Suzumiya Haruhi:Volume4 Chapter3

From Baka-Tsuki

Chapter 3

December 20th.

It was the morning of the third day since the world had changed as I awoke from my dreamless slumber. As usual, I got out of bed, feeling as though my stomach had been stuffed with a few dozen .300mm bullets. Shamisen, who was sleeping on the blanket, rolled off suddenly onto the ground and laid flat. I stepped softly on his tummy and sighed.

Sticking her head through the door, my sister looked dismayed when she saw that I had awoken.

"So, did Shami talk?"

She had been asking me this ever since the night before last. My answer was always the same.

"No~pe."

As I reminisced about the soft touch of the cat's fur on my toes, my sister had begun humming her little song as she carried Shamisen out of the room. It's great being a cat, all they ever do is eat, sleep and lick fur. How I wanted to trade places with him for a day. Who knows, as a cat, I might even find what I was looking for in no time.

That's right, I still hadn't found the key. Nor had I found out what this key meant. Not to mention the system activation program. If I didn't do something today, the world would continue to remain this way, and it might even become more terrifying. As for the time limit - whose idea was it to have such a limit anyway? Was it already a pain for Nagato to provide a limited time offer?

I headed to school without making any progress. The gloomy skies looked as though it was about to snow as it loomed above everyone's heads. Seemed like we'd be getting a white Christmas this year; snow fall could be heavy. There hadn't been much forecast on the amount of snow, but judging by the frostiness of this year's winter, it'd probably be big. Haruhi would probably be more excited than a puppy dog as she prepares for the winter field trip... That is, if Haruhi still exists.

There was nothing worth my attention as I climbed up the slope as usual towards North High and finally arrived at the 5-2 classroom. My exhaustion manifested physically as I walked slowly, so I only managed to sit down on my desk just in time for the first school bell to ring. Like yesterday, there were a lot of sick absentees in class, but what was amazing was that Taniguchi only needed to rest for one day. Though he was still wearing his mask, he came nevertheless. It was only now that I realized that this guy loved going to school.

By the way, today Asakura, who sat behind me, gave me a rather intriguing smile.

"Good morning."

Asakura greeted me simply like she did everyone else. I merely nodded back.

As the second bell signalled the beginning of classes, Okabe-sensei entered energetically and began the home room session in earnest.

I'd lost track of what day of the week it was already. Today's timetable seemed different from what I remembered, though I wasn't sure. I wasn't even sure whether I was having the same subjects on this day last week. Even if yesterday's and today's timetables were to be swapped, I'm afraid I would barely notice. Was it just I that had become weird? The girl known as Suzumiya Haruhi never existed, Asakura was the most popular classmate, Asahina-san was the unreachable senpai, while Nagato was the sole member of the Literature Club.

Just which was the real thing? Was the SOS Brigade and everything I'd been through all a part of my imagination?

Damn, my thoughts are becoming more and more negative.

During PE in the first session, I was the absent-minded goalkeeper who was not interested in defending his goal; the next session was math, everything just went in my left ear and out of my right; without even realizing, recess had arrived.

As I slumped onto my desk to cool my head down...

"Yo, Kyon,"

It was Taniguchi. He hung his mask beneath his chin and gave his usual idiotic grin.

"The next session's chemistry, today the teacher's gonna pick my row to answer questions, help me out."

Help you out? Are you nuts?! You do realize we both know each others' strengths and weaknesses inside out already, don't you? How am I supposed to know something that you wouldn't know?

"Hey, Kunikida,"

I called my other partner, who had just returned from the bathroom,

"Tell Taniguchi everything you know about sodium hydroxides. He especially wants to know whether they're on good terms with hydrochloric acids."

"Well that's simple, they get neutralized after being mixed together,"

Kunikida said as he flicked through Taniguchi's textbook,

"Ah, so it's this question. First calculate in moles and you'll be able to convert it to kilograms. Let me think..."

Seeing a knowledgeable person explaining so casually, one feels extremely helpless.

Taniguchi nodded his head non-stop, yet as Kunikida thought further, he didn't intend to calculate on his own anymore. He grabbed my mechanical pencil from my desk and scribbled a few numbers and symbols on the blank spaces on Taniguchi's textbook.

After it was all settled, Taniguchi gave me a weird smile,

"Kyon, Kunikida told me everything during the soccer match in PE, you seemed to be up to something the day before yesterday."

Weren't you at school as well that day?

"I had to take a nap in the clinic during lunch, and I was feeling drowsy that whole afternoon. I only heard about it this morning. I hear you were in a state of frenzy, did you really say Asakura wasn't supposed to exist?"

"More or less."

I held my hand up and made a sign that read, "You can get lost now!" Yet Taniguchi smirked and continued,

"How I wished I was there as well. It's pretty rare to see you yelling around hilariously."

Kunikida seemed to remember something from then and said,

"Kyon's better today. That day it seems as though he had wanted to pick on Asakura-san. Did she do something to upset you?"

Even if I said it I'd be treated as a lunatic. So it was pretty natural for me to keep quiet.

"Oh yeah, you said then that someone had been replaced by Asakura. Did you find that person? Her name's Haruhi, right? Just who is she?"

Would you please stop reminding me about this stuff? Right now I would shiver involuntarily every time that name is mentioned, even if it's being uttered repeatedly by a parrot.

"Haruhi?"

You see? Even Taniguchi has bent his head. Not only that, he even said,

"That Haruhi, you don't mean Suzumiya Haruhi, do you?"

Yes, that Suzumiya Haruhi......

The bones in my neck made a creaking noise. I slowly turned my head up to look at the silly look my classmate was giving me,

"Taniguchi, what did you just say?"

"I said Suzumiya, the Savage Girl of East Junior High. I've been in the same class as her for three years. Wonder how she's doing...... And how come you know who she is? You said she was replaced by Asakura, just what was that all about?"

My eyes went white in an instant......

"YOU! YOU SMOOTH-HEADED IDIOT!"

I yelled and leaped up at once. Perhaps intimidated by my sudden outburst, both Taniguchi and Kunikida instinctively backed up a bit.

"Who you calling 'smooth-headed!?' If I'm 'smooth-headed,' then you're 'barren-headed!' Besides, my family has been silver-haired for generations, you should be the one more worried about your hairline!"

That's none of your business! I grabbed Taniguchi by his collar and pulled him towards my face until both our noses nearly touched each other.

"You said you know Haruhi!?"

"How can I not know her? I couldn't forget her even after fifty years. If there's anyone from East Junior High that doesn't know her, they need a check-up to see if they're suffering from amnesia."

"Where?"

As though chanting a mantra, I fired question after question,

"Where's that girl? Where is Haruhi right now? Tell me where!"

"What's with you? Are you a taiko drum? Did you see Suzumiya somewhere and fell in love with her at first sight? Give it up! I'm only saying this for your own good. While her looks are the stuff of a guy's dreams, her attitude is enough to shatter those dreams to oblivion. For example, she......"

