Suzumiya Haruhi:Volume7 Prologue

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Suzumiya Haruhi has become very pensive lately.

Even though she is often melancholic and sometimes easily agitated, she is actually very sociable. Even so, she's been surprisingly tranquil these past couple days. This quietness from who-knows-where even scares people like me.

Of course, it isn't like her to stay quiet, and it definitely isn't a change of heart. Haruhi never doubts herself. Even if her personality has a slight or subtle change, she will never question herself. Anyway, if such a change were to happen, I would be put in a troublesome situation. So at this moment in time, I wouldn't bother to try and correct her. How should I put this... there's a type of quietness that's like a continuously radiating kirlian photograph in which the light has gone from burning red to a duller orange which is subtly surrounding her.

Of all the people in the class, only one or at most two might realize that she is not quite the same as usual. Of these two, one is me.

Ever since I entered high school, she has always been sitting behind me and we meet after school every day. So, I can say without exaggerating that if anyone has noticed anything it would have to be me. But even though I say she's calm now, that bright flare can still give the all-knowing a run for their money. As soon as it bursts forth, the energy that will not stop until it succeeds will show its true colors.

Note that while she only got second at the event the school organized at the end of last month, Haruhi got first in the marathon held at the school at the beginning of this month. By the way, the winner of the first event was none other than Nagato Yuki, who also got second in the marathon. In a nutshell, the leaders of the SOS Brigade and the literature Club are both amazing and fit to be grouped with the Warlords in the past. And yet again, the school was left to rack its brains and try and figure out what the Brigade was doing. One such student who wondered this was me, a member.

If I only knew one thing, it was that once Haruhi displayed that kind of expression and spirit, I can be sure that she's planning something. And at the moment she's thought it through, her face will transform back to its enchanting, smiling form.

Oddly, I don't actually remember when I discovered this. When was it? I tried flipping through the history book in my mind, searching through for the record that displayed her quiet side gradually disappearing.

A calm moment is the accurate, unmistakable prediction of a giant tsunami. It has always been like that.

So......

It is now the beginning of February, the cold winter is nearing its end.

New Years has come and gone, and we left the troublesome old year behind almost a month ago. If time seems to have flown by, it's probably because you've kept yourself busy doing a lot of New Years related things during that first month.

Here, I'm hoping that time will reverse. I have no clue what Haruhi is planning, since I need to come to terms with my own situation first. Starting to reminisce about the past year in February is a bit early, but since what I have to say is not unsayable, I might as well tell it enthusiastically and completely.

At that time, I only had one motto: Finish the unfinished, one by one. As fast as possible.

When I made up my mind, it was when we were still on the winter trip. It took quite a bit of time before I set it in motion.

This is the story that started January the second at the train station we always pass on normal days.

.........

......

...

The vacation that had us fighting through a snowstorm and imprisoned in a mysterious mansion on the mountain finally ended on the second day of the new year. The SOS Brigade group that set out for the winter trip to that mountain villa finally returned home.

"Whew, I'm back."

Haruhi said hello to our little town, then turned to face the sunset, closing one eye.

"I can finally be comfortable. Even though the snow mountain wasn't too bad, the air you're used to is the best, although it is a bit stale."

Arakawa the butler, Mori the maid and the Tamaru brothers were all long gone, since they don't go this way to get home. So, the only ones claiming the baggage at the train station in front of our hometown are the tireless and extremely healthy Haruhi and Tsuruya-san, Asahina-san, to whom my sister was clinging, unwilling to separate, the forever impassive Nagato, the exhausted Koizumi, the extremely weary me and the cargo, Shamisen. Ha, that should be enough, I guess.

"Dismissed for today."

Haruhi gives the appearance that she'd had lots of fun.

"Everyone can get some rest. Tomorrow will be the first time this year we visit the temples and shrines nearby, so meet here at nine. Oh, Tsuruya-san, do you have any plans?"

The energetic vigor that's already making plans for the next day after the vacation ended is very enviable. The problem is, my body, representing that of a normal human’s, doesn't have a perpetual motion machine built into it. But Tsuruya-san, the person whose vitality can somehow keep up with Haruhi's, said,

"Sorry everyone, I have to go to Switzerland tomorrow. I'll bring some souvenirs back. Please, take this change and donate it!"

After saying this, she dug into her pockets and showed her clinking and clanging change at Asahina-san.

"This is New Year's money!"

She said, giving all her change to my sister.

"See you next semester~"

She waved, leaving the train station with a bright, smiling face. Her posture was relaxed and cheerful. How was this girl raised? For future reference, I want to visit her parents and see what they say.

Haruhi kept waving until we lost sight of her around the corner of those apartments.

"Then, let's go home. Everyone be careful on the road. It's still the winter trip until you get home."

If anything were to happen on the way home, Koizumi and I physically wouldn't be able to take it anymore. Nothing weird should show up on the way home from the station, anyway.

I glanced at Nagato. Her abnormality inside the mysterious hotel on the mountain had vanished into thin air; she is now back to her emotionless, impossible-to-read state. As I was thinking this, her eyes moved and met mine. She nodded her head slightly; that wasn't just an illusion, I think.

I looked over at Asahina-san. She had been relaxed and laid-back during the trip. The carefree-ness had become concern while we were trapped in the mysterious mansion, but upon reflection, that was appropriate. Now she really makes an appearance. I stared at her, full of affection, but sadly, she didn't notice my look at all and continued talking with my sister as if they were the same age.

"Well, see you tomorrow! Don't be late. Oh, and don't lose your pochibukuro, there'll be stalls everywhere tomorrow."

After Haruhi said that, I took hold of my sister's hand, held onto the box Shamisen was in, said farewell to Haruhi and Asahina-san and got on the public bus.

"See you later, Mikuru-chan!"

While I was pulling my struggling sister to her seat, I saw Asahina-san keep looking over and waving to my sister. Sorry, but I don't really feel like waving now. Well, if it were Haruhi or Koizumi, I would definitely shout goodbye.

So, as soon as I got home and liberated myself from Shamisen and my sister, after a few minutes, I called two particular brigade members I had just left at the stop.

Why?

Because I want to finish what I regret leaving incomplete as soon as possible.

