“I appreciate all of them,” Kaedehara Tetsu replied, deliberately keeping his opening vague.
“However, if I were forced to choose, I lean toward works that shatter the conventional barrier, dragging the reader into a direct battle of wits.”
“A battle of wits with the reader?” Shiina Hiyori’s eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.
“Do you mean…
something like deploying a subversive, unreliable narrator twist at the very end?”
“That is merely one technique.” He shook his head slowly.
“I am referring to a much deeper layer of interaction.
Imagine a novel that explicitly challenges you: ‘Every clue in this book has been laid bare; whatever the detective can deduce, you can deduce as well.’ Yet, it still manages to deceive you through subtle perspective shifts and weaponized misinformation.
When the truth finally surfaces, you realize you were played—not because the author concealed the evidence, but because you were blinded by your own fixed mindset.”
He paused, letting the concept settle before offering an example.
“Take, for instance, narratives where the true culprit is introduced on the very first page.
They might even live alongside the protagonist.
But the author expertly exploits psychological blind spots, ensuring you never cast a single glance of suspicion their way from start to finish.”
Shiina Hiyori listened with rapt attention.
She clutched her heavy hardcover to her chest, nodding eagerly in agreement.
“I understand perfectly!
It is exactly like those books where the author deliberately inserts a chapter that feels entirely disconnected from the main plot—perhaps disguised as an ‘author’s monologue.’ But buried within that seemingly idle chatter is the critical clue pointing straight to the murderer!
Readers subconsciously skim right past it, dismissing it as filler!”
“Precisely.” Kaedehara Tetsu offered her a look of deep approval.
“Then…
who would you say is your favorite author?” Shiina Hiyori looked up at him, her gaze laced with a newfound admiration.
The boy standing before her possessed a far more deep grasp of the mystery genre than anyone she had ever encountered at this academy.
“It is difficult to single out just one.”
Kaedehara Tetsu feigned a moment of thoughtful silence.
“John Dickson Carr for his unmatched imagination regarding ‘locked room’ murders.
Seicho Matsumoto for his grand, sweeping scale, using isolated cases to expose the systemic rot of an entire era.
And Soji Shimada, for his wildly inventive, almost theatrical trick designs.”
Every name he dropped made Shiina Hiyori’s eyes shine a little brighter.
She was intimately familiar with all of those authors and adored their work, but Kaedehara Tetsu’s ability to effortlessly distill their core literary identities was proof of a vast, long-term accumulation of reading.
“That is truly amazing…” Shiina Hiyori breathed out sincerely.
“I am quite fond of Edogawa Ranpo myself.
I love the dark, sensually beautiful henkaku-ha style woven into his prose.”
“Ranpo-sensei’s works are undeniably unique.”
Kaedehara Tetsu nodded in smooth agreement.
“However, if we are strictly discussing the concept of ‘battling the reader,’ there is another author whose bibliography you might find even more thrilling.”
“You should look into Yutaka Maya.
‘The Sonata of Summer and Winter’, for example.”
“His writing is notorious for its sheer malice and unfriendliness toward the audience.
You can never trust a single character he pens.
Just when you believe you have finally grasped the absolute truth, he will use a single, devastating sentence on the very last page to violently overturn all your deductions, leaving you drowning in self-doubt.” This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
“…That sounds absolutely fascinating!” Shiina Hiyori hurriedly fished her smartphone from her pocket, her thumbs flying across the screen as she noted down the author and title.
The two of them stood there beside the towering bookshelves, conversing as if the rest of the world had simply faded away.
Drawing upon the massive volume of literature he had consumed in his previous life, Kaedehara Tetsu effortlessly tossed out perspectives and recommendations that felt incredibly fresh to Shiina Hiyori.
And Shiina Hiyori, armed with her own formidable foundation in literature, offered brilliant, engaging responses at every turn.
“Ah, my apologies.
I ended up talking so much without even realizing it.
I must have completely interrupted you while you were searching for books, haven’t I?”
After a lengthy exchange, Shiina Hiyori finally blinked, the realization hitting her belatedly.
They had been blocking the narrow aisle for nearly half an hour.
A faint, apologetic flush dusted her fair cheeks.