Drew mysterious geometric shapes in the school's track field with white chalk, right? I knew that already. I'm not interested in her past criminal record, I just want to know where the hell Haruhi is right now!

"She's at Kouyouen School,"

Taniguchi replied as though reciting the atomic sequence of hydrogen,

"If I'm not mistaken, she's enrolled in the high school at the bottom of the hill, just in front of the station. She's already a bright person, so it's only natural that she would study in such an elite high school."

Elite school?

"Is Kouyouen really that good? I thought they were a girl's school for the rich and famous."

Taniguchi looked at me with pitiable eyes and said,

"Kyon, I don't know what they told you in junior high, but that school's always been co-ed. Not to mention it's one of the top schools in university entrance rate in this prefecture. To have such a school in our district really pisses me off!"

As I listened to Taniguchi's mumblings, I slowly loosened my hands.

Why did I not realize this before? I should commit seppuku for this.

Just because Haruhi wasn't at North High, I assumed that she didn't exist in this world. As you can see, my imagination was worse than that of a giant cave cricket. When I return to my relatives' place in the countryside next summer, I should go and have a chat with one of its relatives sitting by the balcony, we'll probably get along very well.

"Hey! Get a hold of yourself!" Taniguchi tidied his collar and said, "Kunikida, you're right. He is nuts, and his condition seems to have worsened."

Say whatever you like, I'm not in the mood to argue with you right now, because right now there was someone who was pissing me off more than the backstabbing Taniguchi and the ever-nodding Kunikida.

This series of unfortunate events was truly unbelievable. If someone from East Junior High was sitting nearby that day, or if Taniguchi was in the classroom then, then I would have heard Haruhi's name loud and clear much earlier. Just whose damn fault is it? Come on out so I can beat the crap out of that bastard! This score can be settled another day, though. Everything that needs answers has been asked, all that's left is to take action.

"Where're you going, Kyon? The bathroom?"

I turned around while rushing towards the classroom door and said,

"I'm taking leave early."

As early as possible,

"What about your bag?"

That'll just get in the way,

"Kunikida, if Okabe asks, tell him I've got bubonic plague with dysentery, or flu, or something like that and it hurts like hell. Oh and Taniguchi!"

I gave my sincere gratitude to my wide-jawed classmate, who was seeing me off,

"Thanks!"

"Huh? Wha......?"

I last saw Taniguchi spinning his finger by his head in circles, I then bolted out of the classroom, and within a minute I was out of the school gates.

It was really difficult to run down a slope at a high speed. Because I was too excited, I ran with all my strength, after about ten minutes, even my legs and lungs were beginning to complain that I was pushing them too hard, let alone my heart. Come to think of it, I could have still made it if I waited for the third session to finish. At this time of year, Kouyouen was probably having a half school-day as well. It would have been fine as long as I arrived there before their last school bell rang. Even if I were to walk from North High, it would still take me less than half an hour.

By the time I realized how poor my time management skills was, I had already arrived at the private school by the station, the finishing point of my compulsory daily climbing route to school. It was very quiet inside the school, were they still having classes? I took a look at my watch, the lessons were about the same time as our school, they're probably in the third session right now. In other words, before the school gates open, I have one whole hour of free time. Being empty handed under this cold weather, all I could do was wait.

"Maybe I should forcefully barge in......"

If it were Haruhi, she would do exactly that, and she would have handled it beautifully. Sadly I don't have that confidence, after walking slowly towards the gate, I frantically turned around once again. Standing outside the closed school gates was a stern-faced guard. As expected from a rich private school.

Actually, I could also infiltrate the school by climbing the fence, the problem was that the top of the fence stood at quite a distance from the ground, and there was barbed wire at the top to boot, it seems to be a better choice to wait for the school gates to open. If I were to forcefully go in, it'd be all over if I were to get caught. I've already come this far, I have no intention of letting the game end so easily. After all, unlike Haruhi, I can still control myself when it was necessary.

And so, I waited for nearly two hours.

The school bell that rang for the last time sounded like a distant memory, and the opened gates poured with students coming out like a released flood.

Taniguchi was correct, this was indeed a co-ed school. The girls' uniform were the same as usual, the typical black suited schoolgirl uniform. Walking amongst them were the guys on their way home, and they were dressed in the traditional gakuran uniform. This was exactly the opposite to North High, with the girls in sailor uniform and the guys in suits. As for the gender ratio, there seems to be more girls......

"How can this be...... Forget it."

There were a few familiar faces among the male students, they were the students from Class 1-9. And I had thought they'd all disappeared, turns out they were here in this high school all along. I don't know whether it's coincidence or what, but I've yet to see anyone from my junior high. Those that I've seen before didn't take much notice of me, and walked quickly past me after taking a quick suspicious look at me. Right now, they probably have a whole new set of memories, most likely a happier school memory, because at least they don't have to climb up the hill to school every day.

I continued to wait, and the chances of me hitting the jackpot were 50/50. If that girl had joined some club activity, or was busy planning something and had to stay in school, then I've basically become a scarecrow here. Please, just hurry up and be on your way home, and then appear before me.

What if there is an SOS Brigade in this Kouyouen School, with members other than myself taking part in all sorts of activities......

When I thought of this, my innards begun to tumble like mad. Wouldn't that make Asahina-san, Nagato, Koizumi, and me disposable trash? If that were the case, I'm even worse than a side-character, and would become a complete outsider. That's not what I want! I'll pray to just about anyone! Be it Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha, Mani, Zoroaster, or even Lovecraft! If any of them can ease my discomfort, I'll believe in any prophecy or legend that they preach. Even if it's by those doomsday cult preachers, I'll gladly follow them. Now I finally understand how it feels to be a person who would cling onto any piece of straw and still hopelessly sink down in a mud swamp.

After being consumed by anxiety and depression for about ten minutes,

"......Phew,"

I sighed deeply, not even I knew the meaning behind this sigh. Why was I making such a huge sigh of relief?

Because she had appeared.

Buried amongst a sea of suits and gakuran uniforms was a face I would never forget even until the moment I die.

Just like when she first introduced herself in the first day of school and clotted up the air inside the classroom, she had long hair which reached her waist. I looked stunned for some time, and then I began to count my fingers to figure out what day of the week it was. Today wasn't the day for her to let her hair down, looks like this Haruhi wasn't interested in toying around with her hair.

As though unhappy that I was in the way, the students of Kouyouen School walked past by my left and right side. I had no idea what they thought of this guy standing like an idiot in front of their school gate, but they can think whatever they want, and I don't have time to worry about what they think either.

I stood still and fixed my gaze upon the girl in her suit uniform that was slowly approaching.

Suzumiya Haruhi.

I've finally found you.

I involuntarily smiled, this was because it wasn't just Haruhi that I've found.