And since it was because I was lazy that this awkward situation remains unresolved, I'm very sorry, so I want to teach the old, lazy me a lesson. We should go to the me from a while before the trip. That time at the mysterious mansion on the mountain, it was because Nagato and Koizumi were bright that they managed to keep the worst-case scenario from occurring. But no one can guarantee that something like that will never happen again. Actually, I think that this matter has to be resolved sooner or later. The fun at the mountain villa was delayed because of this problem, and the surroundings even disappeared along with the members. There was enough time afterwards at Tsuruya-san's resort while we played Fukuwarai and Sugoroku for me to make a decision.

I have to go. I have to return to that time-space with Nagato and Asahina-san.

Yes, back to the dawn of December the eighteenth...

There was no time to rest off the weariness. First, I phoned Asahina-san, and since we just separated, she was quite surprised.

"What's the matter, Kyon-kun?"

"There's a place I want to go with you. Today, preferably."

"Eh......? Where?"

"December the eighteenth of last year."

She was both shocked and puzzled.

"Ehhh......? Wha- What's happening?"

"Please take me and Nagato into the past, two weeks ago, to be precise. Then we can work together to try and reverse time."

"Tha-, me send...... no, that device cannot be used when I feel like it. It requires lots of consideration and authorization by many other people."

I bet that authorization will be easy to get. The vision floating in my mind's eye was of Mikuru (Big) winking at me, even blowing me a kiss.

"Asahina-san, contact your boss or somebody like that right now. Explain it to them, and say that I want to take you and Nagato back to the dawn of December the eighteenth."

I guess since I was brimming with confidence, Asahina-san's sighs that occasionally leaked through the phone became silent.

"Wait, wait a minute."

Of course I'll wait. I've always wondered how you communicate with the future, but all I'm hearing is Asahina-san's quiet breathing. This background music didn't last ten seconds, and was quickly replaced by a confused voice.

"I don't believe it......"

"It's been authorized. Bu-Why......? It was so easy......"

That's because the future is now resting on my shoulders — but I didn't say that. How could I say such a thing? I don't want to talk for much longer on the phone.

"Let's meet in front of Nagato's apartment. Can you make it in 30 minutes?"

"Uhh, wait. Give me an hour. I want to double-check. Oh, and, we should just meet in front of Nagato-san's apartment, there's no need to go in."

I happily agreed and hung up the phone. After thinking of Asahina-san's cute and shocked face for a while, I set my face and reined in my feelings. In the time before departure, nothing would make me laugh. That guy should understand me best.

And another person, who will know what I'm up to even if I don't tell her. But I should make sure. I picked up the phone again.

An hour later......

I came too early. I was so happy, I rode my bike as fast as I could. I stood in front of the luxurious apartment, almost freezing to death. 15 minutes later, a cheerful person ran up to me. It looked like she didn't have time to change, and didn't think of changing either. She was still wearing the clothes she was wearing when we came back from our trip. Actually, I was too.

"Kyon-kun."

Asahina-san looked at me full of wonder.

"I still don't get it. Why did your request go through so quickly? Furthermore, my boss even commanded me to take Nagato-san too, it has to be the three of us...... and when I asked him what the outcome would be, he only said that it was top-secret. And...... he even said I had to follow your orders. Why?"

"I'll tell you in Nagato's room."

As I said this, I entered Nagato's room number into the machine by the door and rang the doorbell. There was a response immediately.

"......"

"It's me."

"Enter."

The door opened and I walked in. Ah, I can't forget Asahina-san, she's still hesitating. After I waved to her, she seemed to catch on and caught up with me. Every single time we come here, she's scared. It's almost like it's her habit now. In the elevator, Asahina-san seemed to be turning over and thinking about many questions, and her face looked quite nervous, but also puzzled.

That expression didn't change, even after Nagato opened the door and ushered us in.

Nagato looks like she not only had time to prepare, but was very composed about everything too. She was in her apartment, but had already changed into that familiar sailor uniform. Reflecting, I feel that this appearance is especially comforting. I think this not because I secretly have a sailor fetish, but because this person could fully understand the feeling of serenity in my heart.

That time, when I saw a short-haired person wearing a sailor uniform holding a knife, I lost consciousness.

If Nagato were to wear something else, I would probably feel very uncomfortable. I know I would still recognize her, but this sailor uniform has nearly become her trademark.

"......"

Without speaking, Nagato pointed to the room, suggesting that we should sit down. Then she walked to the kitchen to make some tea.

So, I used this time to outline the basic details for Asahina-san.

"I don't believe it......"

Asahina-san's eyes were wide as plates as she muttered.

"What history was changed, how can it be, I didn't feel a thing......"

That's not a surprise. No matter how I see it, the only one with a clear memory of those three days is me. That me could not have done anything if it weren't for Nagato's hints and amazing ability to act.

"A worldwide time-space change and direct interference with the future...... these things coincidentally happened at the same time."

Asahina-san's voice trembled, her gaze drifting away. The table now had three cups of tea. It was tea Nagato had steeped for us, and she cut in on my explanations to Asahina-san once in a while.

"Really."

Asahina-san was very startled by these comments, and her tea was untouched, it's probably cold already.

"......"

Nagato expressionlessly stared at Asahina-san, then shifted her unreadable gaze onto me, and then turned back to Asahina-san.

I think I know what Nagato wants to say. I had told Asahina-san that it was because Nagato had caused the wrong current state to be entered, so the world changed on December the eighteenth. Fortunately, the Emergency Escape Program had worked, and I had returned to the Tanabata four years ago. But, this resulted in Asakura Ryoko attempting to assassinate me, luckily a failed attempt. Before fainting, I saw myself, along with Nagato and Asahina-san, apparently from the future, restore the world to its original state. Only as I explained it, she might not understand what the hell is going on, so Nagato wants to add some footnotes.

Considering this wasn't all the information. The Tanabata four years ago also had an Asahina-san (Big) waiting for us. I still hadn't told her this, since I don't know if telling her would be good or bad. The Asahina-san now doesn't know anything about that. In other words, Asahina-san (Big) is hiding something from her.

This Asahina-san seemed to be communicating with the future on a regular basis, so if it were important, someone, even if it wasn't Asahina-san (Big), maybe her boss or someone important, would probably tell her. Hey, I don't know how time travelers communicate.

But I can mostly tell what happened. "When I asked him what the outcome is, he only said that it was a secret." were her words exactly.

Asahina-san probably doesn't know anything, because no one is telling her.

I don't know the reasons for this, but if I think about it, it seems about right. As a time traveler, she's kind of unprepared — that’s what I've thought before. Almost falling into an endless August, the mysterious mansion...... and if Asahina-san had given advice from the future before this kind of event, it would have been avoidable, but she didn't. Why?

