Suzumiya Haruhi:Volume9 Prologue

From Baka-Tsuki

Prologue

There are many different methods by which people feel the change in the seasons, but for me in this past half year the tendencies of my calico cat, Shamisen, provide the best clues.

Shamisen no longer crawls into my bedding in the middle of the night, telling me that spring, my favorite of the four seasons, has come. I admire the ability of the cat to sense and adapt to the environment, and the more accurate ability of plants to do the same thing. It's amazing, the way the cherry blossoms bloom as if they've discussed how they're going to paint the blue April sky with floating petals. Even the sun seems as if it's preparing for summer. But, even though the sun is scorching, the winds that blow down from the mountains are still chilly, which reminds me of the altitude of this city I inhabit.

I raised my head and looked up towards the bright sky. The reason I would utter meaningless statements such as the one below can be attributed to my boredom. There are no other explanations for it.

"It's spring already, huh..."

That is why I did not expect a reply from anyone. But the person who occupied the spot beside me, despite sensing the boredom in me for making such a statement, still felt compelled to reply.

"Undoubtedly, it is spring right now. To the students, it is also a new beginning. It is spring from both the calendarial and yearly perspective. My heart feels the same way as well."

His tone can probably be described as being a cross between spring and autumn. If it is summer, all that could be felt is the boredom. As for winter... the only person I wish that would speak to me in such proximity would be Asahina-san (big), and her alone.

I am not too sure if he realized that my heart was no longer set on the conversation, and all that was left there was my physical body, but he would continue his speech regardless of any interruptions.

"This is my second time welcoming spring since I stepped into high school. I do not know whether 'spring has finally arrived' or 'it is spring yet again' would more accurately describe the point I am trying to make here."

I wonder what there is to be so confused about. If this was in English, he could always use 'yet' to connect the phrases together. I have already forgotten most of what happened so far. Trying to recall them now, I feel that many of those past events went past as fast as a whiff of smoke. Events that will happen from now onwards are nearly impossible to predict as well, so the speed at which they happen doesn't matter much to me.

As for now, I just have to use my level of happiness during the event to judge how slow or fast things happened. Why not take a look at the incident from the viewpoint of clocks; don't they rely on counting seconds to measure the flow of time, while producing ticking sounds to remind people of this fact? Although occasionally one doesn't remember actually turning the alarm clock off, sometimes it just ends up not ringing, angering me to the extent of throwing the alarm clock at the wall. Such incidents happen most often on Monday mornings.

"As you have said, the hands of a clock are one of those few things that can objectively remind us of events. But to humans, it may not be just a hand on the clock. What is most important is what we have used the time for."

"Uh huh."

I stopped inspecting the changing shapes of the clouds and turned to face the person beside me.

Presented in front of my eyes is a handsome face with an unfading smile, reminding us of the presence of its owner - Koizumi Itsuki. The smile can be described to be scenery as normal as the contrail of a plane that just flew across the sky: not too glaring or damaging to the eye to prevent you from looking at it. Realizing that staring at his face any more would not have much purpose anyway, I turned my head back to face the front.

It is just that I have something to say...

"I shall add a personal comment here..."

Views of the courtyard reflected into my retina. I noticed Koizumi's intent stare focused on me, waiting for me to continue.

"I still think 'spring has finally arrived' would be more appropriate."

My eyes followed the first-year students who had amassed in small groups on the courtyard and the North High uniforms they wore. My mind replayed the memorable scenes from last year, making me wonder if second-year students one year ago looked at first-years with the same intent as I do now. I suppose this is true.

Due to the school district assignments I ended up in North High and met Suzumiya Haruhi, the walking enigma. Before even getting acquainted with the situation, I was put through her crazy self-introduction. While I was still wondering "What is wrong with this person?", I was dragged into her world and forced to join a mysterious organization known as the SOS Brigade. Thanks to this, I met real-life aliens, espers, and time travelers, who aren't even supposed to exist. It would be fine if it had stopped at that, but I was dragged into paranormal events one after another, and had to go on crazy sprees with Haruhi as well. My, my. My life experiences must have increased exponentially just in the past year. In fact, I think I would have no problems defeating those bosses in games with all this experience (EXP).

"Habit is indeed very powerful."

The slope that I had to conquer daily on my quest to school had become such a habit that nowadays, I find myself in bodily contact with my bed until the last possible moment. However, I am not the only one to have changed tremendously; Haruhi has also undergone this process, like a carp would from just jumping over the hoop to becoming a dragon.

I really wanted to use a camera to capture the Haruhi of this moment, and then take it back for the Haruhi of one year ago to have a look at, while at the same time making up a story filled with the kinds of descriptions found in proverbial stories, telling her that this would be the her of a year onward.

But even if this were possible, I am afraid I would not do so.

"I agree with this too."

Koizumi squinted his eyes and raised his lips slightly upward, arms crossed in front of his chest, legs resting on the table.

"I am talking about habits. From the humans living everywhere across the globe, we see that humans can adapt to their environments easily. Basically, one only needs some time to get used to new surroundings. But recently I'm starting to wonder if this could be a bad thing? Once one gets used to an environment, the ability to adapt to sudden changes would decrease as well."

What exactly are you talking about? If you are referring to Haruhi, I believe that the number of unexpected occurrences far exceeds those that are otherwise.

"Hmm, you are right..."

Koizumi revealed a seldom-seen expression that could not be described in words. This guy often rambles on and on even if the other party did not ask him to. If I asked him anything I would probably have to sit through another load of jargon yet again.

I shook my head without talking, as if trying to divert Koizumi's attention away, before looking in another direction.

"......"

On the topic of remaining silent, the back of a petite person as quiet as a statue of Buddha in a monastery enters my field of vision, wearing the female North High sailor uniform, her short hair wavering ever so slightly along with the wind.

Needless to say, this is Nagato Yuki, the secret weapon of the SOS Brigade - but perhaps the President of the Literature Club would be more befitting for her. Like Koizumi and myself, Nagato had brought her table and chair out onto the courtyard a distance away from us, silently reading her book. The title seems to be something like "Philosophers, Artists, Musicians, and their Interrelationship", and is probably as thick as a brick.

I turned and looked at the clubroom block of the school. Asahina-san, after being dragged out of the clubroom by Haruhi traveling at the speed of light, still hasn't returned. Actually, I don't really mind, since it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

"If this is the case..."