Walking beside Haruhi and chatting with her was a guy in a gakuran uniform. Carrying a smile that I can never stand watching was none other than Koizumi Itsuki. Now that's a surprise addition.

So these two have now gotten so close that they're now going home together after school. Yet Haruhi doesn't seem to be quite happy, her expression has remained as when I first saw her at the beginning of the school term. She would occasionally give a quick reply, and then turned her gaze back to the tarmac with a scowl on her face.

It's the girl from before. Before she even thought of creating the SOS Brigade, everywhere she went in school, she carried the expression of a martial arts master who was desperate to find a worthy opponent in order to showcase her abilities. That expression brought a sense of nostalgia for me. That was the Haruhi who was bored with the mediocrity of everyday life, and working hard to find some excitement, yet never realizing she could manifest anything she desires.

Anyway, there can always be time for reminiscences, but not now. The two of them did not seem to notice me as they slowly approached me.

As hopeless as it may sound, already I could not stop my heart from beating quickly. If I were to see a doctor now, the two-beat rhythm coming from within would be so loud that he would have to take his stethoscope off. The weather was freezing and yet I was sweating. I only hope that my trembling legs are just a part of my imagination, I was sure I'm not that cowardly.

......They're here. Haruhi and Koizumi have now arrived before me.

"Hey!"

It took me a lot of effort just to get my voice out.

Haruhi lifted her head and exchanged glances with me.

Her black stocking-filled legs then stopped walking.

"What is it?"

Her gaze was as cold as a freezer's. She scanned my whole body with that gaze before moving her eyes off,

"What do you want with me? No, I should rather ask, who are you? I'm not the sort of character to let anyone say 'Hey!' to me. If you want to flirt, go somewhere else, I don't have any interest in such activities."

As I was already mentally prepared, that didn't come as too much of a shock. As expected, this Haruhi didn't know me.

Koizumi stopped as well and looked at me with a cold stare. From his expression, I don't think he's even seeing me, let alone knowing who I am.

I turned and spoke to that Koizumi,

"Is this the first time we have met?"

Koizumi shrugged his shoulders lightly and said,

"I believe so. May I ask who you are?"

"Are you a transfer student in this school?"

"I was transferred here this spring...... How did you know I'm a transfer student?"

"Do you know anything about a group that calls itself the 'Organization?'"

"'Organization?' What are you implying?"

His inoffensive smile was the trademark smile that I was familiar with. But the look on his eyes betrayed a sense of alert. Just like Asahina-san, this guy doesn't know me.

"Haruhi,"

Haruhi's face twitched and glared at me with her large black eyes,

"Who gave you permission to call me by my name? Just who on earth are you? I don't remember asking for the company of perverts or stalkers. Get lost already, you're in the way."

"Suzumiya,"

"You're not allowed to call me by my surname either. How did you know my name anyway? Are you from East Junior High? You must be from North High, I can tell from that uniform. Just what is a North High student doing here?"

Haruhi snorted and then turned around,

"Ignore him, Koizumi-kun. Just pretend he never existed. There's no need to waste time on this impolite fellow, he's just an idiot anyway. Let's go!"

Why was Haruhi going home with Koizumi after school? Could it be that Koizumi has taken over my role in this world? Though that thought had crossed my mind for a while, but I wasn't frantically thinking of that then.

"Wait!"

I grabbed hold of Haruhi's shoulder as she turned to avoid me,

"Let me go!"

Haruhi turned her arm and swung my hand off. Her face was now full of anger, but that level of fierceness wasn't enough for me to let her go now, or else all those hours standing here would be meaningless.

"You sure are annoying!"

Haruhi bent down and elegantly gave a low kick.

A pain emanated from my ankle, it was so painful that I felt like I was about to suffocate, though not enough for me to crawl around on the ground. After finding my balance, I said disconsolately,

"Just tell me one thing,"

I took out my last ounce of courage. If this doesn't work, then I'm out of ideas. This was my last hope - I then threw out this question,

"Do you remember the Tanabata festival three years ago?"

Just as she was about to leave, Haruhi stopped once again. Looking at that long dark hair of hers, I continued,

"On that day, you sneaked into your school and drew shapes on the school field with white chalk."

"So what about it?"

Haruhi turned with a furious look on her face,

"Everyone knows about that already! Why are you mentioning this for?"

I chose my words carefully, trying to finish it as quickly as possible,

"You weren't alone in sneaking into school that night. You were with another guy who carried Asahina...... A little girl. It was with him that you drew the patterns using white chalk. The patterns were a message for Hikoboshi and Orihime, which roughly meant 'I am here......'"

I wasn't able to complete my sentence.

Haruhi grabbed my collar with her right hand and pulled me over. Being dragged by a terrifying force, I involuntarily fell forward, and knocked my forehead into Haruhi's head, which was hard as a rock.

"Ouch!"

I looked at her in protest, and her eyes also looked back with ferociousness. Her piercing gaze now shot right into my vision. That was a nostalgic gaze, Haruhi's exasperated face was just as nostalgic as well.

The girl looked at me with a perplexed face, her veins were close to bursting as she asked,

"How did you know that!? Who told you!? No, I never told anyone. That time......"

Haruhi suddenly stopped, her expression then changed dramatically as she saw my uniform,

"North High...... Could it be......!? What's your name?"

I was having difficulty breathing as my tie was being grabbed tightly by her. Such a savage girl. No, now's not the time to indulge in memories of Haruhi's amazing power. My name? Should I tell her my real name, which she has never heard of, or should I tell her that stupid nickname that everyone has gotten used to calling me?

No matter which one it was, it would have no effect on this girl before me. I don't think she has ever heard of those two names. In that case, there could only be one name that I can use,

"John Smith,"

Though I tried to say it calmly, it's difficult when I'm being lifted up by the neck. Can't you see I'm having difficulty breathing....... Just when I was thinking of that, the strong pressure before my chest was lifted at once.

"......John Smith?"

Haruhi released my collar and looked stunned as her hands stayed there in mid-air. I've rarely seen her like that. Suzumiya Haruhi looked as though her soul has been taken by the grim reaper, as her mouth was wide open.

"So it's you...... You're that John Smith? The strange high school student...... Who helped me...... In East Junior High......"

Haruhi suddenly tripped. Her long dark hair covered her eyes, and just as she was about to fall, Koizumi grabbed hold of her on time.

The link has now been connected.

What do mean 'helped you!?' You practically had me do everything...... But I wasn't going to waste my time arguing with her. That's it, I've finally found some clue! In this completely altered world, there was one person, and the only person, who shared the same memory as I did.

So it is you.

That person was none other than Suzumiya Haruhi.

If this Haruhi has seen me three years ago in Tanabata, then this world three years on could be traced back to that point in time. Not everything "disappears without a trace." When I traveled back to three years ago with Asahina-san, and returned to the present with the help of Nagato's power, that part of history did indeed exist. I don't know what went wrong in the process, but at least three years ago, this world was the same world as the one I had known.