Nod. I see.

If Asahina-san (Big) doesn't know anything, it would be too weird, because she, in the past — Asahina-san now — has already done these things. So, if these events and adventures were avoided, her future history would change. So it is required that, no matter what, we have to go through these things.

This is all my theory, and the result is that we will all end up helpless to change anything, like Nagato.

But since it's like this, isn't Asahina-san quite pitiable? Every time something happens, she'll always be scared to death. The number of times she's been shocked may even surpass the number of times I, a person from this time, have been startled. Moreover, Asahina-san's reasons for coming to the present are very suspicious. If it was only Haruhi that needed to be under surveillance, an anti-theft video camera could do the job.

There has to be a real reason. Asahina-san herself does not know. But, the her a little while into the future does seem to know......

Lost in thought, I heard a cold, crisp voice.

"I want you to do something for me."

Since it's Nagato, I would do almost anything that she asks.

"Please don't say anything to the me in the time we are visiting."

Any talk at all? Do "Um" and "Ah" count too?

"If it's possible."

Nagato's normally expressionless eyes showed her thoughts, for once. Her black pupils showed that this was really a passionate wish. For me to reject this request, it would be akin to trying to catch the moon in the lake.

"Got it. Since you say it like this, I'll find a way."

The head that always has short hair nodded, slightly.

Nagato, whose instructions were used to iron out the details of time and space, and Asahina-san, who was the faithful executor, made up this team of Aliens and Time Travelers. No matter how big Koizumi's 'Organization' is, they have no chance of winning. Except I'm not sure if they even plan on fighting.

Nagato, Asahina-san and I went to the entrance to put on our shoes. In that cramped space, we crowded and squeezed together. Last month, when I went with Asahina-san (Big), I had forgotten my shoes. That lesson reappeared clearly before me now. Her high heels were in the exact same place they were four years ago, obviously the work of Nagato. It's not like I can return them to this Asahina-san, so I guess I'll just ignore them.

"Um, December the eighteenth... what time?"

Nagato's answer was exact to the second; Asahina-san nodded her head.

"We're going now. Kyon-kun, close your eyes. "

And — —

Time moved. That very familiar dizzy feeling that makes me want to puke. Even though my eyes are closed, it feels like something is flashing. It's comparable to staring at the sky and ascending, along with that unpleasant feeling of rising fast and losing track of what's up and what's down. Just like riding on an out-of-control roller coaster and being thrown around ten times, losing focus and feeling very weird, I was almost at my limit...

My soles finally land on the ground again. The gravity pulling me down feels so comfortable.

"We're here."

Nagato said softly.

I opened my eyes gingerly, and was startled.

I found myself standing in front of the school gates.

I quickly tried to remember what happened before. On Tanabata four years ago, I came through time on the direction of the Nagato still in "Standby Mode". Coming back to the eighteenth with Asahina-san, I had gazed at the black world Nagato had created and walked under a street light......

......and we had landed in the middle of all that.

That "Me", changing himself as the world changed, was saying something to a Nagato with glasses on. I can even see the shadow of Asahina-san wearing my jacket. This isn't too good, because no matter how you look at it, this is just way too close.

"Don't worry."

Our Nagato said in monotone.

"They can't see us. A soundproof barrier has been set up."

That means, to "Me", Asahina-san and Nagato (with glasses), we're just soundless, transparent people. This doesn't need clarification from Nagato, because she's here with us. Pity.

Asahina-san was blinking non-stop.

"Um...... who's that girl? It's an adult, why is she here?"

From here, they're only silhouettes. As expected, Asahina-san doesn't get it. If she could imagine that her future self would appear here, it would be too unnerving. As I was contemplating whether or not to tell her, something happened that made that thought disappear like dust in the wind. Even though I knew it was coming, it still gave me goose bumps watching it as a spectator.

Suddenly, someone appeared from the shadows. It passed softly by us and by the time I realized that it was Asakura Ryoko, she was already running, no, charging at "us". Her knife was at her waist as she charged us in a hostile fashion.

Asahina-san (Big) yelled something, but it was too late, "I" had been stabbed, just like I remember.

"Ohh."

That looked painful. I didn't notice it before, but when Asakura is waving that knife around, she's very detestable. Full of bloodlust, she stuck the knife into "my" body without hesitation. Luckily, Asakura Ryoko can only be convicted of attempted murder.

"I" fell.

"Eh...... Oh! Kyon-kun!"

Asahina-san started yelling too, and she started to run to "Me". "Ah......!" as she immediately ran into the invisible wall, and she stopped, looking on miserably. I think she's forgotten I'm right beside her in the heat of the moment. Her eyes only saw "Me", and I still don't know if I should be happy or unhappy.

"Nagato-san!"

Looking at Asahina-san, Nagato bobbed her head.

"The barrier's dissolved...... It ends now."

Asahina-san ran over, Nagato also started working. Faster than the night wind, she grabbed Asakura's knife right away. Asakura's yell rang out, a mixture of hate and fright. I also ran towards the old me. Oh, great, now "I" look horrible.

Asahina-san was crying while she held "Me" in her arms. Since she's worried about me, I'm really happy. But hanging there, I wouldn't mind if I died.

She tearfully cried for "Me" as if her life depended on it, completely ignoring everyone else. I really want to thank her.

Painfully, Asahina-san (Big) moved her gaze from the ground up and stared at me.

"You're here."

But I'm a bit late, not as in time late, but mood-wise.

"......Hey......"

This sound was Nagato from my memory. The someone running around was hurting my heart. The Nagato with glasses had fallen down, and was sitting there with a look of alarm on her face. Those dark eyes’ gaze moved from the fallen "Me" to Asakura, then to the person wearing the same sailor uniform as her, then onto me.

"Wh...... y......"

I have an agreement with my Nagato. So, I cannot talk to this other Nagato, the one that just finished changing the world. There is only one thing I have to say or do.

Picking up the gun that Nagato had made three years ago, I looked at "Me". To say what I heard before, I opened my mouth and said what I remembered. This should work, because as long as it mostly fits, a little bit of difference is allowed. That "Me" completely closed his almost-closed eyes, falling to one side. This fainting scene was very exciting, it looked like "I" died. But if no one stopped the blood, "I" would really die.

Then, from now on, it's all up to us. Even I don't know what will happen after.

The first thing I saw was my Nagato stopping Asakura.

"......"

The knife Nagato was holding onto was shining and turning to dust. Asakura, who wanted to run away, was not moving, as if her feet were glued to the ground. Nagato was speaking very fast.

