OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
Now, we shall return anew to the topic of Ougi Oshino.
That said, she is who she is after all.
She's nothing more than herself,
so even if I start, even if I start anew, even if I go back...
The fundamental topic ends just like that.
OUGI OSHINO
If I were to write out an existence such as Ougi Oshino in a novel,
it would come to an end with just one line.
"Ougi Oshino was Ougi Oshino...
...and everyone lived happily ever after." One line!
And so, we've had a few math classes in a row, but at the end, let's have a Japanese class.
Here's a Japanese problem.
Write about such-and-such. You must answer within so many words.
If it's about Ougi Oshino, just like what I mentioned before.
If you were to put her as the main subject of the problem, it would read:
"Describe Ougi Oshino in four words or less."
and the answer would be "Ougi Oshino."
So, the final problem I submit to you is this:
"Just how foolish is Koyomi Araragi? Answer within twenty words.
However, you must use the words 'Ougi Oshino' at least once in your answer."
OWARIMONOGATARI
SODACHI LOST, PART ONE
OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
In the end... Did you figure it out, Araragi?
I mean, the reason why Oikura knew about the occupation of your parents, Araragi.
Yeah. I figured it out.
I confirmed it with Sengoku too, so I'm sure of it.
No, I don't think that's something you need to confirm while hanging your head...
Of course I'd want to hang my head.
I couldn't remember, no matter how hard I tried...
But when I did as you told me to, Hanekawa, it came to light immediately.
Really, Hanekawa, you really do know everything.
I don't know everything. I only know what I know.
That's why I don't know exactly what Ougi knows.
We're fine, right? She's not tailing us or anything, right?
Tailing? No, she's not an assassin or anything.
An assassin?
Isn't tailing someone a job for a detective, Araragi?
I think in this case, I would've preferred if she had followed us.
If she had tailed us, I could've thrown her off the track.
Maybe you're being a bit too nervous about all of this?
No, but Araragi, even if she's not tailing us, she might have anticipated where we're going.
Since the destination is very clear, there's less risk doing that if she's going to investigate...
You can't ever be too nervous about this.
If you're not being too nervous about this, Hanekawa, you're giving Ougi way too much credit.
It may be true that she's Oshino's niece, and seems to be moderately smart for the most part.
But she's still like a child, I guess.
She's a first-year.
She still has a feeling of cuteness.
Us upperclassmen have the duty of guiding people like her to not end up like Oshino.
And that should be how we repay Oshino as well.
How we repay Oshino, huh...
Yeah, that's a great thing to keep in mind.
Admirable. So admirable.
I totally thought you were head-over-heels again for yet another new cute underclassman.
"Again"?
Back during the case with Kanbaru, didn't you end up in a similar situation, Araragi?
If what you have in mind is how you really feel, I'd like you to stop.
Don't act in ways that are misunderstood as fawning over underclassmen
when your own class is having such a rough time.
I'll engrave that onto my heart.
Good.
To confirm, until you tagged along on Ougi's fieldwork,
you had forgotten all about your memories of middle school days with Oikura, right?
Not at all. It's the reverse.
Ougi accompanied me when I was doing my fieldwork.
Ougi basically tagged along with what I was doing.
She merely assisted in my remembering Oikura.
I guess the idea isn't getting across very well... Am I not expressing myself properly?
In my eyes, there's nothing more dangerous than people like that girl.
Dangerous? Are you talking about Oikura?
See, we're not on the same page.
It's as if you're diverting the point of this conversation on purpose.
Well, all right. I'm sure it just means we can't talk about stuff like this today.
Hanekawa, if you mean to say you think Ougi might feel ill will towards Oikura, that's not it.
In the first place, Ougi has never even met Oikura.
I'm not worried about anything like that, Araragi.
Ougi setting her sights on Oikura? I'm not worried about something like that one bit.
What I am worried about is...
...is?
I mean, it's you, Araragi.
Something that you don't understand very well may have set their sights on you.
Something I don't understand very well?
It may be something... that isn't too good.
To be honest, I'm not sure I can protect you through it all.
Protect?
Araragi, you called what happened during spring break "hell."
But Araragi, your true suffering may be what's to come.
We, Class President Tsubasa Hanekawa, and Class Vice-President Koyomi Araragi, arrived...
...at our destination, the current address for Sodachi Oikura.
OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
Sodachi Oikura, former class president,
hasn't shown up to school on the day after that ordeal.
And, apparently sensing the threatening atmosphere that was lingering,
Senjyogahara hasn't come to school since that day either.
And so, Araragi, I'm thinking of going to visit her after school today...
I mean, visit Senjyogahara and Oikura.
In any case, we don't have enough time, so I think we should split up and get to it.
Senjyogahara or Oikura...
Araragi, which person do you want to visit?
You can go ahead and choose, Araragi.
OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
Visit one's lover...
...or visit one's mortal enemy.
It was quite the ultimate decision, but I decided on choosing the latter.
The reason why we decided on splitting up and acting separately,
yet I met up with Hanekawa again later?
HER PASSION
The reasoning is due to these circumstances.
Huh? If it isn't Araragi-senpai!
Oh... Ougi.
Ougi, are you going home now?
Going home? Well... No.
What are you talking about, Araragi-senpai?
We had promised to meet here.
We made a promise to meet at 3:42 at the school gates.
Nothing less from you, Araragi-senpai.
You're right on time. You're so precise. You're really faithful in that way....
...you fool.
Hurray, I'm so happy.
Araragi-senpai is going to take me now to eat non-revolving sushi.
Did I make such a promise?!
You did indeed. You said it was to celebrate my transferring to this school.
Non-revolving sushi to celebrate a school transfer...
What in the world just transferred into my school?
I'm sorry, Ougi. Unfortunately, I don't think I can keep my promise with you.
My, what is that handsome-sounding line for?
Saying such a handsome-sounding line while breaking a promise
must mean that you don't have any money on you.
I have to take a bit of time now to head to Oikura's house, Ougi.
Oh? So you're going to go to that ruined house again?
No, not the ruined house, but her current address...
NO.
I'VE BECOME WAY TOO TALKATIVE IN FRONT OF OUGI
What are you doing?
Well, I tried opening the zipper that was on your mouth.
Though, it was more like Velcro than a zipper...
Do tell me a bit more about this, please.
What happened?
You're working on winning Oikura-senpai over at amazing speed. Such rapid progress.
Report on just how things developed and in what manner, fool.
No, it's not like winning her over or anything like that.
It's not like I'm going to visit in order to see her, but it's more like barging in on my part.
She didn't come to school again yesterday.
And even the day before that, it was basically the same as being absent...
I WAS FORCED TO EXPLAIN.
And that's how it is.
So that's how it is?
I didn't hear much about the details yet,
but she seems to be living apart from her parents now.
Apart from her parents?
I see, then she was taken into protective custody by a relative?
No, apparently she lives on her own.
I see... That's also interesting.
So just like you said, Ougi,
something along the lines of her parents divorcing happened five years ago.
I guess you could say her family was shattered.
And she returned here two years ago.
I see... The sleuthing I did without much thought at all was correct.
However, Araragi-senpai... Foolish Araragi-senpai...
In other words, Araragi-senpai, you're about to go visit a girl
who is in reality living all by herself.
That's not good.
It's not good?
It's not good, not good at all.
That's an act unbefitting a gentleman.
For a boy to make a solitary visit to a girl living alone?
It wouldn't be surprising if someone suspects there's some relationship there.
That isn't an act someone with a partner should be doing.
Though your resolve seems to be strong.
And I was looking forward to non-revolving sushi...
See you, Ougi.
Oh, I know!
I just thought of something brilliant, Araragi-senpai.
Yours truly, though unworthy, shall accompany you on this house call.
You, Ougi? That is a welcome offer...
HMM? IS IT WELCOME?
In other words, it just has to be more than one person.
Especially because, you know, I'm a girl.
My being there with you should calm down Oikura-senpai's heart somewhat.
She's not one to calm down just because she's dealing with girls...
WOULD SHE CALM DOWN EVEN A LITTLE BIT IF IT WAS AN UNDERCLASSMAN?
And as you're fully aware, I'm very adept at listening to others.
Perhaps I may be able to draw out all sorts of things from Oikura-senpai.
Draw out...
Araragi-senpai, until now, your recollection of that class assembly
or the summer break of your 7th grade year,
allowed you to remember how she was in the past.
However, you haven't been able to properly speak to her current self at all.
I can offer myself as the middleman so there won't be any arguments.