Just what went wrong? Why was I the only one with the original memories?

I guess I'll think about this later on.

I looked at Haruhi, whose jaw was widened as though she had seen one of the wonders of the world, and said to her,

"I'll explain everything. Do you have time? Because it's a long story......"

As the three of us walked shoulder to shoulder, Haruhi spoke,

"I've seen John Smith twice. Not long after that, as I was on my way home, I heard someone shout behind me, what did he say...... Ah, yes! Something like, 'Please take good care of the John Smith who would shake the world!' What does that mean anyway?"

I've never said such a thing. After making sure Haruhi was out of sight from the track field, I went and woke up Asahina-san and rushed towards Nagato's apartment. Could there be another John Smith? But just what the hell was that John Smith talking about?

It sounded as though he was trying to give some hint to Haruhi.

"Was that John the same John you saw in East Junior High?"

"He was too far, plus it was dark at the time. I can't remember either of their faces very well. But his voice sounded like yours, and he was wearing North High's uniform."

Things seem to be getting more and more complicated. Just when I thought I had things linked up, the details didn't fit.

We looked for a coffee shop nearby and went inside. I had wanted to go to the usual coffee shop the SOS Brigade used for their meetings, since it was a reunion of the SOS Brigade members after all. Though it was a bit far from where we were.

"This other you that I knew studied in North High, and on the first day of school, she said the following......"

Before our orders even arrived, I began my story right away. Before the cafe au lait cooled down to the point that you could drink it all in one gulp, I had told her the compressed version of everything that has happened so far, without holding back. Things like an alien, a time traveler and an esper coming together in the SOS Brigade and our club room being the Literature Club's room.

I especially told her in detail about my time traveling adventure during Tanabata, as I thought that was the most important part.

I gave Haruhi a general picture about how she was potentially a god, a time distortion, and an evolutionary possibility, as neither of these theories were confirmed. I only told her that she had an incredible power hidden within, and how this unknown power could even change the world.

Just these was enough to make this girl very interested. She constantly went into deep thought, and then finally said,

"How come you could read the alien language that I thought up? It is true that those symbols meant 'I am here, come look for me.'"

"Someone translated that for me,"

"You mean that alien?"

"To be precise, a Living Humanoid Interface created by the aliens in order to interact with humans; I remember that's how she puts it."

I told them everything about Nagato Yuki. At first glance she seemed like an extra gift from the Literature Club to the brigade, but she's actually only set up as an expressionless quiet bookworm. I then told them about Asahina-san. The serial-cosplaying mascot, as well as our public relations officer and the brigade's exclusive tea-lady was actually a time traveler from the future. It was her that I traveled back with to the Tanabata three years ago, and it was thanks to Nagato that we managed to return.

"So that means that John would be you, right? Then I'll believe you, since nothing bad would come from that. So you were engaged in time travel then......"

Haruhi looked at me with eyes used to examine a time traveler and nodded her head.

Aren't you being a bit too trusting? I never knew you would believe someone so easily. That time when it was just the two of us looking around town for mysterious stuff, you treated my story like trash when I told you in that coffee shop.

"That other me is an idiot, but I believe you,"

Haruhi leaned forward and added,

"Because believing is more fun!"

I was familiar with this very bright smile which was like a hundred flowers blossoming. This was the smile Haruhi had when I saw her smile for the first time. It was the million watt smile she had when she suddenly thought about setting up the SOS Brigade during English class.

"Since that day, I went and investigated everyone from North High. I even infiltrated there for some time, but I never did see anyone who resembled John. I was angry with myself then for not remembering his face properly. But now it makes sense, since you hadn't even been enrolled at North High three years ago......"

There were two versions of myself back then, one was me living as a carefree junior high schooler, the other one was me being frozen in time with Asahina-san inside Nagato's guest room.

I might as well bring in the ordeals of this wonder kid here,

"In that world Koizumi is an esper. You've helped me a great deal, but you've also given me a lot of trouble,"

"If that's true, then that's pretty incredible,"

Drinking his tea elegantly, Koizumi said with a half-suspicious glance.

I turned once again towards Haruhi,

"Why didn't you come to North High?"

"No particular reason, really. I was only interested in North High because of that incident in Tanabata. But by the time I entered high school, John would have graduated already, not to mention I wasn't able to find him before. Besides, Kouyouen has a higher university entrance rate, and my home-room teacher at junior high kept nagging me to enroll there, so I simply followed along just to shut him up. Actually it doesn't really matter which high school I go to, really."

I decided to ask Koizumi as well,

"What about you? Why were you transferred here?"

"You ask me why, well, my answer's pretty much the same as Suzumiya-san's. I simply went to where my academic abilities led me. Besides, now I'm not saying North High's in any way bad, but Kouyouen was just so much better in terms of campus facilities."

True enough, North High doesn't even have air conditioning.

Haruhi sighed and said,

"The SOS Brigade, huh? ......Sounds like fun,"

All thanks to you.

"If what you said were true,"

Cutting in was Koizumi, he had now toned down his grinning smile and said with an amused look,

"Judging from your story, there exist two possibilities,"

Now that really sounds like something Koizumi would say.

"The first would be that you have entered a parallel universe, in which you have arrived from your world to this world; the second would be that the whole world has been changed except for yourself."

I've thought about that as well.

"Yet, no matter which one it is, there are still questions to be answered. If it's the former, then where did your counterpart in this world go to? If it's the latter, it's puzzling as to why you are the only one who remained unchanged. Unless you happen to possess some incredible power, then that would explain a lot."

I don't, and this I can guarantee.

Koizumi made his annoying trademark gesture by shrugging his shoulders gracefully and continued,

"If you have entered a parallel universe, then you must find a way to return to the world from whence you came from. If it's the world being completely altered, then you must find a way to restore the world to its original form. No matter which possibility it is, in order to resolve this, you have to find the culprit behind all this, since it's possible that the culprit would know how to return things to normal."

Who else could it be besides Haruhi?

"Who knows? Maybe it's some invader from an alternate universe using Earth as a gaming platform. There might even be some evil mastermind that would appear in the future."

I could tell at once that he was making up all of this as he went along, since it was obvious from his tone that Koizumi was bullshitting. Yet Haruhi didn't notice this at all, and her eyes even glimmered as she said,

"I'd sure like to meet this Nagato-san and Asahina-san. Oh yeah, I'd also want to have a look at that club room. If it was really me that has changed the world, then maybe we would remember something if we were to meet. Don't you think so too, John?"

Yeah, that's right. I had no reason to object. If this girl really was behind all this - or at least that's what I think anyway - then maybe it could trigger something within her, and even Nagato and Asahina-san would be able to remember me. Once the alien and time traveler had returned to normal, then everything else can be resolved easily. Hang on, did she just call me John?