"Wh, Why? You......"

Asakura's body was also shining now.

"Isn't this what you wanted...... Today too...... Why......"

The unmoving Asakura asked one last question, and then disintegrated like a knife just cut her into pieces. At the same time,

"Ah?......"

Asahina-san (Small) toppled over, looking like she was bending over my body. The softly closed eyes and the slightly open mouth said she was asleep.

Asahina-san's (Big) hand gently caressed the dead-tired senpai's neck.

"I put her to sleep."

The adult Asahina-san stroked her young self's hair sadly.

"I can't let her know I'm here. I had to do this."

Asahina-san slept very cutely, using "my" hand as a pillow.

"Don't tell her about me."

This sleeping face is the same as the one from Tanabata three years ago, as the one on the bench in the park, the reason is exactly the same too, Asahina-san (Big) doesn't want the her from the past to see what she looks like. The back is fine, but if she walks closer, Asahina-san is only allowed to see Asahina-san.

I gazed at the unconscious Asahina-san (Small) and "Me".

"......"

My Nagato knelt and leaned over, putting her hand to the abdomen of the "Me" that got stabbed. It's a good thing she did. Anyway, the blood stopped, and "my" pale face finally looked like a normal human's. So, the person who healed me was her.

Nagato casually stood up and, without wiping the blood off her finger, reached her hand out and said,

"Lend it to me."

I didn't say anything, and just gave her the gun. I haven't held it in a long time, and was glad to give it up. If anything happens, this can be used as a threat. But no matter what, I won't shoot any Nagato with it.

The gun-wielding Nagato pointed the gun at the Nagato with glasses sitting on the ground, who had been timid all along. She nonchalantly cocked and fired it.

Nagato (with glasses) started shining as she slowly stood up. That stick-like posture was the posture of the Nagato I was familiar with. Completely different from when she gave me an application form, or when she awkwardly pulled on my sleeve while crying, different from that shy, slightly smiling person.

Like she was proving it to me, that Nagato took off her glasses and, after staring at me, locked her cold gaze onto the other her and said,

"Request synchronization."

The two Nagatos stared at each other. Counting this time, I have already seen "Me" several times before. Both Asahina-sans have also seen each other many times. But, this is the first time there has been more than one Nagato at a time. It makes me feel odd. Quite a magnificent sight.

"Request synchronization."

The Nagato that was shot repeated, the Nagato that shot immediately replied.

"Denied."

Even I found this odd, let alone the Nagato holding glasses in her hand. Her eyebrows may have moved.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

I'm astonished. Completely flabbergasted. Has anything this clear ever come out of Nagato's mouth before? This isn't an excuse. This explicit denial proves she has emotions, no doubt about it.

"......"

The other Nagato, seemingly lost in thought, quieted.

"......"

She's as silent as before, as the night wind blows her hair around.

I gently said to the Nagato from the past,

"Go change the world back to its former state."

"Understood."

That Nagato nodded, and said, in a slightly hesitating voice that only I could understand,

"Unable to sense the existence of the Integrated Data Sentient Entity."

"It's not here."

My Nagato faintly said,

"I am still connected to the time and space I am from, let me do the second adjustment."

"Understood." Said the Nagato from the past.

"After the transformation,"

My Nagato said,

"You can move according to your own wishes."

The Nagato that just went to the past was looking at me, her head tilted. Unperceivable data appeared in that expression and gaze, but I could read it, no one is more clear than I as to what Nagato wants to say.

This Nagato was that Nagato. The Nagato that appeared at the hospital that night. The one that said her own punishment was being debated and had annoyed the shit out of me.

I also understand why the Nagato from the future rejected synchronization. Nagato doesn't want that her to tell this her what she has to do.

Why? — Why ask why, that's something that's not obvious to see.

Thank you. — That time I heard Nagato say this as the answer.

"Kyon-kun?"

Asahina-san said cautiously to a still standing me.

"This child...... Can you take care of her?"

She started to pick up the heavy-looking, peacefully-sleeping Asahina-san (Small). I immediately went to help, and, following her directions, piggy-backed the slender Asahina-san like before. She's even as soft and warm as in my memory.

"A large-scale time-quake will be happening shortly."

Asahina-san (Big) hugged her arms, her very serious face showing sharp concern, and said

"Compared with the one Nagato-san did just now, this one is even more complicated and significant. Even opening your eyes, if you wanted to, would be extremely hard."

Since it's you that's saying this, of course I believe you, but what difference does this make?

"The first change was only meant to start the process. In this one, we need to make time turn back to its original flow. Think for a second, about where you woke up."

The evening of December the eighteenth, I woke up in the hospital.

"Yes. So, we must make this turn into that."

Barefoot, with my jacket over her shoulder, Asahina-san (Big) lazily and stealthily walked over.

One of Asahina-san's (Big) hands went to Asahina-san's (Small) shoulder as she turned her head to look at Nagato. I and the Nagato that came here with me walked over. There was still someone remaining as they originally were; the fallen "Me" was still lying there.

Asahina-san (Big) reached out and grabbed Nagato with her free hand.

"It's up to you, Nagato-san."

Nagato lightly nodded her head, then stared at herself, as if they were never going to meet again. The other Nagato didn't say a word. It might have been my imagination, but she looked very lonely. No worries. I still remember what I said then. That "Me" right there will talk to you soon enough. That punk will say this, for certain, so come visit with a clear conscience. Don't forget to call your boss a 'bastard' for me.

"Close your eyes, Kyon-kun."

Asahina-san (Big) said softly.

"Don't get time-sick."

I followed the advice, closing my eyes tightly.

The next moment, I felt the world tremble.

"Uwah — —"

Falling head over heels and revolving in a no-gravity zone is something I have experienced many times before. Even though I think I'm used to it now, this time was vastly different from all the other times. If all the other times were like riding a roller-coaster in an amusement park, this was a noisy, anarchic space shuttle I was randomly flying about in without a seat belt. But, since my body has no mass, it is actually not being twirled around. This is just dizziness. Despite the fact that I wanted to see what the outside looked like, as soon as I opened my eyes, it was really like being dead drunk, very scary. The only movie I got to see was the random bits of light that came through my eyelids and lit up the dark. The warmth of Asahina-san (Small) on my back and the feeling of Asahina-san's (Big) hand on my shoulder are both very comforting.

— — I felt a dangerous light stabbing at my closed eyes.

