminutive segment of the three – there remains two more instances of such ordeals, and the second takes place on the other half of the sphere around the same manga.
Oreki ultimately came to figure who the thief was – a certain high ranking member of the student council’s executive committee. A significant portion of the episode is spent on Oreki showing off his intricate detective work – yet getting straight to the point, the suspect based his crimes around the next manga, the one which was promised, however never came to be. His purpose was to send a message to the student council president – an individual who was responsible for the artwork featured in the “masterpiece” manga.
Conflict stems from that the student council president, despite apparently having proven to be a skilled hand in illustration, was uninterested in devising another manga – as to him, it was apparently no more than a side attraction. He takes no sincere interest in the whimsical works known as “manga” – and thus as result, the thief felt the wonderful story of the friend of the tsundere’s sempai is now going to waste.
Unfortunately however, that’s life – and moving along, Oreki utilizes this knowledge of his to push off the Hyouka volumes. Hyouka does sell out with relative ease from here, however it is as result of Oreki and his devious deeds.
Now with all else accounted for, last comes Neon Lights – Oreki could hardly care about breathing, yet even that is likely something he surpasses Neon Lights in doing. Neon Lights watched in devastation as Oreki secretly met with the thief – being entirely shocked and baffled, yet expecting at the same time, as his friend who hasn’t much a hint of interest in mysteries and whatnot took care of a plaguing conundrum as if it were no more than a mere chore.
Neon Lights was unable to achieve what he viewed as a personal dream – “expectation” is made quite a hot topic within this episode, as supposedly, it’s something which flourishes as result of a colossal chasm in capability.
Nonetheless, everyone recognizes reality – harsh as it may be. And despite the sadder aspects of an unfulfilled vision, our main crew of four at least still seem to revel in the occasion of a successfully sold out festival stall.
What route is to follow from here is unknown, although either way, this arc has definitely been a shining star of the series – now ideally, one would like to hope that Hyouka does not lose the momentum and degree of excellence established for it by this memorable school festival adventure which has finally come to a close.