I mean, I've already come this far, right?
Please let me do this service.
Then, Ougi, I request that you do.
Yes, it's been requested of me.
You shouldn't make that request!
OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
You shouldn't make that request, Araragi.
Hanekawa...
You shouldn't.
See, you shouldn't rope in an underclassman to an internal dispute of our class.
OH. SO THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN? THAT'S WHAT THIS IS?
INDEED, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING TO ROPE OUTSIDERS INTO A PRIVATE AFFAIR.
Ougi—
No, no.
Don't be modest with me in a strange manner, Araragi-senpai.
I would be hurt more by that.
Please don't worry about me at all. I don't mind at all.
So please don't mind me.
It's more like being told something so distant at this point in time is what's shocking.
It's like, disappointing.
We have that kind of relationship between us, Araragi-senpai.
What kind of a relationship do you and Araragi have, huh?
You met Araragi for the very first time a mere three days ago, correct?
Yes, correct.
But, well, relationships between people aren't necessarily measured by time.
I thought that I had really hit it off well with Araragi-senpai in such a short amount of time.
We were locked inside a mysterious classroom together.
We went on an adventure in a ruined house together.
We shared experiences that were impossible in normal life together, so...
Right, Araragi-senpai?
Yeah, that's right.
Oh, yes.
I've heard about those ordeals.
It seems my dear friend Araragi has received a great deal of assistance in that regard.
I had thought that I needed to give my thanks for that.
But well....
If it were me instead of you, I would've done it a lot better.
I see.
I see, indeed.
Right. Yes, indeed, there's no doubt you would've done things much better than I did.
As everyone knows, you're a genius.
Yes, of course, I've heard all about it from my uncle as well.
By "uncle," are you perhaps referring to Oshino?
Yes, as I'm his niece.
But, well... Even that ingenious nature is meaningless if it cannot be exhibited.
In reality, I was the one that was next to Araragi-senpai when everything happened.
Your ingenious nature that even my uncle was afraid of...
Yes, but still, if I look at you from that perspective, you really aren't as good as I've heard you are.
If you are the Tsubasa Hanekawa that I had heard so much of...
You never would've been absent for the perils that Araragi-senpai faced.
By saying "I would've done it a lot better," don't you actually mean, "If I was in my prime"?
Come on, Ougi.
That's not a nice way of saying things.
There are things that you can say, and things you shouldn't.
What about Hanekawa are you saying you know?
I don't know anything.
It's what you know, Araragi-senpai.
About Hanekawa-senpai's past and present...
...and about her future.
Right. On that point, this is essentially something I shouldn't interfere with.
Well, Hanekawa-senpai, I'm not stupid enough to go against you directly.
I wouldn't want to be rude to you and be hated by my beloved Araragi-senpai, either.
So please, let's proceed from here by utilizing compartmentalization.
Now, excuse me. Please, go on ahead.
You're going to head to Senjyogahara-senpai's house to visit her right now, right?
That house seems to be further away, so shouldn't you hurry over there?
"Further away"?
Please rest assured.
If it's the case that you don't want to see your valued friend Araragi-senpai
ask a favor from an underclassman,
I'll make sure it's not like that.
I mean, this is something that I suggested in the first place.
I can make it so that I'm following Araragi-senpai's exact footsteps of my own accord.
Much like some spirit possessing him.
That way, it won't bother you, right?
See, you know, it can be like what you often read in mystery novels -
the assistant who forces himself into that role.
An assistant forcing himself into that role...
If Araragi-senpai is troubled for one reason or another,
I can't just leave him alone like that.
I want to be one that saves Araragi-senpai.
Wasn't it the case that "all people can do is save themselves on their own"?
That's my uncle's stance.
My stance is more along the lines of the old "Grateful Crane" story.
The Grateful Crane?
Well, I wouldn't mind if it was the "Straw Hats on the Jizo Statues" story either.
Simply put, my policy is overdoing a show of gratitude.
Like one where I'm told, "You're showing too much gratitude!"
Araragi-senpai has been exceptionally kind to me as I transferred to this school,
and I feel I should show my gratitude in return, even if it means putting my life on the line.
Araragi, I'm changing plans.
I'll go to Oikura's place as well.
I'll go with you, Araragi.
That way, you don't have anything to complain about, right?