"You said you're called Kyon, right? John sounds better, since it feels more like a person's name, not to mention it's a very common Western name. Just who gave you that Kyon nickname? It doesn't sound as though people respect you at all."

It was my aunt who gave me that nickname, while my sister was responsible for spreading it far and wide. Despite this, I felt very satisfied at this Suzumiya complaining about it. I wonder why, as it wasn't that long ago since I last heard that nickname.

"Then, let's go."

I might as well try asking,

"Now? Where to?"

Haruhi had already stood up and yelled boastfully at me,

"To North High, of course!"

In a blink of an eye, Haruhi, who couldn't even stand waiting for the automatic door to open, had already rushed out of the coffee shop.

That was so Haruhi of her to do that, I was very relieved to see that.

Haruhi, you sure are something. Once you think of something, you'll always get into action in less than two seconds. That's definitely you. Every time you kick the club room door open with a bullish attitude, we would know that you would have some amazing idea to announce. Nagato seemed to be the only one who would remain calm......

"Oh shit!"

I looked at my watch. It was way past school time. I had completely forgotten about the promise I made while I was at Nagato's apartment yesterday. I said I would go to the clubroom the next day, and yet I was late. An image floated in my head of Nagato looking depressed as she desperately waited for someone to knock on the door. Please wait a little longer. I'll be on my way.

Koizumi picked up the bill that Haruhi left behind and said,

"So am I just paying for Suzumiya-san only?"

If you're paying for me as well, I'll tell you even more.

"Then, I'm all ears,"

I simply threw back everything that this esper boy has ever told me. Things like the anthropic principle, or how Haruhi is a God, as well as how he went to great lengths to stage a murder mystery on a lone island in order to keep Haruhi entertained.

Seeing Koizumi going into deep thought, I asked him,

"Could Haruhi be the culprit or is it someone else altogether? Which do you think is correct?"

"If the Suzumiya-san that you mention really does possess omnipotent powers, then it's possible that it could be her doing,"

Well, I couldn't think of any other person. But then, if that's really the case, this means Haruhi has kept Koizumi by her side while casting Nagato, Asahina-san and me aside. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but I just don't believe Haruhi's more obsessed with Koizumi than any one of us. Was this part of Haruhi's unconscious powers at work as well?

"Does that mean I should be feeling honoured at being chosen by Suzumiya-san?"

Koizumi giggled and continued,

"After all, I...... Yes, I fancy Suzumiya-san,"

"......Are you serious!?"

You are joking!?

"I think she's a very captivating person,"

Now where have I heard that before? Koizumi went on in a serious tone,

"Yet, Suzumiya-san is only interested in my superficial attributes. She said it was only because I'm a transfer student that she bothered to speak to me. As I'm just a normal transfer student, she seems to be getting bored of it lately. In that SOS Brigade that you mentioned, what sort of special attributes did you have? If you have none, then that means Suzumiya-san is very fond of you, that is if that Suzumiya-san is the same person as the Suzumiya-san I know,"

No matter when it was, I don't think I've written into my resume any skills that would get me sent straight to a funny farm, besides the pretty useless skill of getting myself unwittingly dragged into mysterious events.

Haruhi stuck her head through the door and yelled at us with a bright smile on her face,

"Why're you two still here? Hurry up already!"

While Koizumi waited at the counter for the waitress to count the change, I took my first step from the heat-filled coffee shop back into the cold outdoors where a single breath becomes visible.

A taxi awaited outside the entrance of the coffee shop. Seems like Haruhi had hailed it. It looks like she wanted to get to North High as soon as possible. By the way, this wasn't the mysterious black cab that Koizumi and I would occasionally ride on, but a normal yellow cab.

"To North High, full speed ahead!"

Haruhi ordered the driver as she leapt onto the cab. I followed with Koizumi and sat in the back seat. The middle-aged driver didn't wince at being ordered around by a little girl, but merely smiled squeamishly and stepped on the gas pedal.

"I don't really mind if you barge into North High," I said to the side of Haruhi's face, "But your uniform would stand out too much. Students from other schools would need a reason to get in, or it'd be troublesome if the teachers found out."

Haruhi was wearing her black suit uniform, while Koizumi was in his gakuran uniform. There weren't many students around in the afternoon since it was a half school day, but if they were to enter the territory of sailor uniformed and navy blue suit uniformed students like that, they would be openly declaring that they were from another school.

"Well, that's......"

Haruhi thought for three seconds, then said,

"John, did you have PE lesson today? No, it doesn't matter even if you didn't. Your PE uniform is placed in your classroom, right?"

Well, I was playing football during PE in the first session.

"Then, did you bring your PE uniform and track suit?"

I did, but why're you asking that for?

Haruhi smiled enigmatically,

"I will now tell you my plan for this mission. John, Koizumi-kun, lend me your ears."

Does it really matter if the taxi driver overheard everything? Yet we still obediently leaned forward and listened as Haruhi quietly laid out her mission briefings.

"That really sounds like what you'd do,"

I replied, and took a glance at Koizumi, who gave a complicated look as he grimaced.

I got off the cab nearby North High first and went back to my classroom in order to prepare for Haruhi's infiltration of North High.

By the way, the cab fare was also paid for by Koizumi. This Koizumi was basically Haruhi's walking wallet. I don't know what that poor fellow has done to her to deserve this. Could his feelings for Haruhi be romantic? I'd really like to ask just what does he fancy in Haruhi. Yet I remember Taniguchi once said that despite being eccentric, Haruhi was quite popular with the guys in junior high. That's not surprising; if she hadn't created the SOS Brigade in this school, then she would be busy shunning every guy that comes to pursue her indiscriminately. Does that mean the SOS Brigade is actually Haruhi's sanctuary? By becoming the undisputed leader of such a mysterious club, any sensible guy would automatically avoid her like a batter dodging a powerful pitch. Instead of being struck out three times and getting hit on the head by the ball, most people would prefer avoiding the ball altogether and taking it easy while walking towards the first base.

I thought this to myself while heading towards the top floor.

There weren't a lot of people in the school complex, but it wasn't entirely empty. Students who decided to stay for their club activities because they had nothing better to do at home were scattered here and there. Fortunately, the 1-5 classroom was empty. Actually I was quite afraid of being caught by Okabe-sensei. If I were him, I would want to know why someone who has decided to take the rest of the day off would want to sneak back into the classroom.

Someone decided to help out and tidied my desk, I guess it's probably Asakura. I was wondering where my books and stationery went, turns out they were put away. Only my bag hung on one side of my desk, while the leather shoes that I was looking for were hung on the other side of the desk.

"She sure has everything thought out."