I haven't introduced the current situation yet, so let's have a quick recap. The new school term had been in progress for a few days, and curriculum time has ended. Today, we brought our tables and chairs out into a corner of the courtyard. Most, though not all, second and third-year students have gathered at the school field as well.

I could barely make out the backs of the members of the Computer Research Society. A few computers rested on the long tables in front of them, the screens showing either the contents of some CD-ROM or CG graphic. Unlike "The Day of Sagittarius III", what is on the screen has a particular olden feel to it, resembling some fortune-telling tarot cards, making you wonder if the president of the Computer Research Society burned his brain. I spotted the newly promoted third-year president in the mix, though I wonder if he is still holding his current position. Although these things do not really concern me, I guess I'm just feeling curious. I think I'll check this with Nagato later on.

Directing my vision elsewhere, I saw a few unknown clubs gathering in another corner. I'd never even heard the names of some of them before. Seeing all these, I gradually realized that what I am doing now is incredibly pointless. I just don't understand why we have to participate in such activities.

Even if I am forced to give a reason for this, I guess it concerns Nagato as well.

I took yet another look at the bookworm of a girl.

At a distance not too far away from where Nagato is silently sitting, the words "Literature Club" are printed on a piece of paper stuck onto a table with scotch tape. That piece of paper moved gently along with the spring wind which blew Nagato's short hair, unblessed by any salon. Her intense gaze never once left the book, as if trying to disconnect herself from the outside world.

I guess everyone should understand by now.

There is a time for culture-related clubs, especially the smaller ones, to have a chance to recruit new members, as well as to showcase their works. This is exactly what is happening in the courtyard now. Sports-related clubs are holding similar events at the sports hall or the school field. People would approach the band automatically, even if there was no recruitment exercise. As for arts clubs and the like, they have set up their booths in their respective clubrooms, much like fishermen setting up nets and waiting for the fish to get themselves caught. This leaves only the clubs that would probably not even be known without some form of advertising, such as the various societies, in the courtyard.

I expected most of the readers to understand this without any explanation, so I did not really mention it until now. Naturally, members of the SOS Brigade have been promoted as well. Haruhi, Nagato, Koizumi, and I will be entering our second year, and Asahina-san her third. Now that I must bid farewell to the memory-filled classroom of 1-5, I cannot say that I would not miss the class, but even as I step into my second year, I doubt much will change. Oh, I might as well mention that Haruhi and I have once again been sorted into the same class. When I stepped into the second-year classroom after the opening ceremony this year, the person sitting behind me was, as expected, Haruhi. That arrogant face, filled with mixed emotions and grins which always seems to be hiding some evil ploy, remained unchanged as well.

"What's this?"

Haruhi looked on with her usual look of unconcern.

"It's as if there's no change from the first year! I expected some earth-shattering change to happen!"

Although I wanted to ask her whether this sentence meant she was happy or unhappy about the outcome, at this moment I have the same sentiments as well. In 2-5, other than Haruhi and me, Taniguchi and Kunikida are still around too. Even our homeroom teacher is still Okabe-sensei, known for his care towards students. Although there are some classmates whose names I don't know despite remembering having seeing them before, the most important thing is that they had all came from 1-5. I also heard that all the students who decided to study in the science stream were just enough for a class, and thus 2-8 had been allocated solely for this purpose. Students from 1-8 were then disbanded and split into the other seven classes. Of course there are some who are being needlessly shuffled from one class to another. Okabe-sensei's purpose in making us introduce ourselves again is probably to accommodate these people who have been forced to evacuate and join us.

Obviously, I doubted the authenticity of this sorting exercise, and approached those who seemed suspicious no matter how you look at it, and who had the ability to manipulate such events at will.

"Did you arrange this?"

Their replies were:

"No." Nagato replied monotonously. Miraculously, she added, "It is just a coincidence."

"We did not do anything. I guess it is the decision of the school. The 'Organization' has decided not to question this event any further." Koizumi concluded with a bitter smile.

"I suppose it is coincidental."

It seems they are serious about it.

Although in my heart I know of a lady who has the ability to change a coincidence into a necessity, I guess I shall not elaborate on that further.

Does this mean that Asahina-san and Tsuruya-san were sorted into the same class as well? If it is indeed this way, there is a possibility that the Tsuruya family could be behind this, but even if this is true, I have no idea how I could ask them appropriately. Also, even if there are differences in level and classes, everyone would still gather in the same place after school anyway.

What matters to me now, or rather should matter to me now, are other things. It could likely be on the mind of every new student as well.

I already know aliens, as well as a time-traveling senior. I also cannot deny that the male whom I talked to the most often throughout the past year is an esper as well. But...

On that day, that moment, when Haruhi made that introduction speech that shocked all of 1-5, of all the groups she mentioned there is still one that has not appeared.

Sliders.

Even though I do not wish for such people to exist, and the only one who would feel that they are missing is that girl, now that we have all been successfully promoted, the first-year seat is left empty...

"My, my."

I shook my head about for a while, trying to relax my shoulders, and began my mission of observing the first-years.

"Once anyone with potential is spotted, his or her name must be recorded immediately!" This is the instruction of our beloved leader. But Haruhi failed to mention how potential could be defined, and how people with it could be spotted.

I might as well go off-topic once again to talk about the self-introduction during the first lesson in 2-5. Haruhi did not repeat what she said last year but instead used a tone that was unenthusiastic yet clear, and proclaimed loudly that:

"I am Suzumiya Haruhi, leader of the SOS Brigade. I have spoken my bit!"

Her smiling face gave the impression of a fearless person. She sat down on her chair again after pulling my hair for a bit.

It seems as if she is trying to say that this is enough.

But to the entire class, this is indeed enough. For in this entire school, there can't be anyone who doesn't know the two terms 'Suzumiya Haruhi' and 'the SOS Brigade' by now.

Even if...

I carelessly stared at the legs of the people sporting the uniforms that they would wear from year one through year three, wearing the shoes branded with the school logo, walking around the courtyard.

Even if there is, he or she should be one of these newcomers.

It is the time frame when the cherry blossoms just start showing their leaves [1]. While Koizumi, Nagato, and I tried to waste our time away, a figure emerged out of the hordes of students moving around. The sight of the students automatically making way for this person reminds me of Moses and The Exodus [2].

"Long time since we last met."

The Student Council president stopped in front of our booth, speaking in a cold tone.