Because I couldn't resist the desire to look, I opened my eyes, and saw where the red light was, in reality, coming from. Revolving red lights are something only emergency vehicles have.

That is......?

Directly in front of North High's gates was an ambulance. Students who like action look on from a distance while emergency personnel lifted a person onto a stretcher. There were two people following this stretcher at its high speed, two girls in fact, and I will never forget their names my entire life. Haruhi's pale face was frightened, Asahina-san was crying and very sad, running after the stretcher. Shortly after, an unsmiling Koizumi chased after them.

The stretcher was immediately put into the ambulance, and Haruhi, after exchanging a few words with the personnel, got in too. The red lights started flashing, and the ambulance started to go. Standing beside Asahina-san, who was covering her eyes, was a serious looking Koizumi talking on his cell phone. Nagato wasn't there, but that was obvious.

My dizziness still hadn't gone away. To tell the truth, I wasn't even sure where my body was at the moment.

Some part of my body felt Asahina-san (Big) let out a huge sigh.

"Kyon-kun, now we'll return to the original time."

The movie I was watching gradually disappeared. Has the service been cut? I'll give you something to see, Kyon. Like during my three-day long memory loss, it's a brigade leader's responsibility to worry about the members, that's the way it is, Haruhi.

The dizziness started again, I really want to take some pills. Next time, I must prepare some beforehand.

"Aim at the time you came from. Follow that me. It will take you a while to wake up...... Fufu, Maybe I'll let you kiss me."

And with that joke, I felt Asahina-san (Big) gradually fade away.

And — —

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in Nagato's living room with Asahina-san on my back.

Nagato was standing facing me.

"Sixty-two seconds have elapsed since we departed."

Lifting her head to look at me, she said

"We're back."

Back to our own time and world.

I sighed and put Asahina-san down off my shoulders. She's really the best nominee for a 'Make-people-want-to-kiss-your-sleeping-face' contest. The “me” that believes everything Asahina-san said is very impure. If this weren't Nagato's room, or if she weren't staring at me like she's investigating me, it's possible I would throw away feelings of shame. No, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't.

Picking up the teacup on the table, I downed it in one gulp. Even though when we left the tea was already cool, this tasted great. It's kind of like drinking tea after taking a bath. It can also be compared to Asahina-san's tea.

‘’Sigh’’ "Oh man..."

Finally, I've finished everything from last year that needed sorting out. There shouldn't be anything we haven't finished. With the chapter on the world changing closed at last, the winter trip that crossed into this year is definitely finished, the only thing left is going to the temples and shrines for the first time this year. Meh, Haruhi will come up with something new in a little bit. Before that happens, these days should be quite quiet.

By the way, the angel-like time traveler was still not awake. I don't know what kind of magic was used on her, but she looks just like Shamisen in a warm room after being fed. Being put into this sleep that looks very happy, it's actually somewhat pitiable. I asked Nagato to put bedding on the ground, and placed Asahina-san down to sleep on it, putting a wool blanket and a quilt on top.

"Nagato, before Asahina-san wakes up, please take care of her."

Nagato regarded the sleeping visitor, then shot a look at me and nodded her head.

Although I woke up wishing something was happening, I was now actually really tired. The accumulated tiredness from the vacation and the time travel, if not taken care of with a bath and bed, will prevent me from getting up tomorrow at nine. My very limited reserves are slowly disappearing, like an ordinary miracle. I want that to stop. You could say what five people do in a month is small in comparison.

Not unlike the Tanabata when I started being Mr. Sleep-for-Three-Years, I could let her put a blanket on me with Asahina-san. But even though I have confidence that I will fall asleep once I lie down, I can't help but think that nobody would wish for that to happen.

A time traveler occasionally sleeping at an alien's house, that's not too bad.

"See you tomorrow."

"Understood."

Using her very calming gaze, Nagato expressionlessly stared at me. Her two serene pupils under her bangs stared fixedly at me.

"Thanks for your work today. Sorry I made you go through all that."

Same with Asahina-san. The person who did the most work would be this Nagato and the Nagato that was there at the Tanabata four years ago.

"No problem."

Her expression unchanged,

"This all started because of me."

I stared at the alien until the door closed tightly. I was wondering whether a smile would show up on her face earlier, regrettably not — or very comforting, since the delicate, fair face is impassive as usual. But I thought there was something different from the past, thank my skilled eyes for noticing that.

Coming out of the apartment, I slowly rode my bike home, and fell asleep as soon as I lay on my bed after getting there.

I feel that if you fall asleep when you're really tired, you will have a whole lot of weird, happy dreams. Thirty seconds after I woke up, I forgot everything about the dream, but the lingering mood told me everything I needed to know.

A time traveler and an alien peacefully steeping tea together will leave this kind of a mood.

So, just like putting Asahina-san down off my shoulders, I threw off all worries and lived calmly for a month.

But there was also a problem.

After seeing that extremely cute face, I had forgotten all about it, but even though she fell asleep, Asahina-san wouldn't forget what Nagato and I, along with Asahina-san (Big) did on December the eighteenth. From her point of view, she had just heard that time and space had changed from me, and had not known whether to believe it or not. After going back in time to see the horrid scene in which "I" got stabbed, she got put to sleep. After she wakes up, will she want to go back? — That's the problem.

To me, she's already completed her mission very well, since what she did only she could do. Except Asahina-san didn't see it like that. Now that I think about it, not long after the end of the vacation, Asahina-san became very absent-minded and lost in thought.

This and the melancholic Asahina-san who called me out that Sunday are connected in some way. She even saved a kid wearing glasses from an auto accident that day. Actually, Asahina-san's (Big) secret has an interesting implication. Whoever makes Asahina-san cry deserves to be beaten to a pulp; this is indisputable. After reflecting for a while, I wondered how many times I've made Asahina-san cry? Next time I go to a boxing practice ring with Haruhi, I'll practice some boxing. I can even enjoy the sensation of hitting people and being hit.

To cut a long story short, it's a good thing that Sunday when two people went to buy tea happened. It got me thinking about the future of the SOS Brigade, and it successfully lifted Asahina-san's depression. To tell you the truth, I don't know what she perceived, but we seem to have a mutual understanding. There's no point explaining it in detail, especially not to Asahina-san now.

I never mention John Smith in front of Haruhi. This is somewhat like me not telling Asahina-san about the adult Asahina-san; it has a similar meaning. This is the emergency trump card.

If the time comes — —

Well, I don't want that time to come.

...

......

.........

And as February began, the topic started to show up again.