I sighed at Haruhi's meticulousness as I took out the sack containing my PE uniform. Inside this huge sports bag was a short sleeve PE shirt, a pair of shorts, a trainer jacket and a pair of trousers, all of which were worn during PE in the first session. The infiltration plan that Haruhi thought up of in the cab was obviously "disguising as North High students." "Koizumi-kun would wear your PE costume, while I'll put on the jacket and trousers. Then we'll simply run through the front gate, anyone will simply think we're from the Athletics Club and have just finished our jogging. This plan is perfect."

In other words, like insects, we have to learn how to camouflage ourselves. At least it was better than having to randomly grab a guy and a girl from North High on their way home and take their clothes off.

"Well, that's not a bad idea either,"

Haruhi said nonchalantly as she stood from a corner which was quite a distance from the school gate while waiting for me.

"It's less likely we'll be suspected if we dress up like you. Why didn't you tell us of this even better idea before?"

That's highway robbery! How could I be expected to do such a thing?

Haruhi untied the ropes on my sack and mercilessly turned it upside down, emptying its contents. The four pieces of clothes were now lying on the concrete road as a result.

"Did you wash them?"

About a week ago.

"Excuse me, Suzumiya-san,"

Koizumi looked at my muddy PE uniform, like a desert mouse staring desperately at the Mongolian tiger that has been forced it into a dead-end corner, and said,

"So where do we get changed? Is there some hidden place nearby?"

"We can change here,"

Haruhi replied swiftly, and grabbed the trousers at once.

"There aren't many people here, and it's not that cold if you change quickly. Don't worry, I'll turn around. John, you turn around as well, we'll cover for him,"

She glanced quickly at me. What's that supposed to mean?

"I wouldn't mind being watched,"

She smiled mischievously, then proceeded to put the trousers on under her skirt.

"I never knew you had such long legs."

She knelt down to fold up the long trousers, after adjusting the length, she then stood up and unhooked her skirt.

The skirt simply slid down from her waist. She then took off her black blazer. As she begun to unbutton her blouse, I quickly turned aside.

"It doesn't matter. I'm wearing a T-shirt inside anyway."

The blouse fell on top of the blazer and skirt. I slowly turned my gaze back. Wearing a short-sleeved plain white T-shirt and a pair of sports trousers, Haruhi stood proudly while her long hair fluttered in the wind. As I stared at her like that, I suddenly had an urge to see a certain sight once again.

"Hey, do you want to tie a ponytail?"

Haruhi looked back at me,

"What for?"

No particular reason, just my preference really.

Haruhi snorted casually,

"Tying a ponytail may look easy, but tying a nice ponytail is easier said than done!"

Nevertheless, from her blazer on the ground, Haruhi took out a rubber band and elegantly tied her long dark hair behind her head.

"This isn't so bad. Now I look more like I'm from the Athletics Club. So you think it's OK?"

I think it's marvelous. For me, her charm has increased by at least 36%.

"Jerk."

Just as I was wondering how to react to this, I realized she was only pretending to be angry. I ought to have known better.

Though it took a while longer, even Koizumi had finished changing. It must've been tough on him to wear a short-sleeve T-shirt and shorts in such freezing weather. Not to mention he had to wear someone else's clothes, so it must've felt extra peculiar. Shivering with goosebumps, Koizumi asked,

"Suzumiya-san, you're not going to wear your jacket, right? Mind if I borrow it?"

Haruhi was also wearing short sleeves, yet she bore a smile that was enough to repel the cold and said,

"No can do. I need that jacket to conceal my bag. I've already come this far disguised like this, I'm not going to let one bag ruin it."

Indeed, the schoolbags for Kouyouen School and North High were slightly different in their exterior design. Haruhi opened up the track suit jacket like a table cloth and wrapped it around her and Koizumi's bags, and then ordered me to carry them. She then stuffed all her clothes and Koizumi's into my sack, and asked me to carry that as well.

"Now then,"

Haruhi placed her arms on her hips and said,

"Now we look like we just came back from marathon practice. Not bad, huh?"

You're not bad, of course, but what about me? Where could you find an Athletic Club member carrying a lot of stuff while going on marathon training in regular uniform all at the same time?

"Well, you could think of yourself as the manager of the Athletic Club! And now! One, two, fight! One, two, fight!"

As the ponytailed girl ran off, I exchanged glances with Koizumi. Then, we shrugged our shoulders at the same time as we followed her.

Both this Koizumi and I knew very well that it was tremendously difficult to stop Haruhi from running off, no matter what the circumstances. So besides chasing after her, there was nothing else we could do.

It's always been like that, right?

I don't know if it's a good or bad thing, but unlike Kouyouen, the gates at North High are always open. Guards are nowhere to be found. Everything was going according to plan; Haruhi's phony marathon run while shouting slogans came to an end quickly as we safely arrived at our destination, the entrance hall. I never thought it would be such a hassle just to bring Haruhi and Koizumi into my school; they were still entering and leaving this place regularly three days ago.

"Such an old complex! Why are the walls prefabricated? Are prefecture schools really that poor? I was right not to enroll here."

I listened to her very correct statement while turning my gaze away from the rows of shoe lockers. I had already changed into my indoor shoes. Just when I was wondering whether there were any more slippers for guests, Haruhi had already casually opened the locker nearest to her and was holding some random student's shoes.

It was just like Haruhi to do that. I instinctively made a strange smile.

"What are you smiling for? You sure look stupid. It's not like I did anything funny."

After she said that, I quickly took my smile off. She was right: no matter what laws Haruhi might break, now was not the time to be smiling.

I was thinking Taniguchi's foot size was probably about the same as Koizumi's, so I went and took Taniguchi's shoes and gave them to him.

"Sorry about that."

With a tone didn't sound sorry at all, Koizumi thanked me politely and put on the shoes. I stuffed the sneakers that he was wearing into Taniguchi's locker.

I then took their bags, which were wrapped under the jacket, and carried them under my arm again.

"I'll lead the way, follow me."

"Hold it!"

As I was about to walk off, Haruhi stopped me. She unconsciously toyed with her ponytail with her fingers and said,

"That alien Nagato-san, she's in the Literature Club, right?

To be precise, the current Nagato is a normal high school girl who was formerly an alien. Regardless, I guess she's still waiting for me to come over right now.

"That Nagato-san probably wouldn't run away. Let's go get that time traveller Asahina-san. Where is she?"

She's probably gone home...... Suddenly a thought came to my mind. My instincts weren't just for show, I didn't even need to trace my memories. I can say confidently that this Asahina-san who doesn't know me was carrying some calligraphy tools with her. Before she got dragged into the SOS Brigade, she was a member of the Calligraphy Club. That means she's still at school right now.

"All right then, this way."

I'm sorry, Nagato. Please wait just a little longer. We have to go to the Calligraphy Club room before coming to look for you. Silently praying that the Calligraphy Club was in today, I naturally increased my speed.