How un-coincidental that I just met you recently. It's not that easy to forget the expression that was smeared over your face during the speech you took so long in today's opening ceremony making.

"Cut the crap short. What is it?"

I watched the president unnecessarily adjust his spectacles much like you would often see in television dramas, and then, showing an expression of a leader unhappy with his disciples, he continued.

"Where is the commander? I originally came over to complain about one or two things, and yet she is missing."

"Well, where do you think she went? I am neither the secretary nor the manager of that girl; movements of a classmate as busy as her are nearly impossible to track down."

"That cannot be helped then, so I guess asking you is fine. What exactly are you all doing here?"

I had originally expected Koizumi to reply for me if I kept my mouth shut. Who could have known that this stereotypical good guy of the SOS Brigade, as if having caught some spring syndrome, would remain seated at the back smiling happily to himself.

"Isn't it obvious after just taking a single glance?"

I replied without paying much attention.

His Excellency stared at me with an expression as cold as a metal mask at my lame reply.

"This is of course obvious by just a glance. As long as one knows where this place is and who you people are, the answer will reveal itself rather easily. As to why I asked such a question, it is because I am worried you all will pull some stunt that is beyond my imagination. It is indeed nothing much. Am I right to guess that you can predict what I will say after this?"

That is because your actions would never differ from what we have planned. If Haruhi were here as well, I'm sure this issue could be settled much quicker.

Wait. Since Haruhi is not around, why is the president still displaying his airy attitude? Isn't this current president purely a puppet controlled by the "Organization"? Or should we say that such attitude is maintained only because others were looking? But we are currently in a deserted corner of the courtyard, and if others are not deliberately listening out for anything, there should not be any worries about us being spied on. Nagato, who is sitting about a few meters away, would probably be within earshot, but surely it doesn't matter even if she does hear our conversation? The only things that she should not be hearing should come only from the higher ranks of the CIA and NORAD I guess.

I had no original intention of messing about with the student council president, but he continued staring at me with his cold eyes, and after twisting his lips about a little, moved his gaze away and spoke in a serious and deep tone.

"We shall ignore the incident here. We are nearly done inspecting all the culture-related clubs by now. Kimidori-kun [3], why don't you move on to the field first? I will join you there later."

"Sure."

Only after hearing this short reply did I realize who the one standing beside the president had been all along. I nearly let out a scream, but luckily I managed to force it back down into the depths of my throat.

"...Kimidori-senpai?" I asked, suddenly enlightened.

"Yes." She replied politely before bowing.

Before hearing her voice, I did not realize that she was actually around. This fact deeply surprised me. It is as if she had been part of the president's shadow all along, before materializing after opening her mouth. In fact, I felt as if she'd appeared out of thin air.

The first-ever client of the SOS Brigade, as well as the ex-girlfriend of the president of the computer research society, now the secretary of the student council, Emiri Kimidori. After she gave a refined smile, like those seen in portraits of well brought-up ladies, she gave a bow as a sign of greeting. I stood there for a while, stunned, before doing the same.

My, my, so is this the reason the president is displaying such attitude? Does this mean she had hidden her actual character from him? I personally thought this was not too necessary.

However, the secretary and the president always appeared together as a duo. What exactly is happening here? Shouldn't they give the treasurer a chance to appear once in a while as well?

"It is possible if you wish." The president adjusted his spectacles once again. "Even if our treasurer had anything to say, it would be towards the president of your club seated over there."

Actually both Koizumi and I heard the news as well. Last year, before the spring break, the student council had actually organized a meeting regarding the distribution of funds for the various clubs, and one of them involved the Literature Club. Although there is only one member, it is a legitimate club after all, and the president of the club actually attended the meeting. Of course, it is Nagato who attended the meeting as the president and not Haruhi. While Haruhi seemed genuinely interested in participating until the very last minute and suggested attending together with, or even in place of, Nagato, if she ever attended that meeting, it would surely lead to widespread chaos once the news of her illegally occupying the room of another club was made known.

After much begging by Koizumi and me, Haruhi finally agreed and sent Nagato off with an expression as if she were sending a hostage to the enemy in a war.

Nagato returned about an hour later, holding in her hands the funds granted for use for the club. This could be considered quite an exception for a nearly-dormant club with only one member.

According to various sources, nothing was done that would affect the outcome of the funding. All Nagato had to do was sit quietly and continue staring intently at the president of the student council. Often such meetings would be filled with debates over the amount of funding provided to each club, but this year set a new record, for everything went rather smoothly.

Seemingly pleased with himself, the president said:

"The meeting is actually just a meeting in name. The funding provided to each club has already been predetermined by Kimidori-kun and me. But the Literature Club is the only club excluded from this system. Ah, since we have already reached this stage, I shall not comment further. As long as you people use the funds assigned on meaningful activities, I will keep quiet. Otherwise do not blame me for nagging. After all, everything is already set in stone."

Kimidori-senpai, who had been observing silently from the side, suddenly chipped in.

"In that case, I shall make a move first, president."

"Sorry to trouble you, Kimidori-kun."

Kimidori-senpai bowed at me once again before departing with a smile of a plant in a nursery, leaving a scent of lilies behind.

During this period of time, there was no visual contact of any kind between Kimidori and Nagato. They are indeed similar. In fact, they may have already perfected the art of communicating without the need for words. I say this because Nagato never once raised her head from her book while Kimidori-senpai was around.

"In that case, I guess we should be moving onto the actual topic."

The president took off his spectacles and played with them in his fingers.

"It is useless talking about this without that girl around. When is she coming back?"

I guess it should be soon. She's only helping Asahina-san change; it shouldn't take up too much time I suppose.

"I might as well wait for her here then."

I kept having a feeling that the president that stood in front of me is starting to exude the air of someone in power more strongly than a while ago, as if he had been president for three years.

"I originally thought that the student council work would be very troublesome..."

The president laughed a bit after saying that, his real side finally showing.

"But now that I've been at it for a while, it's beginning to get interesting. When facing the various teachers and administrative staff as a president..."

He suddenly reached out his hand and slapped himself on the forehead.

"I slowly forgot which side is the real me. Actually, changing to become a person of different character is not such a bad thing either."

"I hope that you will not become engulfed by that disguised side."

Koizumi finally decided to open his golden mouth.