As soon as the new year arrived, the atmosphere around the school changed. For example, you would almost never see a third-year anymore. Around this time, they all start preparing for tests and whatnot, maybe this is the reason, but even the mood in homeroom was much more tense. As I think back to last year, it obviously does affect me. If the third-years don't work attentively, and the marks do not surpass the competing schools in the district, the principal will fretfully request that everyone enroll in extra courses or sacrifice the school cultural festival for mock tests and the like. And since I have to go through this myself in two years, it's very depressing.

Speaking of tests, the tests that determine your class number are about to begin. Our school has two of them. Actually, class nine, which Koizumi's in, is Math/Physics. I'm not sure whether he just has connections or is naturally smart, I'm still amazed he managed to transfer in. I sure don't take Math and Physics seriously enough to make them my principle courses.

Temporarily moving my thoughts from the future to the present hell, University admission tests. Why can't the quickly counting down senior days go by slower? I am purposely not looking at the calendar. Since I got back from December the eighteenth, I have been carefree and relaxed.

All in all, I can't think of a more dangerous job than fixing time and space. Since I completed it smoothly, just let me rest for a little while. Nagato is now exactly the same as before. Asahina-san's smiling face has finally come back. Haruhi is a bit unusual, but she'll be back to her noisy self in no time at all.

At this point, there shouldn't be any problems at all. I might as well say I don't want to think about it. But, in the club room, a selfish person just has to bring up trivial matters and deem it important all by himself. He is the only brigade member to be cast aside with Haruhi, the useless during a time-space change esper, Koizumi.

"There are two December the eighteenths you frequently visit, interesting."

Since the incident at the mysterious mansion, Koizumi has enjoyed listening to the experiences I've had with time travel. Just like a smart little grandson wanting a story out of his grandparents, Koizumi has already asked and inquired many times before. He seems to really want to travel in time. I always feel like he envies me. I mean, on the way back from Tsuruya-san's, he was heartily asking "Can I go too?" and "I don't even care if I can’t see the past me." and stuff like that. Needless to say, I completely ignore him.

I am embarrassed because of the Nagato thing, so even though everything is over, I still talk obscurely about it. Finally, I couldn't put off Koizumi any longer and, not wishing to offend him too much, told him about the incident.

So, just like I thought, he started to explain cheerfully.

"Listen well. Nagato, who started it, changed the world on the dawn of December the eighteenth. In that world, I, Suzumiya-san and Asahina-san were all normal people. You spent three days there, then you went three years back in Nagato-san's Emergency Escape Program...... No, wait, four years now...... There you met the normal Nagato-san and went back once again to dawn on December the eighteenth."

Obviously. Also, I went again after that.

"I know. Think about it. Dawn of December the eighteenth. Set the time Nagato-san changed the world as 'X'. When you went from Tanabata four years ago to 'X', that 'X' already wasn't the original 'X'."

What? That's impossible. There can't be more than one 'time' at a time.

"No, that's just the way our minds work. It's simple, really. If the world had not changed at 'X', Suzumiya-san wouldn't have disappeared and I wouldn't have become a normal person. If that were the case, you would have no reason to go back."

A time paradox. Yes, I know of those.

"But this world requires you to go back in time to fix it. If you didn't go, the world would have continued on its wrong path. So you went back to the past, on time, and righted the world. Or this time would not exist."

I still don't get it. (<~~not sure about this line, made it up.^^)

"Let's draw a picture. It might help you understand."

Ever since that adventure, he likes pictures a lot. Koizumi picked up a water-based, multi-purpose pen and started to draw. As he drew lines up and down, he said,

"Take this line going up as the path time is taking from the past to the future. And —"

The line stopped in the middle of the board. He drew a circle on it and labeled it 'X'.

"This is the original time. Here, Nagato-san changed the world she was in and your memories start.

Koizumi started drawing again. This time it wasn't a straight line. It was a very rounded line curving to the right, making a circle leading back to the 'X' point. The picture looked like a budding leaf with half ripped off.

"This circle is the memory you have after the eighteenth. The Emergency Escape Program let you return to Tanabata four years ago, and from there you went to the eighteenth. If Nagato-san had been turned back here, everything would have been fine, but it didn't work out, I guess."

Because Asakura Ryoko was there. But, at that time, it wasn't just Asakura. There was also a "Me" from the future, who had got there with Nagato and Asahina-san. We did everything in our power to revert the world to its former state. Now that I think about it, it took about a month.

"That's it. Which means you saved yourself. That is —"

Koizumi's pen started out from the 'X' point again, this time looping to the left.

"— this part. The time of the world now. In the memory of Suzumiya-san and myself, you fell down the stairs on the eighteenth and lost consciousness, not waking up until the twenty-first. And it was two months ago you set out to save yourself."

Even after drawing the left loop, Koizumi didn't stop the pen. He continued the line that ran through the 'X', only stopping when the line reached the top of the board. He put down the pen, took a half-step back, glanced at me and looked at the diagram intently.

It was just a sideways eight, looking remarkably like an infinity sign ( ∞ ), with a line down the middle. It was very easy to understand like this. The point all the lines connected was the 'X' time.

I, who had always truthfully told myself I hated Math and Physics, was slowly beginning to understand what Koizumi wanted to say.

One, the circle on the right was the time from my memory. After lots of chaos, I managed to make it back to 'X' and was there when Nagato changed the world. I even got stabbed by Asakura.

Two, the circle on the left was the time I missed some things. It was composed of the time I lost consciousness after being stabbed and went on until I woke up in the hospital. Those three days were this loop.

And both circles start from 'X'......

"Meaning there are two 'X' times."

Koizumi answered the question.

"If the world before the change is 'X', then after the change — We can call it 'X' ‘".

Koizumi, who had put down the pen, looked at his graph and was very interested.

"Without an 'X', there would be no 'X' '. So, the original 'X' did not disappear. We could say the two times are superposed. When becoming...... superimposed, it got covered up. The old data was overwritten with new data. The first 'X' ran for a week, but it and the changed world that stemmed from it were covered up by the 'X’ ', the second week. But it wasn't gone forever, it was still there."

"I don't get it."

I pretended I didn't understand, while suddenly remembering Asahina-san's (Big) words.

A time-quake — a bigger and more complicated one.

"It's like looking at two separate overlapping circuits. The intersection looks like it's a 2-D connection. If we add another dimension, that's different. Even though in the world of horizontal and vertical lines they look like one place, they are at a different depth."