“Not at all.
Being able to converse with a true fellow enthusiast like yourself is far more captivating than reading a hundred books.” Kaedehara Tetsu’s voice carried a warm, perfectly calibrated smile.
“By the way, I just realized I still do not know your name.” Shiina Hiyori, hugging ‘The Offering to Nothingness’ tighter against her chest, finally recalled the most basic social pleasantry.
“Kaedehara Tetsu.
Class A.”
“I am Shiina Hiyori, from Class C.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaedehara-san,” she replied with a soft, elegant smile.
“You can just call me Tetsu.
‘Classmate’ feels far too distant for fellow readers.”
Kaedehara Tetsu smoothly retrieved his own phone.
“Let us exchange contact information, Hiyori.
If either of us stumbles upon any brilliant new novels in the future, we can discuss them at any time.”
Shiina Hiyori’s eyes lit up once more.
“Okay!
Tetsu-san!…
Ah, no, Tetsu-kun!”
She corrected herself in a slight, endearing panic, quickly pulling up her screen to exchange details with him.
Securing her contact info, Kaedehara Tetsu quietly observed the girl standing before him.
She looked as overjoyed as a child who had just discovered a kindred spirit.
Shiina Hiyori.
A girl holding virtually zero combative value in the ruthless class struggles, entirely removed from the center of political power.
She was as pure as a blank sheet of paper; her only defining color was her pure, unadulterated love for the written word.
To conquer her, he didn’t need elaborate schemes.
He didn’t need ruthless calculations.
He didn’t even need to activate his System skills.
All it took…
was a simple conversation about books.
Shiina Hiyori lowered her head, her slender fingers earnestly saving the name ‘Kaedehara Tetsu’ into her contacts, a sweet, lingering curve gracing her lips.
She looked back up, her gaze bright and clear.
“I really learned a great deal today.
Thank you, Tetsu-kun.”
“I should be the one thanking you.”
Kaedehara Tetsu smiled, sliding his phone back into his pocket.
“It has been quite a long time since I have met someone I could converse with so freely.”
“Then, next time we discover some interesting new books, shall we discuss them together again?”
Kaedehara Tetsu offered a gentle proposal.
“The library, or perhaps the cafe near the school.
Either would be fine.”
“Okay!” Shiina Hiyori agreed instantly, her fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on her novel.
“I will go find a quiet seat to read now, Tetsu-kun.”
“Go ahead.” Kaedehara Tetsu took a step back, clearing the aisle for her.
“Let’s talk next time.
It’s a promise.”
“Mm!
Goodbye, Tetsu-kun!”
“Goodbye, Hiyori.
I look forward to our next chat.”
As he turned his back to leave, a faint, razor-thin smirk curled the corners of Kaedehara Tetsu’s mouth.
Shiina Hiyori stood rooted in place, her soft gaze tracking his retreating figure until he disappeared behind the rows of bookshelves.
She looked down at ‘The Offering to Nothingness’ resting in her arms, then gently brushed her fingers against the pocket holding her phone.
This serendipitous encounter today was, without a doubt, one of the happiest moments she had experienced all semester.
Stepping out of the library, Kaedehara Tetsu was greeted by the afternoon sun spilling across the pavement, carrying just the right amount of late-day warmth.
He glanced back at the heavy glass doors of the building, his calculating mind already mapping out the precise next steps of their contact.
The conversation had flowed flawlessly; Shiina Hiyori was completely, hopelessly immersed in their shared passion for mystery novels.
Wait a minute…
He paused, a sudden realization hitting him.
He had originally come here today to actually read.
How did he end up spending the entire time talking instead?
Forget it.
It hardly matters…
[Inorin’s Note: “Henkaku-ha” refers to the “unorthodox school” of Japanese detective fiction.
Unlike the “honkaku” (orthodox) school which focuses strictly on logical puzzle-solving and fair-play whodunits, the henkaku style emphasizes psychological elements, bizarre or grotesque crimes, and a dark, atmospheric, often sensual narrative tone, heavily popularized by Edogawa Ranpo.]
[Inorin’s Note:
Hey guys, hope you’re enjoying the novel!
Hate waiting for updates and cliffhangers?