"Don't ever let the mask you are wearing become the real you. Tomb raiders becoming mummified themselves, and people emulating cats becoming real cats, are both common events these days."

"Tomb raiders trapped in a maze will at most become corpses to be displayed to warn others, not a mummy themselves. We should also not forget that cats have much shorter lives than humans."

The president revealed the smile of a predator and returned the spectacles to his face after wiping them with the sleeve of his uniform.

"You don't have to worry about this, Koizumi; I will do a beautiful job. But..."

After putting his spectacles back on, the president went through a metamorphosis and became the perfect student council president everyone had come to expect. No wonder he sometimes pondered which one is the real him.

"Keeping a leash on that psychopathic girl is your job."

Out of the student council president's sight, the president of our brigade appeared at the exit of the clubrooms block. Her face carried a look that is seen in all animals upon the arrival of spring. Beside her is a fairy exuding the radiance of the warm spring sun, the maid that is reserved for SOS Brigade use only.

Haruhi carried a cardboard box made of corrugated fiberboard [4] in one hand and held onto Asahina-san with the other, smiling as brightly as a Cheshire cat. However, the moment she saw the president, her eyebrows rose immediately.

"Hey you!"

Haruhi approached the president in large steps, totally ignoring the screams of Asahina-san, who she dragged along with her.

"It's just like I expected! You came over to make trouble for us while I wasn't around, right? However, I don't think we committed any crimes that would incur the wrath of the student council, did we?"

Regarding this, I guess everyone has differing views. What exactly are you doing here at the courtyard?

"Ah, President-sempai..."

Blinking her eyes like a European robin [5], Asahina-san is in her maid costume. This does not really matter, since it's probably as normal as green bristlegrass [6] growing on grasslands.

"Hey, Haruhi, why are you..." I finally started speaking "...dressed up like that?"

Haruhi proudly puffed her chest up.

"Do you have a problem with that? Is there anything wrong with wearing a cheongsam? [7]"

Like she mentioned, Haruhi is wearing a dark red cheongsam, decorated with a finely-stitched dragon. The cheongsam's high cut revealed her supple and long legs. What's more, the dress is sleeveless.

Since she had made such a huge din upon entering the courtyard, the attention of everyone within it is now focused on her. Asahina-san, surprised by the sudden amount of attention on us, was so greatly embarrassed that she fumbled around trying to cover up her assets. If it is possible, I would have really hoped that I could have enjoyed such a sight by myself. Whatever law that prohibits this does not really matter in this case.

"If you were at a fancy dress party, of course there would be no problem. But this is the school, and here you are, committing such atrocities right in front of many first-years! Can't you just think before doing something?"

Facing away from me, Haruhi replied...

"Aren't I thinking now? That is why I appeared in this costume! I originally intended to wear the bunny girl costume, but since I don't want you all to complain, I settled for this instead. I'm already changing to fit your demands. You people should be eternally grateful!"

Haruhi displayed a dirty look on her face. She tried to point a finger at the president, but discovering that both her hands were full, quickly let go of Asahina-san and left the cardboard box on the table before doing so.

"You should be feeling eternally grateful!"

She repeated the sentence.

Unfortunately, the president is not some saint.

"What kind of gratitude am I supposed to show here? As the student council president, and regulator of the image of the school, I refuse to accept your dress code! I also wanted to ask you if you have ever heard of the idiom, 'the pot calling the kettle black' or something similar?"

"What about it? I have heard of it before."

"No, I'm just trying not to confuse the students who have come here with confidence in their future, especially the pure and innocent males whose fires of passion may be ignited because of your dress code. I just can't turn a blind eye when it comes to such situations."

"What do you mean by igniting the fires of passion? This is so funny. Listen carefully, for those dirty-minded people, even the school uniform or the PE attire will ignite their 'fires of passion' anyway! Are you going to suggest we might as well come to school naked?"

Everyone has a limit to how much anger they can tolerate, and it seems the president is finally reaching his, prompting him to reply:

"Talking to you is indeed a waste of my breath."

"Does it matter? I hope you people can learn to respect the autonomy of the students. Can't we even decide what we can wear after school? I'm only going to wear this after school not in class or the way home, so does it really matter? Don't you agree with me, Mikuru-chan?"

"Eh? Ah... I agree not to wear this during commuting at all costs, because this costume is too embarrassing..."

Asahina-san slightly shook her head and then, as if being intimidated by the striking appearance of Haruhi's cheongsam, quickly turned her gaze away before letting out a small sigh. Are you thinking of wearing the cheongsam too?

But then again, compared to last year, when Haruhi and Asahina were stationed at the school gate in bunny girl costumes giving out fliers, this should be considered a great improvement, seeing how much less skin is shown this time round. But, as second and third-year students, performing cosplay in front of the first-years is still somewhat out of the line. What's more, it does not seem to serve any real purpose, so it should not be encouraged.

"Who says it doesn't serve any purpose? Of course it does. Look, aren't we attracting a lot of attention now?"

I'm trying to say that you're attracting people's attention for no good reason!

Haruhi looked at me with a face of displeasure. I suddenly felt as if my emotions resembled those of a shrimp sensing the presence of a whale nearby. However Haruhi jumped behind Nagato, who is silently reading the book.

"Kyon, did you forget what we came here for? I will give you two seconds; you better remember the answer by then."

Regarding this issue...

"Okay, time's up."

Haruhi only gave me half a second before declaring this to be the case, and shook her finger before bringing it to the shoulders of Nagato, who remained completely immobile, as if she'd been frozen.

"We are here to help Yuki, not to recruit people for the SOS Brigade. You'd better understand this properly!"

The last sentence was directed at the president. Nagato, who was dragged into the conversation for no reason, did not reply but instead flipped to the next page of her book.

"Hmph."

Having no change of expression despite being placed in such situations is a feature of the president. He raised his finger and pushed his spectacles back into position and replied.

"Suzumiya-kun [8], I thus conclude that despite not being a member of the Literature Club, you are helping to fight for its survival?"

He managed to condense Haruhi's words into ones that others could understand easily. He really is a great help.

"Yup."

Haruhi raised her chest even higher and said, while pointing towards Koizumi and my table,

"Look, these two are only sitting here doing nothing, right? There is absolutely no sign that reads SOS Brigade. Kyon's face also appears more retarded than normal due to some unknown reason, doesn't it?"

I believe the last line is unnecessary isn't it?

"Ahh..."