Ougi, you were saying that Araragi, a boy, going alone to Oikura's place would be a problem.
If I went together with him, that leaves no issues in that regard.
And you have no excuse.
Correct?
Aside from whether or not there's a problem...
Weren't you supposed to visit Senjyogahara-senpai's place as well, Hanekawa-senpai?
That's far from laudable behavior, to leave your close friend for later.
I figured my chat with Senjyogahara would be a long one to begin with.
I'll just stay over at her place tonight.
I think we'll have the first pajama party in a while at Senjyogahara's place.
PAJAMA PARTY?
That settles that, right?
Because.... I can do things better than you can.
In this world, it's not about whether or not things can be done well, either.
Doing things too well can lack balance in its own way.
Because it won't end up as a happy medium like that.
I figure you're fully aware of that.
Well, good or bad aside,
it's not me that decides this. It's Araragi-senpai.
Whether you go with me, or go with Hanekawa-senpai.
Araragi-senpai, you should be the one to decide.
The power to decide is in your hands.
Both myself and Hanekawa-senpai will abide by your decision.
Right?
You're right. Araragi, you decide for us.
Because this isn't something I can force upon you.
You know, Araragi-senpai.
It's such a bad thing to make Hanekawa-senpai, a valued person you're indebted to,
trouble someone else for a personal reason.
If she's saying this is private, then Hanekawa-senpai is also out of the loop.
Araragi-senpai, you'd never wish for something that would trouble Hanekawa-senpai, right?
HMM, THAT IS, INDEED, QUITE CORRECT.
THIS GIRL REALLY SAYS THINGS THAT ARE CORRECT.
I promise you, Araragi-senpai. If you let me come with you,
no matter what kind of mystery there is, I'll show you an answer to it yet again.
WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO THAT FAR WITH YOUR STATEMENTS...
I promise you, Araragi.
If you decide you want to come with me...
...I'll let you touch my breasts.
OWARIMONOGATARI SODACHI LOST
So room 444 in this place, huh...
It looks like the management company isn't all too attentive.
This looks more like a housing complex than condos.
Oikura is probably receiving some sort of aid.
Aid?
From officials. And that's how they introduced her to this property, I think.
What I further found out was how Oikura and I first met back when we were in grade school...
But how did I forget such a thing, when even Sengoku remembered it?
No, it's not like I ever forgot it...
When I think about it, I may be cold-hearted.
I mean, I had forgotten about Sengoku as well,
and I didn't realize who she was when we first met.
But I think that's something that can't be helped.
You didn't have an impressionable relationship with either Sengoku or Oikura, right?
Then, Araragi, can you wait here for a minute?
Here at the staircase? Why?
I mean, Oikura lives by herself.
So if we were to ring the doorbell and she comes out in pajamas or loungewear...
She might be embarrassed if you saw her like that, Araragi.
Who is it?
So let me ponder again on how that bloodcurdling confrontation was structured...
Many people may perhaps be misunderstanding me,
but it's not that I chose Hanekawa as my partner over Ougi because I was drawn to her breasts.
I felt something something was highly unusual with the current situation
if it made Hanekawa go so far as to say that.
That's why, with the choice between the two, I chose her as my partner.
I did feel bad for Ougi, though.
I should properly follow through with her.
I need to be someone that can do things like that as well from now on.
That's right. Putting non-revolving sushi aside, I can take her to a place with revolving sushi...
Araragi, it's fine for you to come up now.
Come up? But...
She said it's okay for us to go in.
However, to give you spoilers in advance, she's still in her pajamas.
Wait, weren't you trying to avoid such a situation?
She said, "I don't want to make such an effort as to change into clothes just because Araragi is here."
I tried my best to convince her otherwise, but the more I talked, the more stubborn she became.
In the end, she said she will absolutely not change clothes,
and that if I said anything more, she'd greet us naked.
So I decided to back down.
Rest assured, even I wouldn't be so frivolous as to be elated over a girl in pajamas in this situation.
I don't know about that.
After all, this is coming from the person who's after me for my breasts.
THE ACTUAL PERSON INVOLVED REALIZES HOW I FELT THE LEAST.
Now that the gate has been opened, we have no choice but to step inside.
Even if it's like the castle gates opening as a declaration of war,
I must accept it for what it is.
Because that is my...
...my duty as a childhood friend of Sodachi Oikura.