Spoilers Ahead I read Even Though Im Told I Now Have Wings. It was very interesting. Im glad that Oreki had managed to find Chitanda at the end. Its good that he was able to understand the situation that she was in. Choosing the path that you want to take in life is not an easy task. It certainly doesnt make it easier when youre told that what youve been preparing for your entire life is no longer a burden you have to shoulder. Freedom is a fleeting thing it is natural that we as human beings desire the ability to decide for ourselves but a bird that has been in a cage its whole life cannot simply fly away when you set her free. The ending of this novel was very abrupt it was a cliffhanger it didnt have a full conclusion much like Chitandas future so it felt as if it was the perfect way to end. Uncertainty is a terrifying thing we fear the unknown but when it looks us straight in the eyes we have no choice but to face it. I feel as if the ending was in direct contrast to the conclusion of Volume 4s The Doll That Took a Detour. Back then she was sure on what course to take since that burden was still for her to carry her choices were certain. Chitanda Eru is a very responsible person choosing to shoulder that responsibility without thinking for herself or her own goals first. I think that she embodies the sentiment of being the eldest child of a family and as such Im sure that she will eventually leave the store room and perform in the cultural center as if nothing had happened keeping up outside appearances while storing away that uncertainty building up inside her heart. Even though Im told I now have wings what am I supposed to do? Oreki Houtarou cannot answer this question. He is not in a position where he can decide another persons future. He feels frustrated not because he couldnt come up with a solution to the problem but because he isnt allowed to meddle in it in the first place. We learn in The Long Holiday that Oreki does not follow the energyconserving lifestyle just for the sake of conserving his energy but rather to avoid situations where he is being taken advantage of. Yet he cannot decline Chitandas countless requests to solve even the most mundane of mysteries that are surrounding them her curiosity is an unavoidable thing. However he chooses to satisfy it not because he is obliged to but rather because he does genuinely care about her in the end. Him being able to find out her situation and her being able to ask him that question is a very firm notion of the depth of the trust and commitment between the two main characters. I think that this volume is going to serve as a turning point for the series. I hope that Chitanda and Orekis relationship will continue to develop in future stories since their dynamic is very interesting to me. Perhaps Oreki Houtarou doesnt need to answer Chitanda Erus question but rather just be there for her to help in finding the answer herself.