The president raised his chin, giving a look of being deep in thought.

"In that case, Suzumiya-kun, what is the signboard-looking thing inside the cardboard box you were carrying just now?"

"A signboard."

Haruhi fished out the signboard made of wood from the cardboard box without much hesitation.

The signboard is comprised of a rectangular slab of wood with a thinner, rectangular piece of wood running in the perpendicular direction to act as the handle. It has already been painted white and the black text on the signboard read "Literature Club". Menial jobs such as the cutting and painting of said wood blocks were of course done by me, as you probably expected.

"Take a look, take a look, isn't 'Literature Club' written on the top? This will be carried by Mikuru-chan later on. If we didn't do anything, Yuki wouldn't bother to do anything about it anyway."

That's true. There are times set aside for first-years to be introduced to the various clubs and societies within their curriculum time, and I heard that it is already over by now. The reason why this remains purely as hearsay is because the SOS Brigade is not even a recognized club in the first place, and thus it is impossible for us to participate. The only one among us invited to attend this event was the president of the Literature Club, Nagato Yuki. As Nagato stood on stage alone, she spoke all the way until the final second with the enthusiasm of a weatherwoman reporting the weather of the world's various major cities about a thesis titled "Neurological studies on the incomplete transmission of information and feelings through words", which was assigned to the Literature Club. The thesis failed to even mention the word 'club', much less 'Literature Club'. It is also heard that before Nagato was even halfway through the thesis, most first-years had already became slaves of the sleeping devil. Combined with Nagato's tone that sounded more like she was chanting scriptures than giving a speech, those who were originally interested in joining the Literature Club no doubt purged such thoughts from their minds immediately. Nagato Yuki can be really scary sometimes.

However, Nagato did not seem to mind at all. Even if we left her alone today, I'm afraid she would only stay cooped in the clubroom reading books. The one who insisted on dragging her out here is Haruhi.

Something as fun as recruiting new members would never be able to escape being detected by the antennas installed near the top of Haruhi's head.

Although it has been mentioned previously that the SOS Brigade is an unrecognized society, it is also an illegal society in school that continues operations, similar to an underground group. Obviously we are not allowed to recruit members openly. If it were the Haruhi of the past, she might have just got on with it without giving much thought, but because starting this year there are no corners of the school the shining eyes of the student council president cannot reach, how can we still have fun during the day of the event?

Therefore, the light bulb above Haruhi's head lit up. In the end, we were reorganized as backup members of the Literature Club in an emergency exercise, and in this season when every minute is worth its weight in gold, forced to spend one day wandering aimlessly in the courtyard of the school. Of course, this is how things look from the outside. There is definitely more than meets the eye.

It seems that this problematic student turned student council president realized that as well.

"Can you flip the signboard over to let me have a look as well?"

"Sure, why not?"

Haruhi gave a smile and turned the sign over. Behind the tagline "Literature Club"... is still "Literature Club", and absolutely no mention of the SOS Brigade of any kind anywhere.

"Seems to me you people are well prepared. Okay then, what you just mentioned could not be described as unreasonable as well."

The president pushed his spectacles back up again.

"Although a compromise is not in my character, I do not wish to cause unnecessary trouble for either of us. You all can stay here and continue doing whatever advertising you all want. But do not cause trouble for other clubs, do you understand? I am very busy surveying the event. Do not forget that forced membership is strictly forbidden."

You should tell this to the sports clubs. After all, this is only an average high school; every club is bound to be anxious due to the lack of talent.

"You are right. I will go talk to them later. Before I leave, I still have one last question to ask. Even if I ignore your recruitment of members for the Literature Club, what do you all plan to do after the end of the recruitment exercise? Hand over the room to them?"

"I believe that is not of your concern."

The talk about a lack of respect in the tone of high school students is indeed true. The president turned his head and looked at Haruhi after hearing this. "Hmph~", though it seems he cannot be bothered with that.

"Oh. This is all I wanted to ask. In that case, see you people next time."

After completing his sentence, he glared at the costumes of Haruhi and Asahina with a look of wanting to capture them on film before going off to chase after Kimidori-senpai.

What exactly was he here for? Doesn't he realize the more you tell Haruhi not to do something, the more she would desire to attempt it? Just look at her now, she is happily laughing over nothing in particular.

"It seems we were quite successful. It's perfect, really perfect."

Haruhi, upon confirming that the president was finally out of sight, planted the sign into the ground and tore off the thin layer of wooden foil with the words 'Literature Club' to reveal 'SOS Brigade'.

I am not too sure which day, but back in May last year, this club named the "Spreading Excitement All Over the World with Suzumiya Haruhi's Brigade" was set up. The name hasn't been changed since then; it's been largely smooth-sailing.

There are more than handmade signboards inside the cardboard box Haruhi brought along.

After forcing the signboard into the hands of Asahina, she continued taking things out of the cardboard box while the skirt of the cheongsam flitted along with her movements.

First an LCD monitor, then a DVD player, various cables and their connectors, as well as the newly-bought notebook and stationery.

"We have to get this set up quickly."

Haruhi turned towards me.

"Get them installed and play this."

There are no electrical outlets in the courtyard, but Haruhi had already anticipated that. Refusing to obey her instructions now wouldn't do any good, so I dragged the cables towards the direction of the computer research society according to her demands.

"Excuse me, could we borrow your power source for a moment?"

"Of course."

The person replying to me is the president of the computer research society. Seems he is still the president of the society, according to the official pass hung in front of his chest.

"My members refuse to let me go." The president seemed pretty proud of that fact. "So I decided to stay as the president for the first term. But I have planned for the future as well. In fact, I am thinking of nurturing..."

If what you are going to say is going to be any longer, please keep it for the next time. Your members may be motivated by what you said and decide to let you step down early.

"Ah, actually..."

The president lowered his voice somewhat, and covered his mouth while saying the following as if he was doing a tongue twister.

"I hope Nagato-san can join our society, and hopefully become the president as well. From all the people I have seen, her knowledge of computers seems to be the best, she's definitely a genius. No matter what happens, if any bug or system errors occur, the magical touch of Nagato-san is able to solve the problem. Although she only drops by once in a while, she never fails to surprise us every time. There is a DIY-ed computer for her exclusive use in our club room, and she managed to develop a new operating system within moments that managed to shock even the best software developers. But no matter how we look at the source, we just can't comprehend it, it seems that only she has the ability to do so. All our software and hardware worked perfectly with the operating system. It is indeed a gem. As for what exactly the code is based on..."