I rubbed my temples. I wonder what a time traveler would think if they heard Koizumi's words. Or the alien.

"There's one more possibility, can I tell you?"

I'm pretty sure I'll have to listen to anything he says now anyway.

"The memory we have but you don't have...... when you fell down the stairs on the eighteenth, to your awakening on the twenty-first, three days later, maybe it never existed."

It doesn't really matter if it did or not. Besides, I was just lying there the whole time.

"Yes, it's just like you said. Do you remember what I said before? We cannot eliminate the possibility the world was created five minutes ago. Maybe you being lifted into an ambulance and out cold for three days never happened. You could also think, from when the world was changed on the eighteenth to when you woke up on the twenty-first, those moments don't exist in time. If this were true, then Suzumiya-san's and my own memories are made up and we've been made to believe them after everything was reconstructed on the evening of the twenty-first......"

I did say I would listen, but no matter how I looked at it, it was ridiculous — I can't say that. It's not completely impossible. Even the past could be re-written for a year back, and this was only three days.

"Change of topic. Suzumiya-san saw the reality of the shadow girl, she's alert to it now."

Who? The person who pushed me down the stairs.

"It was Nagato-san."

That's hilarious. At the time, wasn't Nagato going down the stairs with you guys? Apparently, I was at the back.

"Yes. That's what we all remember. Nagato-san didn't push you directly. But she was the one that made up the story of you being knocked unconscious. And Suzumiya-san intuitively sensed that it was no accident. Of course she doesn't really know it was Nagato-san. In reality, the perpetrator wasn't at the scene of the crime. But Suzumiya-san doesn't know that. What she does know is that for it to become like this, someone had to do something. So the culprit must be hiding nearby."

Koizumi smiled that bright smile.

"That intuition sort of created the shadow girl. Of course, the shadow girl's existence is impossible."

Even if you got that far, you couldn't explain it using only intuition. After Nagato's new world was fixed, she changed everyone's memories at will. Somehow, Haruhi managed to realize something was wrong. There was somebody, somewhere, doing something.

"It's a theory. It was the result of your question, which I attempted to answer."

The enlivening rogue sat on the chair and suddenly extended his arms wide.

"In fact, I don't understand how the timelines and paradoxes are created or moved. But then what is Asahina-san doing, coming here from the future? Now I have a question for you. If you could go into the past and steer history away from something awful, would you?"

I suddenly think of Asahina-san (Big) on the night of Tanabata. When Haruhi and Koizumi, who were going to a different school, Asahina-san of the Calligraphy Club and Nagato with glasses were all assembled, I pressed the 'Enter' key on the keyboard, and the second time-quake happened right away. I saw the "Me" from the past sitting on the long bench in the park. The "Me" that helped the middle-school Haruhi draw the pictures.

If I had ran up at the time, I wonder what would have happened. What if I had told him everything that was going to happen, told him, 'don't let Haruhi make that movie, don't give Nagato any trouble,' and so on, gave him some advice.

I can only shrug my shoulders, because there's nothing else possible.

"Yeah, I don't know."

If I really have the chance to do something like that, I say do it before you think about it. I know the head will be hard to convince, so just let the body do it. I always did that before, I'm anticipating doing it the next time too.

“But, no matter what people say, you can't just go on time traveling trips, especially if it doesn't impact us.”

That's too bad, I was going to take you with me this time.

Even if your eyes look like Shamisen’s when he’s hungry in the middle of the night, I don't care. Go beg Asahina-san; the adult one, that is. I have no clue where you have to go to find her. The only thing I can tell you is, remember to bring some medicine for the dizziness.

Koizumi, depressed, shook his head and started to play Shogi by himself. I continued reading my manga magazine like before, the club room was peaceful once again. I was just thinking, that's good, when......

"Sorry to make you wait!"

With that, the door was kicked open. The main character in the chaos entered, her sailor uniform skirt and hair blowing charmingly and freely in the wind. The master of this room, Haruhi, was holding a convenience store bag, her face smiling complacently.

"The stores in the neighborhood don't have these snacks, so I had to go down the hill to get these. Ahh! I'm freezing."

There was an electric stove in the corner of the room, so she quickly stretched out her hands to warm them up. After the Brigade Leader came Nagato and Asahina-san. Both were carrying the same type of things as Haruhi.

"........."

Nagato silently closed the door.

"Um, what should we do next?"

Asahina-san, confused, cocked her head. Haruhi zealously replied,

"Do I even need to tell you? Mikuru-chan, do you know what day today is? You couldn’t have bought all this without knowing, right?"

"February the third. But, what does......?"

"It's the Spring Setsubun! Spring Setsubun!"

Haruhi pulled out a vacuum-packed food package out of the convenience store bag.

"That annoys me, Mikuru-chan. You didn't do this when you were little? It's Setsubun today, and if it's Setsubun, you just naturally want to throw roasted soy beans and eat futomaki!"

Futomaki really is a local specialty. In a nutshell, she's a brigade leader that rigidly follows the little traditional festivals of the four seasons. Now, the SOS Brigade isn't the 'Save our world by Overloading it with fun: Suzumiya Haruhi Brigade' anymore, it's the 'Save the world by celebrating all Obscure festivals: Suzumiya Haruhi Brigade'. This is so not a lie.

"What's this, a Bernoulli lemniscate?"

Right away, Haruhi noticed Koizumi's drawing on the white board. She looked at the path I had traveled through time, her gaze like somebody stalking their own kid.

"It can't be. What formula would draw this line?"

"I just drew it for fun."

Calmly, Koizumi stood up and erased the path off the white board.

"I drew it to kill time, you don't need to think too deeply about it."

Awesome excuse.

"Oh, I see."

Haruhi easily accepted it, because that thing didn't matter. She threw the bag to me. After flying through the air, the bag landed in my hands. It was a bag filled to the brim with roasted soy beans.

It's Setsubun! Because it is Setsubun, we just have to scatter beans — is what Haruhi was thinking all through lunch break. At the time, Haruhi had loudly shouted,

"I kept thinking I was forgetting something. Yeah, it was Setsubun!"

Maybe she realized it after seeing Taniguchi's lunch, sushi. As soon as Taniguchi opened his lunch box, he started to vent, "Oi, oi, what the hell is this? How come this is it?" angrily. "They made it for you with good intentions, don't be picky." I replied. But deep inside me, I agreed with this kid, and I do not approve of whoever made this lunch. At least wrap it up after cutting it, don't let Haruhi see.

