Kobato-kun and Osanai-san are in their first year of high school. Even though they aren't lovers nor dependent on each other, the two of them have a peculiar, mutually-beneficial relationship. Today, like every other day, they only wish to be modest, upstanding lower-middle class citizens, or as they call it, petit bourgeois. And yet, they constantly find themselves face-to-face with strange mysteries around every corner.... more>>

Although he doesn't want to stand out like some sort of genius detective, Kobato-kun somehow always ends up finding himself trapped in situations that force him to unravel these mysteries anyways. Will he ever be able to achieve shining, petite bourgeoisie normalcy?

The Shoushimin Series (小市民シリーズ), or The Petit Bourgeois Series, is a novel series written by Honobu Yonezawa (米澤穂信), author of Hyouka (Classics Club Series). Each volume is fundamentally a novel-ified compilation of various short stories—a majority of them appearing in the monthly publication Mysteries! (ミステリーズ！)—following the two Shoushimin Series protagonists and their various misadventures. There are currently four volumes.

There are also currently two completed manga mini-series covering the first two novels. The first one was written by the same author and illustrated by Anko Manjuuya, and the second one was arranged by Fuua Yamasaki and illustrated by Omiomi. Both were serialized in Square Enix’s monthly GFantasy publication. <<less

Oreki Houtarou is a self-proclaimed 'energy-saver' – that is, he will not actively waste energy doing things that aren’t necessary. Though he had no interest whatsoever in joining any clubs upon entering Kamiyama High School, he was commanded by his older sister Tomoe to enter the school’s Classics Club, which was in danger of getting abolished as all previous members have graduated.... more>>

Together with his old friends Fukube Satoshi and Ibara Mayaka, as well as the elegantly ladylike and curiously inquisitive Chitanda Eru, the newly reformed Classics Club find themselves involved in all sorts of mystery-solving escapades. Houtarou soon finds out that the Classics Club, as Tomoe has promised, is actually 'quite interesting'.

And so begins the 'Classics Club Series'. <<less

April, 1991. The sudden appearance of a single girl taking shelter from the rain brought us days upon days of endless wonder. Her name was Maja, and she came from a faraway land. Since that moment, we spent our days with her, each one bounding with mystery. After she returned to her country, however, was when our greatest mystery began, and the key to solving it rests somewhere within our memories. This is the story of an unforgettable meeting and a prayer.... more>>

First book in the Beruf series. <<less