No matter how much you tell me, I can only tell you that Nagato indeed has this ability. I guess you should approach her yourself for any other matters, for I believe she will teach you. But I personally feel that what she would say could probably be incomprehensible to earthlings like you and me.

I swung the connector of the extension cable while thinking about the fact that this third-year president actually allowed us to borrow their power source just because of this.

I swung the end of the extension cable around. Noticing this, the third year president willingly handed me the socket of their extension cable. Haruhi's project to assimilate the Computer Research Society into the SOS brigade as a branch office has so far been successful and is gradually developing. If we don't put a stop to it, the project will grow into the "All Humans are Members of the SOS Brigade" project, and she might even complete it before desertification spreads throughout the world. I trust Homo Sapiens aren't foolish enough to allow such a plan to be carried out.

It would be better if it is this way, especially for Koizumi, and so I turned my gaze towards him, but that esper boy did not seem as happy as I had expected. He revealed a pensive look, crossing his fingers together and using that to support his head on the table. What trouble is it this time? He squinted as he watched Nagato, increasing my worry.

What is it? It couldn't be that the moods of each of the members of the SOS Brigade take turns to become melancholic could it? Stop scaring me. Never mind Nagato and Asahina-san, I originally had 100% confidence that there would not be a day where this could happen to you too...

I do not know if it is because Koizumi saw my shocked face, but he slowly adjusted his gaze towards me and flashed me a smile. Although this decreased my worry, I somehow think there is something fake about this expression.

This guy who entered class 2-9, as if conveyed with a gondola, had the entire class of 1-9 enter alongside him. This should exclude the possibility of any arch-nemeses entering the same class as well, so what exactly is he worrying about?

The current Haruhi is also in a very good emotional state, so it should not be causing Koizumi any headaches either. Or did he catch wind of a pay cut in the "Organization"? If that was the case then it would be great, for you would be as free as me. If Koizumi was already confused with some love letters in his shoe locker from first grade girls at the very beginning of the new semester, my sympathy would become as unnecessary as Shamisen's molts. After all, he has as good a face as Haruhi, and if they stood silently, would unconditionally attract attention from people of the opposite sex.

"Kyon, start playing the DVD now!"

Winner of Miss Universe Haruhi waved the signboard while ordering me around, forcing me to get busy again. Koizumi also stood up to help me out. While arranging the various cables for the DVD player and the LCD monitor, Koizumi showed his usual smile, but the impression he gives me is still very odd.

Why do you cast me such a subtle glance? Eye contact from Asahina-san or Nagato is perfectly acceptable due to the implications behind such actions, but unfortunately the feeling is lost when the stare originates from a guy like you.

After much hard work, I finally got the cables in order. I had a feeling that I had enough and ran over to report to Haruhi. Upon hearing that, Haruhi nodded her head happily like a fisherman discovering a school of fish.

"So we shall begin!"

She took out a DVD from the cardboard box and stuffed it into the unwilling mouth of the DVD player before hitting the play button like it was the doorbell of one's own house.

The monitor showed some blurry footage and some familiar music could be heard leaking out of the speakers, floating about in the air.

Asahina-san shivered.

"Ah~"

She let out a deep sigh, and turned her face away from the display with a look of helplessness. The look on her face ignited the masculinity within me.

"Haruhi, turn down the volume! If the president of the student council hears this he will come running back!"

"I'm not afraid of him; in fact I don't even give two hoots about him!"

Would it kill you to give a hoot?

"I don't even mind having an open debate here."

Stop doing such stuff!

"You are noisy, stupid Kyon!"

Haruhi agilely squeezed her eyes and mouth into the shape of an inverted triangle.

"You and Koizumi just wait here. I will settle the rest with Mikuru-chan."

Haruhi stretched her hands out, grabbed Asahina-san's waist, and pulled her towards herself, maintaining her bright smiling face.

"Kyaa~!"

Asahina-san jumped as Haruhi placed her hand on her waist.

And so Haruhi and the third-year student in the maid costume stuck their faces close and stared at us together as if trying to show off something.

"Listen carefully. If anybody interesting comes by, remember to record their names and classes down and convince them to join us. We are not the movie research society; if anybody runs to us and thinks that we are such a club, chase them away. Understand?"

Haruhi mentioned this before dragging Asahina-san along like a forced parolee around the courtyard to advertise.

"My, my."

I loosened my shoulders, took out the SOS Brigade sign, hid it behind the chair, and turned to look at the images on the monitor with brightness adjusted to the maximum.

Needless to say, this is the film shot a few months back that, when watched by others, would give them the impression of a waste of electricity and equipment.

"The Revenge of Nagato Yuki Episode 00 - Trailer".

Before the new school term there is a break that is neither too long nor too short. According to Suzumiya Haruhi's usual practice, she would obviously not wait for the new school year to come obediently.

I am afraid she has probably been planning for this since the incident with Sakanaka-san's pet dog, Rousseau. Spring break, compared to the summer and winter break, has much less homework and life could be much more peaceful. But we, as members of the SOS Brigade, are being ordered around nearly daily, and then flying around like a torpedo going to Haruhi's scheduled destinations.

Thinking back now, it seems we went to a lot of places. The antique shop, the flea market, visiting Sakanaka-san's house to take a look at Rousseau to see if he has become better, as well as being invited to Tsuruya-san's house for Hanami [9], where we sat in her wide garden. My, my, the last one was really interesting. At the snap of the fingers or the clap of a hand, the servants came out of the house with a banquet that had enough food to feed a middle sized African village. This really scared me a little.

No matter what, as long as Haruhi is invited, she will surely be present. Even if she is uninvited, she would not hesitate to join as well. While inhaling the smell of the fresh air of spring in deep breaths, she continued ordering us about. It is really strange why she doesn't feel breathless.

Haruhi was particularly interested in filming the sequel to "The Adventures of Asahina Mikuru Episode 00" which we produced for the North High cultural festival last year. Although I am shocked that something which will not even become the main concern of the year became one, what is more devastating is that Haruhi, who wasn't even officially a second-year student, was planning to prepare for the cultural festival of the coming year!

Haruhi once again picked up the loudspeaker and wore the Ultra Director armband, stuffed the video camera which has been hibernating in the corner of the club room somewhere into my hands and proceeded to take off Asahina-san's clothes herself, prompting Koizumi and me to make a dash for the door.