The one who opened the door to the club room was Haruhi. That girl simply had no concept of the etiquette of knocking. I wasn't in the mood to lecture her on such minor details, while Koizumi stood uneasily at the corridor.

There were three girls in the Calligraphy Club room; it looked like they were practicing writing calligraphy for new year greetings.

"Which one of you here is Asahina-san?"

"......Can I help you?"

The smallest of the three girls widened her eyes and said in a timid voice through her cherry red lips.

"What is it......"

Asahina-san was sitting elegantly on the chair, holding her brush in mid-air.

I leaned past Haruhi's shoulder and inspected the room. Tsuruya-san wasn't here. I breathed a sigh of relief. I remembered that she wasn't in the Calligraphy Club.

Haruhi whispered to my ear,

"It's her, right? Is she really a second year student? She looks more like a junior high student."

"I too thought she was a junior high student. But you're right, she's Asahina-san."

After hearing that, Haruhi walked in huge strides and began to bullshit at this little angel, who had stiffened while holding her brush,

"I'm Suzumiya of the Student Council's Information Division. Asahina-san, the reason I've come is because there's something I need to ask you. Do you have a moment?"

You ought to script your lies better, especially when you're dressed in a short-sleeve T-shirt and sports trousers!

Asahina-san blinked her eyes nonstop and said nervously,

"Student Council...... Information Division? What is that...... But I don't know anything,"

"It doesn't matter, just come with me!"

Haruhi snatched her brush and threw it by the side of the paper, then grabbed Asahina-san's arm and forcefully pulled her up. The other club members were too stunned and frightened to be able to say anything. If Tsuruya-san were here, I might have been able to observe an interesting, out-of-this-world fight between her and Haruhi. Haruhi wrapped her arms around Asahina-san's waist and simply abducted her without giving an explanation.

"Your breasts...... They're huge. Hmm, you're one of a kind. I like it!"

Haruhi said cheerfully as she groped the breasts of an upper classman from another school.

"Kyaa! Wah! Wh... Wha... Eh!?"

Noticing me standing by the door, Asahina-san's eyes widened even further. She was probably thinking, It's that pervert from the other day! Asahina-san looked fearfully as well at Koizumi, who had to stand on one foot to keep warm as he was getting frozen while standing in the corridor. Koizumi looked at Asahina-san as though looking at a stranger and said,

"I'm not a bad person, honest."

Stop trying to act as though you have nothing to do with it. Especially when you're dressed like that, Koizumi. It won't work.

Like a mother trying to stop her child from running away once being told she had to go see the dentist, Haruhi carried a struggling Asahina-san up and said,

"Hey, John, that leaves just Nagato-san. Hurry up and take me to her."

I don't need you to tell me that.

After all, I have to rush over to that place before some keen-eyed student or teacher who had discovered that I skipped classes finds me.

The place located on the third floor of the complex known as the Old Shack, the headquarters of the SOS Brigade, which is officially known as the club room for the Literature Club.

This time I knocked on the door before opening it.

"Hey, Nagato."

The bespectacled girl lifted her gaze from the thick hardback library book on the table,

"Ah......"

Seeing it was me, Nagato breathed a sigh of relief,

"Eh?"

When she saw Haruhi following me in, her eyes widened,

"......Eh?"

Seeing Asahina-san being carried in by Haruhi, she opened her jaw,

"......"

When she saw Koizumi entered last, she was speechless.

"Hi there,"

Haruhi smiled brightly. After making sure everyone was in the room, she went and locked the door. Click! Upon hearing this sound, both Nagato and Asahina-san had the same reaction - their bodies stiffened up in fear.

"W... What are you doing?"

It was just like that day, Asahina-san was close to tears.

"W... Where is this place? Why did you bring me here? And, w... Why are you locking the door? What do you want with me?"

It was the exact same response, even I was moved to tears by this nostalgia.

"Shut up!"

Just like that day, Haruhi had the situation forcefully under control, she then inspected the whole room.

"So that four-eyed girl is Nagato-san? Hi there! I'm Suzumiya Haruhi! This one here in PE uniform is Koizumi-kun; while this little girl here with extraordinarily large breasts is Asahina-san. As for that guy, you should know him, right? He's John Smith!"

"John Smith...?"

Nagato looked stunned as she pushed the rims of her glasses and looked at me in disbelief. I shrugged my shoulders and accepted this stupid name. Both Kyon and John sounded stupid anyway.

"So... This is the SOS Brigade, huh? There's not a lot in here, but it's not a bad room. It's worth bringing some stuff over."

Like a curious cat being brought to a new residence, Haruhi wandered around the room, looked out of the window, examined the books on the bookshelf looking interested, and then she said to me,

"So, what do we do next?"

Don't tell me you didn't think of that before deciding to come over? Man, that was so like Haruhi's way of thinking.

"I'm for making this room as our headquarters, but it's so inconvenient to get here. It'll be a waste of time to come over here after school. I don't have any connections with anyone from North High. Oh yeah, why don't we just set a time and meet at the coffee shop in front of the station?"

After saying this, no one besides me and the girl who was talking knew what was going on.

Nagato looked like a doll with a troubled look; Asahina-san acted strangely as she trembled; while Koizumi began his miming act.

I've got to say something, however, before I was able to speak...

Ding!

Suddenly, the computer which no one touched made some electronic noises. Nagato turned her head instinctively.

"Huh?"

Asahina-san had to lift her hips in order to see what was going on. All my knowledge about how these machines work has been sucked away by this strange computer.

The ancient cathode ray tube screen made a static noise, and slowly illuminated - I only knew this from the reflection on Nagato's glasses.

This was supposed to be corresponded by the sound of the hard disk spinning, yet no sound could be heard. I've seen this happen before... No, I remember back then I had to turn the machine on first... The OS screen did not appear, instead the screen displayed an odd appearance that looked very familiar...

"Let me have a look,"

My body moved on its own. I pushed Haruhi aside and dashed to the front of the screen.

Silently displayed on the dark gray screen was a line of words.

  YUKI.N > If you are reading this, I am probably no longer myself.

...Yes, that's it, Nagato...

"What's going on here? No one's typing anything, this is creepy!"

"Maybe it's been programmed to turn on at a certain time? But this computer sure looks old. It must've been a lot of work for such an old machine."

I could not listen to anything Haruhi and Koizumi said behind me. I didn't even dare to blink, for fear of missing a single word or sentence. I could hear my heart thumping in my ears as I stared at the screen.

  YUKI.N > When this message appears, it means that you, me, Suzumiya Haruhi,
 Asahina Mikuru and Koizumi Itsuki have all been gathered here.

It was as if the words were moving to match my reading speed. Without any decorative description, the cursor then typed out the following words:

  YUKI.N > This is the key. You have found the answer.

I didn't exactly find the answer. It was more like me stumbling into it while being forcefully dragged by Haruhi along with Koizumi. This Haruhi sure is quite useful... By the way, Nagato, it's been a while.