"Only worshipping foreign cultures isn't good, you know. You have to respect your own tradition and enjoy the activities. It's kind of a pity if you ignore them. Without tradition, half the fun will be gone. People who forget their roots are going down the wrong path!"

Quiet. Wait. Is it possible she thinks she's traveling down the right road? In my opinion, you would even go backwards on a road a wild pig usually goes down.

"What are you talking about? I always set the king's road as my goal. So, I do everything I can. Kyon, you even forgot today was Setsubun, right? That's hard to forgive."

I'm pretty sure you forgot too. No, as I was about to say this, HR ended, and Haruhi started preparing immediately. The only thing she actually needs is soy beans and futomaki. She could get it herself. Luckily, I was called by our homeroom teacher Okabe-sensei to run an errand. Koizumi was also the cleaning person of the day. So, Haruhi could only get Nagato and Asahina-san to go with her. After school, the three of them left. They finally got back now. That's basically what happened.

We can just eat the futomaki facing the lucky direction of the year, but the soy beans have a specific function.

"So, where are we going to scatter the beans?"

I opened the bag and asked while shoving beans toward my mouth. This would go well with some tea as a snack.

"If we did it in the clubroom, it would be really hard to clean up, it's best if we don't."

"Anywhere's fine."

Haruhi turned her bright eyes and said,

"Oh, yeah, Dropping them off the highest balcony on the school into the courtyard is a good idea, right? The beans that drop onto the ground will become bird food, there's no need to clean up."

Continuing, Haruhi declared,

"We already have people suitable to be 'lucky daughters', let's do this on a grand scale."

The leader of the SOS Brigade was staring at Asahina-san, who was intently reading the package, and Nagato, who was already sitting down in front of the table, reading her detective novel.

If there were a school contest to see who would be the best 'lucky daughters', the ones to win the grand prize and special mention would probably be these two. Putting that aside, this type of 'scatter the beans and banish the demons' event is right up their alley. Asahina-san could act it out; Nagato would do the actual banishing.

We trailed behind Asahina-san and the person dragging her, Haruhi, finally reaching the highest balcony. There, we followed instructions, and started to scatter beans. The scatterers were the three girls in the Brigade, this was an order too. Me and Koizumi were just responsible for replenishing their supply of beans after they scattered them around. Following Haruhi's instructions, oddly, we actually did this thing well.

When we first started, the students down below didn't know what was going on, and ran around like a group of insects not wanting to die. But before a minute had passed, the guys had come back in twos and threes and started to fight for the beans Asahina-san and Nagato were throwing down just like it was for money. They generally avoided the beans that Haruhi and her strong arms were firing off, considering it was kind of like the beans were fired out of a gun. For this, they moved in unison, going left and right at the same time.

"Box."(<--makes no sense.)

Haruhi then said, lamenting,

"Hey, if we had dressed Mikuru-chan up in a shrine maiden costume, we could have used this to make some money. Even if we only asked for 100 yen each, we'd still make quite a large sum, right?"

If we had dressed her up in that costume, she would suddenly be very popular, but there's nothing to worry about. Cosplay is limited to the clubroom only.

"Whew, Fuku wa uchi — Umm, Yeah. Fuku wa uchi — "

I gazed at the frantically throwing Asahina-san and the completely silent Nagato throwing beans off the balcony. Of course, a picture of them in shrine maiden costumes went through my head, and I replied to Haruhi,

"500 yen each, I say."

Anyway, the only phrase they were yelling is 'Fuku wa uchi'. This is because,

"Well, since I read 'Naita Akaoni', I vowed that if I ever met a demon, I would be nice to it. The Red Demon sure cried a lot. If I had seen that note, I would've happily gone to the Red Demons' home and started to drink tea and eat dessert......"

Haruhi, who was totally on the side of the demons, said this to me with a serious glint in her eye.

"Hmm? Listen up. If you ever meet the Blue Demon, you have to be nice to him. Our doors are always open to anybody, even people who are not really people."

If we aren't careful, the luck will continue to come in, and that's good. But if we don't let anything out I have the feeling it will inflate and pop, just like a bag. I agree with Haruhi on the Blue Demon part, though.

Perhaps it was because it reminded me that I had once cried over this in my childhood. Or because Nagato was right there throwing beans with a crude demon mask on the side of her head. I was wondering why the half-reading, half-listening-to-Haruhi Nagato would be interested in a mask made of paper. She silently stole it, stared at it like a scanner would and put it on her head.

Maybe Haruhi's phrase 'people who are not really people' touched her heart. — That was just a figment of my imagination.

After Asahina-san and Nagato's service throwing beans ended, we went back to the clubroom, and finished the futomaki in one breath. After searching for the lucky direction of the year on the internet, Haruhi split the food up.

"Don't talk before you finish. Here, everyone stand. Face that way and eat."

Five people stood facing one direction, forming a line, and soundlessly started to devour the futomaki
Five people stood facing one direction, forming a line, and soundlessly started to devour the futomaki

Five people stood facing one direction, forming a line, and soundlessly started to devour the futomaki. This continued for several minutes, Haruhi and Nagato finishing in about two or three bites. Asahina-san, holding the sushi with two hands like a little woodland animal, loved it. I prayed that we weren't having this tonight too.

The remaining beans got put on a plate, and ended up in my and Haruhi's stomachs along with some tea Asahina-san steeped. Setsubun is actually a holiday for eating, I have a new understanding now.

Now, after all that, Haruhi should be pleased. But oddly, she was reserved again the following day. Like I said before, it's not a serious melancholy, Setsubun proved that she was fine. But because of that, I didn't know what to make of this, this doesn't feel safe. It also feels like only I have noticed this melancholy. I don't even need to talk about the clueless Taniguchi and Kunikida, even the self-proclaimed Haruhi expert Koizumi hasn't noticed.

It is indeed weird.

I racked my brain, but I couldn't continue to think about this.

A more straight-forwardly strange thing occurred, and it didn't stop at being an odd mood like Haruhi's, it actually took a shape that you could see with your eyes.

Like I said before, I told Koizumi I wasn't going to take him time traveling, and I meant it. I don't really want to go to the past right now. I have done it lots of times, and there is no real reason to go.

Can I stick to this pathetic wish? Well, I hope so.

This time, the person who traveled back in time would not be me. I am not leaving this time at all, not one step. But even though I had hoped otherwise, I was still sucked into this time's time disturbance.

That person (the time traveler) appeared in the utility closet in the Literature Club's room.


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