Although the title has Nagato's name on it, the protagonist of the story is still Asahina Mikuru. (Eh? Isn't the protagonist supposed to be Koizumi Itsuki instead?) Might as well do a mini-explanation here. Because Asahina Mikuru's real identity is a battle waitress from the future, Asahina-san is forced to wear that revealing costume again. This is the arrangement of the Ultra Director Suzumiya Haruhi. Nagato continues to wear her school uniform with a witch's hat, black cloak, and a magic wand with a star at one end. Koizumi is still ordered to carry that light reflector board.

What is more convenient is that it is now spring and cherry blossoms are blooming everywhere, allowing us to connect to the previous story easily. I can't help but feel sympathy for the trees along the coastal area of that river that have already bloomed twice in a year.

But why is it a "trailer"? Haruhi gathered us at the club room and said:

"Haven't you guys ever been cheated by a trailer?"

What do you mean by "cheated"? I asked her.

"Like movie trailers. Aren't they run in television commercials before the actual movie starts screening? After watching that, you will go like 'Wow~ very interesting~' right? And then you actually go watch the movie with great anticipation only to find that it is perfect rubbish? For example..."

Although I feel there is no need to give examples, Haruhi still mentioned the name of an English movie that I have heard before in the past.

"Back when I was watching its trailer I thought it was a funny and interesting movie. In fact, I laughed quite a few times just watching its trailer. The most interesting parts of the movie are already made known even before the movie is screened, and these are the only parts that will attract others' attention. Don't you all agree?"

Even if you tell me all this I still have no idea how to reply. For such complaints, I think it is better if you made a call to the company that produced the movie instead. There is definitely a department that focuses on advertising, and they must surely have very good people there.

"No matter what form of advertising it is, dishing out all the interesting parts before even watching the real thing is really despicable in my opinion. That's why, Kyon!"

Haruhi looked at me with eyes shining as if all the stars in the Milky Way were stuffed inside.

"We must produce the trailer first before considering the actual movie! If it is the trailer, there are no problems making the entire thing exciting because we don't have to worry about the climax at all. We just need to provide more fan-service."

Because of this, before the film was started, the trailer was already being produced. Haruhi hasn't really thought of what to include in the sequel herself. Despite this, she has already planned to make it a film that would attract newcomers into the club. But the all-important script is still not ready yet. How? Yes, let's make a trailer first!

Her thought process is always so straightforward. It seems she still has not given up hope on burning "The Adventures of Asahina Mikuru Episode 00" onto DVDs and selling them for a huge profit. We could have cut part of the original for this purpose, but she was worried that people could not get enough of it. Or how about those who wanted to watch more will have to join the SOS Brigade? Watching such stuff would only give people a headache, though if this was a PV of Asahina it could probably score 120%...

I glanced at the monitor, which continued playing the video, before returning to my seat. However calling it a parody is a nicer way to put it, as it simply entails going back to the same places and putting everyone in this time around.

For example, Nagato telling Koizumi, who happened to be carrying a tube looking suspiciously similar to a night light, "I am your mother", or Nagato being a normal human while her spectacles are on, but becoming one who can fly like a bird, or stroll in the middle of the wilderness dragging a black coffin along once they are removed. Once out of ideas, Haruhi even forced Shamisen and Asahina-san's character to interchange, forcing her to meow like a cat while she dubbed Shamisen's voice herself, the result of which is obviously unsynchronized lip movements, or even parts with Shamisen not opening his mouth at all. All of these are seemingly hopeful at first glance, though in actuality they are incapable of being coherently joined, and the result is a series of stories which give the impression of having arranged all the camera scenes randomly, like dominoes. The constantly changing scene and cast and the poorly linked story are all by-products of poor editing. The last straw, however, was the blurry video which seemed as if it was deliberately added in, as well as the senselessly-inserted music that had successfully become indistinguishable from noise pollution.

Tsuruya-san, who did not even have to appear in the first place, can be seen in a kimono standing in front of a Japanese-styled garden laughing loudly, not to forget my sister and Shamisen playing around in the background. In fact, it looks no different from a home-made family video. Actually, these scenes were filmed by Haruhi's shaky hands during hanami at Tsuruya-san's place. This film is made up of rubbish scenes forming something briefly resembling a video book that would never even enter the lousiest movie awards. I doubt it could even make it through the first draft, much less be improved in any way. While Asahina-san in waitress costume flying and jumping around should be very successful in marketing the alternative Asahina Mikuru, how many who watched this would actually have believed it was a movie trailer if not for the "The Revenge of Nagato Yuki will open during the cultural festival this fall!" that Haruhi screamed at the end?

Can I add something here? Last time around, didn't Nagato fly into outer space after being shot? What method did you use to bring her back to Earth?

"That will be thought of later. I will consider new villains too!"

Haruhi the Ultra Director announces.

That is to say that she did not really think about it before and the announcement is just something she thought of impromptu. This is what I call real cheating. If a first-year watched this and was interested, I would advise him or her to think again.

And also those commoners whose eyes lit up upon seeing Haruhi in her cheongsam and Asahina in her maid costume should be warned as well.

In addition, the first-years walking in the courtyard here have graduated from middle school. This also means they had completed their mandatory education and have matured in thinking somewhat. When they saw Koizumi and me craning our necks while sitting at the booths, they decided to maintain a safe distance from us.

Everyone, your judgement is indeed as ingenious as the rats scrambling to leave a drowning ship. The happiness enjoyed by those with a normal and healthy high school life could never be understood by these people in front of my eyes. But I personally had a lot of experience with this particular point and so am very willing to give advice. At this age, growing a year older is like a butterfly moving from the fourth to fifth instar of the larva stage [10]. Even if you wanted to have fun, you should never step near bushes after being warned of landmines buried nearby. As a human, it is important to be able to differentiate between good and bad isn't it?

I muted the source of noise pollution as produced by Haruhi and turned my head to the side.

"......"

Nagato appears as if she is trying to conserve energy and is remaining in standby mode. There is nobody near her table either. It seems that students interested in literature and writing have not debuted yet. I wonder if this will be a headache or joy for Haruhi?