I watched the words on the screen feeling nostalgic. Though the lines were silent, inside my heart I could hear Nagato reading each word monotonously. The cursor continued to move:

  YUKI.N > This is the Emergency Escape Program. To activate it, hit the "Enter" key, otherwise,
 hit any other key. Once activated, you will be given a chance to repair the space-time continuum.
 However, neither success nor your safe return can be guaranteed.

Emergency Escape......Program. That's it! It's in this computer!

  YUKI.N > This program can only be executed once. Once it is executed, it will be deactivated.
 Should you choose not to activate it, it will also be deactivated. Are you ready?

This was the last line of words. The cursor at the end flickered non-stop.

Should I hit "Enter"? Or should I hit some other key?

When I came to my senses, I realized Haruhi was peeking over my shoulder.

"What does it all mean? Is it some secret organization? John, stop fooling around and explain already!"

I completely ignored Haruhi, Koizumi and Asahina-san. During this moment, my eyes were neither fixed on Haruhi in her ponytail, Koizumi in my PE uniform, nor the ever-so-cute Asahina-san. I had put all my attention onto this computer and the only other person in this room. I said to the bespectacled girl who was staring at the screen looking stunned:

"Nagato, do you have any recollection of this?"

"...No,"

"Are you sure?"

"Why do you ask?"

Why was she in such a hurry to deny any involvement? It was you who is typing those words......I had wanted to say that, but if I did, this Nagato would probably freak out.

I decided to examine the last part of the message once again.

This was a message Nagato left for me, it was the Nagato that I had always known that wrote it. To be honest, I didn't really understand what this Emergency Escape Program meant, and the disclaimer about success not being completely guaranteed unsettled me.

Yet, I've come this far, there's no point fretting about it. I used to place my entire trust on that Nagato, and I could only trust her again now. She rarely makes any mistakes. Besides trusting Nagato, the silent alien-created Living Humanoid Interface who has saved my life numerous times, who else could I trust? If I doubt even what she says, then I really need to doubt what my mind is thinking.

"Hey, John. What's wrong? You look so strange."

Haruhi's voice sounded as if it came from a distance.

"Please leave me alone for a while. I'm trying to organize my thoughts."

Right now, I really needed to think things over. A Haruhi and Koizumi who study in a different school, an Asahina-san who wasn't a time traveler, and a Nagato who doesn't seem to know anything. After thinking about these, I realized that these weren't the things I should be worrying about now.

The words written by Nagato on the screen were her personal thoughts. The genuineness of that message cannot be doubted.

I stretched my arms and took a deep breath.

That's it...

The only thing I was sure was that I wanted to get out of this world. I wanted to see the SOS Brigade once again, which I was so familiar with that it has become a part of my daily life, as well as everyone in that world. The Haruhi, Asahina-san, Koizumi and Nagato here weren't the ones that I knew. There was no 'Organization' or Integrated Data Entity here, and the adult version of Asahina-san would never visit this world, since everything's so messed up.

It didn't take me long to make up my mind.

I took out a crumpled piece of paper from my jacket...

"I'm sorry, Nagato, but you can have it back."

Nagato's pale fingers slowly reached out to receive the blank club application form. Once I let go, the application form flickered about, though there was hardly any wind in here. After missing her grip once, she finally grabbed hold of it the second time around.

"This..."

Nagato's voice was even shaking, her eyes concealed by her eyelashes.

"However," I quickly explained, "To tell the truth, I was already a member of this room to begin with. There was no need for me to join the Literature Club, as for the reason..."

Haruhi, Koizumi and Asahina-san all looked and me and thought, What the hell is he talking about? Nagato's expression was covered by her hair, so I couldn't see properly. It doesn't matter. Don't worry, Nagato. No matter what happens next, I'll definitely return to this room.

"As for the reason, that's because I'm a member of the SOS Brigade."

Are you ready?

You bet.

I stretched out my finger and hit the "Enter" key.

In the next moment......

"Whoa!?"

When I stood up, I was hit by a very intense dizziness. I involuntarily grabbed hold of the desk as my vision spun before me. I could feel my ears buzzing as I heard the sounds of people talking coming from afar. Everything went black. I lost all sense of balance, I felt as though I was drifting around, just like a tree leaf that had fallen into a rapid, spinning forever non-stop. The voices calling me started to drift away, what were they trying to say? Was it John or Kyon? I wasn't sure myself, it didn't sound like it's from Haruhi. It's so dark, am I falling? Where was I falling to? Someone should at least tell me.

My thoughts were in complete chaos. Were my eyes really open? I couldn't see anything, nor could I hear anything. I could only feel myself floating. Just where was my body? What about Haruhi? Everything's gone twisted. Koizumi, Asahina-san, where am I? Just where was I going? Just what awaits me in this Emergency Escape Program?

Nagato......

"Whoa!?"

I yelled once again, my ankles were nearly cracked as I barely managed to support myself. It was only then I realized I was still standing.

"What the hell...?"

It was dark everywhere, though not dark enough where you couldn't see your own fingers. I was relieved I could still see.

"Where am I..."

Looking out at the dim lights shining into the window, I confirmed my position. This looks like a room, and I seem to be holding on to a table. On top of the table was an old computer...

"The Literature Club room!"

It was the Literature Club room from before.

Yet Nagato wasn't here. Haruhi, Asahina-san and Koizumi had also vanished. Only I remained. The sun seems to have set already, even though sunlight was still shining through the window a while ago. It's gone dark rather a bit too quick. I looked through the window and into the sparsely populated night skies, seeing the few stars glittering. Time sure flies by quickly.

The room was the same as before. There was a bookshelf, a long table, and an old computer. I understood at once just by seeing these. I didn't return to my original world, since there wasn't any stuff from the SOS Brigade. The Commander's Desk wasn't here, neither was Asahina-san's cosplay wardrobe. It was still an empty Literature Club room ...but...

The sweat on my forehead dripped into my eyes. I promptly wiped them off with the sleeves of my jacket.

Something's not right.

Just what was this disorienting feeling? I already knew where I was. This was indeed the Literature Club room. Are you a taiko drum? I suddenly remembered the pun Taniguchi made earlier, but that's not the problem. Yes, the problem wasn't about where this place was.

"This is..."

Suddenly, I discovered the truth of why I was feeling so disoriented! At the same time, my body temperature felt as though it has risen sharply, but that wasn't quite accurate. The truth was that the surrounding temperature was already high, hence my body temperature had risen as well, so it wasn't an illusion.

I couldn't take it anymore, and took off my jacket. All the pores in my body opened up at once and sweated. I then took off my sweater and rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, yet the heat accumulated inside the room barely dispersed.

"This is too hot!"

I began to grumble.

"It's feels as hot as..."

A hot summer's night.

In that case, there was only one question I should be asking right now,

What season is it right now?

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