"If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, make it quick" ~ Oreki

This really is the crux of the series and the highlight to learn the entire backstory of Oreki's "catchphrase" throughout the series. If it is someone else's responsibility he won't do it. I mean I wouldn't ever. Our net of caring for someone only goes so far in both quantity and quality. Every single chapter of this works on reinforcing this statement. But to some extent, it also shows the growth or what his sister said in response. Where somewhere in the future, Oreki will meet someone that pulls him out of this state. Outside of the energy-conservation. Outside of this anger and almost wasting of youth that his sister does agree with to some extent. It hurts to be used, yet it is the foundation that forces people to change. Even Oreki telling the story to Chitanda is posed with omission as that is what creates the drama or the punchline hit a little bit harder.

The following chapters of this volume may seem a little jumping around like with Volume 4 stories that don't fully connect except for they are positioned as transitional stories to fill in the gaps with the previous 3 arcs (that Kyoto Animation rearranges for the anime chronologically for a much much smoother viewing experience), but the through-line for Volume 6 is strong.

Chapter 1 - "What's Missing from the Box?" shows us that assumptions cannot be used when examining things inherently tied to the past. It starts off pretty informal and impersonal to us the reader but eventually sheds more light onto why Satoshi has this almost savior-like complex to him. And the fact that he tried to hide information similar to how Oreki did in his own story to Chitanda later in the volume was really cool to see.

Chapter 2 - "The Mirror Can't Reflect" shows us the assumptions that both Mayaka and the rest of their middle school class had on Oreki even though what he arguably did was heroic (and completely against his motto that was established latter in the volume sure but earlier in his life by a year or so). This is actually so interesting to look at in retrospect. But this logic can be applied to the entire series now which I am super excited to do whenever I decide to rewatch the anime. Oreki's dynamic with that one classmate is super cool because of the burden that she places onto Oreki by not wanting to see him. That distance which was explored in the previous volume is vital for her than to him.

Chapter 3 - "Is it Sunny in the Mountains?" shows us Oreki tackling his own assumptions about the past and how these memories of linking two events together even within the same memory can have a disastrous effect on our perception of others. I love how this comes directly after Mayaka's revisitation of the past about Oreki.

Chapter 4 - "Our Legendary Volume" shows us how some of these needless tasks. or events hinder our growth. Another one that is very intriging to look at after reading the entire volume as it plays really well into Oreki's backstory in Chapter 5. Mayaka was being used by so many different parties for something that she might have actually wanted to do, but that additional energy was wasting her potential for her true ambition. It's great to see that the person who would've had the most contention of Mayaka's abilities is the person that truly understands her goals the most.

Chapter 5 - "The Long Holiday" shows us both Oreki at his furthest from his motto and at his core of that motto from the inception of it. I love that the juxtaposition of his joyous, carefree and even helpful demeanor is what leads him to tell Chitanda of his past. That even he has these sorts of days where he can be "normal" like other students in his age - having so much energy that he has to do something to go back to teh status quo. This was even seen in the anime as his energy conservation is so strict as even Oreki can get swept up by his environment just like everyone. Or that even he has tasted what it is like to live a rose-colored life and chooses the path that he walks by.

Chapter 6 - "Even Though I'm Told I Now have Wings" shows the most I've ever related to Chitanda. It's actually that weight of expectations that might've felt like shackles when they were on but also served as the anchoring for the future as well. I know what's it like to achieve something that you didn't think was possible and then become lost in the aftermath. Because the journey to that dream was neglected for the end result even if Chitanda does live in the present moment most of the time. It was truly eye-opening on Chitanda's front, but also in Oreki's as this is the non energy-conservation that he wouldn't ever do that he reaffirmed both himself and the audience in the prior chapter.

All in all such a pleasure to read. Even if I thought that Mayaka's chapter was probably the weakest, each gives such valuable insight on our main four that I couldn't have asked for anything else. Although some reader have read this volume years ago and there is no Volume 7 in sight, I hope to see there in the near future whenever that may be. Glad I got to pick up Hyouka's novels years after watching the anime which is my second favorite anime ever and even moreso I can leave a snapshot of my initial thoughts on these volumes along the way. Even if I look back on this in 10 years and feel something different, I am happy I was able to in the moment right here and now.