I'm just gonna go off and state my observation with bold titles so that I have a record to look back at once the solution is revealed.
About Satoshi and Oreki
Am I the only one who thinks Satoshi might have feelings for Oreki? I mean he does seem to be really interested in how Oreki is developing as a person, and is in the sewing club. As Japan is often a little "behind" on such things, there stereotype of a possibly homosexual character being in the sewing club is to be expected. Further more he seems to have zero interest in any of the women. I don't think he batted an eye hanging out with Chitanda and Ibara at the swimming pool. When Ibara asked him out, even though he agreed (perhaps to keep up appearances) he completely blew her off and showed zero remorse.
What I'm getting at is I think Satoshi's feelings are more complicated that mere rivalry. He keeps stating he's a Database and is content with being unable to actually solve mysteries. Of course that doesn't have to be true, and he does seem committed to catching the culprit before Oreki can solve it from just sitting on his butt, but then immediately after we see him turn and wish Oreki the best. This might be something a rival would do, but at the same time he has always taken an interest on how solving the mysteries is helping Oreki slowly open up as a person.
Considering Ibara is Oreki's ex-girlfriend (or well they at least grudging went to a dance together) it would mean Oreki has something of a harem on his hands. Regardless, It would make for an interesting love triangle. Especially once Chitanda falls for Ibara, which is going to happen aaanny moment now....
About the Student Council President
he can pretty much go anywhere and do anything at any time without suspicion. Not only that, people expect him to be everywhere. Furthermore the Kanya fest pamphlets left with the "lost" not could be there to tip people off that this event should be considered part of the festival. Everyone is certainly getting excited over it. Also none of the lost items are things that are sorely missed, as he wouldn't want to impede the festival.
Possible Motive
Perhaps the group that wrote a Corpse by Midnight broke up after-all. he thinks it's a shame that their next book's plot would go unrealized, so he decides to bring the book to life, perhaps to encourage the group to reform.
Other Possibility
The groups is still together and is working together as Juumonji. In this case some of the members could have graduated, and I would include Oreki's sister as possibly one of them. I don't think he is going around eh school doing stuff, but perhaps making sure a copy of A Corpse by Midnight was present in the kotenbu was her primary role.
About Lost Objects and a Corpse by Midnight
Not sure on the book's Japanese title, but it obviously translates as Corpse by Midnight. Write that in katakana and it starts with Ko. If the doujin circle has been planning this for a year, perhaps a Corpse by Midnight being Lost by the kotenbu was the planned finale all this time. Hence the importance of making sure that the book is there.
Further more, A Corpse by Midnight is an item that Ibara actually DID lose much earlier int eh arc. A big deal was made of her being unable to find it. It's possible the copy in play right now is the one she lost... though I really don't see someone breaking into her room to steal it. This show's just not like that.
About the Manga Girls
Pretty sure the president of the manga society Ibara argued with waay back when is part of the doujin group that wrote a corpse by midnight. If you remember, she was arguing with Ibara in order to get attention. While they were arguing someone put a sign in the hall advertising their argument. People came in to see it. Further more the argument was about how a manga's success it determined. The president has a rather jaded view, though it's also evident she was arguing for the sake of arguing. Perhaps A Corpse By midnight's lack of popularity, despite how well done it was lead to her current world view. perhaps this is why the plot of their planned next work is being demonstrated in such a public way.
About the Fortune Teller
She's probably related to someone involved, and if this really has been in planning for a year, heard about it and gave Chitanda a tip.
More about Oreki's Sister
If she's involved in the plot at all, and it has been in planning for a year, and will end with A Corpse by Midnight going missing in the kotenbu... this would be part of the reason she wanted Oreki to keep the kotenbu alive waay back at the beginning of the season. Further more having Oreki there woudl make it really easy for her to deliver a copy of the book to the room, despite graduating.
The other possibility is she's not part of the group, but an accomplice. She actually dropped the book off to distract Oreki, who will perhaps think it's the item will go missing. (He keeps saying it has a purpose and he's not done with it.)
The other other possibility, is that she knows about the plot form her previous years at the school and came by solely to give Oreki the book as a clue.
About Oreki's sister's Face
I don't think this makes her suspicious. I think this might just be something set up as a running joke. I'm guessing everyone is going to say how much she looks like a smiling Oreki, which will forever be left up to the viewer's imagination. It would also imply her face is not the most feminine.
About Satoshi and the guy with the bowl cut
The guy with the bowl cut is very suspicious. He's always first on the scene, and people gather around him. perhaps he's already committed the crime, and is using trying to catch the culprit as an alibi? Or if he's working as part of a group, if everyone's gathering with him to wait, he's creating a distraction by having them wait somewhere where they won't see the crime be committed.
About Kudryavka Order
It's obviously important, and I'm sure the key as to why that one letter was skipped lies inthem following this order. Food for thought: Kudryavka is better known as Laika. So Raika Order. Ra i ka is much easier to break down in Japanese. I feel like there's something here that I'm just barely missing.
Also Laika's Japanese Wikipedia article has a cuter picture than her US one, FWIW.
About Agatha Christie
I haven't read any of her books, nor watched "The Agatha Christie Mysteries" when it aired on TV, so I'm sure I'm at a serious disadvantage here.
About Chitanda's Swimsuit
It's really really nice. But is is worth ~$70 to own it in full HD? |