The only activity conducted by the Literature Club last year was the publishing of the club magazine as directed by the puppet student council president under Koizumi. Haruhi, who fell for it immediately, forced us into doing so. Due to a blunder back then, all copies have already been distributed for free except one, which is left on the Director's table for perusal. Everyone who contributed to the magazine, including me, was given a free copy as well as a keepsake. However, it seems that people are usually reluctant to share anything that is hard-earned. Taniguchi even talked about how much blood he spilled just to produce his article back then.

So anyone who hasn't read the magazine before and wishes to do so would have to pick up the sample on the director's table.

I attempted to concentrate on the story book in front of me as I tried to stop my curiosity from wandering further...

"......"

Nagato slowly raised her head. Her eyes, though lifeless, radiated an unseen glow as she turned towards me. As her actions are overly natural, I did not realize that our gazes had actually met and it took me a while before I returned to my senses. At that moment:

"Cat."

Just the act of noticing that this voice, as loud as the ruffling of the gentle wind, actually originated from Nagato's lips took nearly a second. I bore with the intense gaze of hers.

"What happened to the cat?"

"What what happened?"

"What do you mean by what what happened?"

Nagato thought for a while, but her head did not move at all.

"What happened?"

Although the query I posted just now remains unanswered, I already knew what she wanted to ask.

"Are you referring to Shamisen?"

Nagato nodded her head slightly.

"Yes."

"He's still very energetic, and he no longer talks now."

"Really."

After saying this, Nagato lowered her head to continue reading.

So she is worrying about my cat at home. Indeed, Shamisen is the host for that... what is it called? Anyway, these whatever data lifeform whose name I can't remember unless I'm reminded are now inside Shamisen thanks to Nagato. Back to the topic, nothing much actually happened to that cat except that his overeating combined with the lack of exercise caused him to become fatter. Ever since Haruhi had picked him up and thrown him at me, he was still able to enjoy everyday life as a cat without many changes.

I suddenly remembered this seasonal greeting: "Spring is the season where the skies are clear and the cats are fat". Is that really true? I also hoped to be able to laze around like Shamisen during spring break; unfortunately I don't think it is possible anymore.

"It is indeed a busy spring break."

Koizumi used a more depressed tone as he said that.

Since his eyes are transfixed on the sky, I thought he was simply talking to himself and so chose to ignore him.

"Don't you think so?"

Seeing no reply from me, he decided to turn over and ask instead. I don't know if there are any problems with my eyes, but I believe I see signs of fatigue in those eyes of his.

He started playing with the bangs on his forehead.

"Your eyes are normal, very normal. You are right, the current me is indeed feeling very tired."

Going crazy with Haruhi all day, normal people are bound to get tired.

"I am not talking about the normal fatigue that you and I know about. Do you still remember my real identity and mission? Do you still remember why I was posted here in the first place?"

In the beginning it should have been to monitor Haruhi, I guess it's now changed to licking her boots?

"I apologize, but I am sure you remember that I am an esper. Also, where and when can my powers be activated, and which person's change in mood will allow me to use my powers. I am sure you still remember all these, correct?"

You have already said this so many times, of course I remember. You declared your actual identity to me after Nagato and Asahina-san. In the SOS Brigade, it could be considered the latest one.

"That is good. Then I can get straight to my point."

Koizumi gave a look of relief, let out a long sigh and lowered his voice.

"I am not getting enough sleep these few days. I have a tendency to wake up in the middle of the night or the early mornings even when I do not want to. The main reason is because my body has not been too well lately."

If you cannot sleep at home at night, then just sleep in class during lessons. It is said that sleeping five minutes during lessons is equivalent to sleeping an hour normally.

"My condition is not exactly insomnia, and the problem does not really lie with me. We already know each other so well, even if we want to talk in circles, let's leave it for other, more unique topics instead. Although you are less credible than Asahina and Nagato, it is true that we already know each other."

Koizumi's squinting eyes revealed a seldom-seen seriousness. Haven't you always loved talking in circles? If you find it inappropriate to use it on yourself now, shouldn't you also be more considerate of the people around you, and change this bad habit for the benefit of others? While we are considered mature, compared to Nagato and Asahina-san our credibility doesn't seem that high.

"'Sealed Realities' and 'Avatars' you mean."

These should be the areas Koizumi's power will work.

"Correct answer. Recently, the frequency of their appearance is increasing again. It began just after spring break and has continued to today. To be even more precise, it began one day after spring break. Because of that, my working hours are no longer bound by night or day and without any break. Currently we are on twenty-four hour standby already."

Koizumi let out a self-ridiculing sigh.

"I originally thought I had already gotten used to this, after all defeating these Avatars is really part of our job, or should I say part of our duty. But such occurrences have decreased exponentially in the past year. After Suzumiya-san set up the SOS Brigade, her emotions have stabilized a lot. Especially when Suzumiya-san and you returned from that place, the change is even more obvious."

I also seemed to have heard about the decreasing occurrences of such incidents before Christmas last year. It is just before Christmas back then, when Taniguchi showed off to me about him having a girlfriend.

But right after that some people did something rather absurd...

"Hey, wait."

I found some inconsistencies within this theory.

"Koizumi, didn't you see how Haruhi was just now? She was literally dancing around jovially. In fact, I wondered if she was even standing on the ground in the first place. Who knows, maybe she had grown wings or something. And that Sealed Realities and Avatars, shouldn't it only appear when Haruhi was facing great pressure or troubles? She is so busy nowadays that she doesn't even have time to think about any problems, so she could not be bored either. This completely makes no sense."

"Indeed, the Haruhi I saw was full of drive. Looks like she would not be feeling bored. But I have one request, I hope you can recall the events that happened on the last day of spring break."

I am thinking back about it all this time.

"Is there nothing suspicious to you? This shouldn't be so. If it is really so, then there must be things you have not thought of yet. And that happens to be the most important thing."

Koizumi shrugged his shoulders and continued with a tone similar to giving an idiot clues to answering a simple question.

"The last day of spring break. That is the beginning of Suzumiya-san's change in emotional stability which she isn't conscious of herself. So, what exactly happened?"

Change that she isn't conscious of again? Haruhi's lack of consciousness about changes and Koizumi's psychiatrist-like analogy of these issues are the roots of most of my headaches.

"Didn't we go to the flea market that day? Haruhi mentioned that she wanted to participate in the flea market next time. In fact, we deliberately took a train and walked miles to that city just to take a look at it......"

"I am referring to the incident just before taking the train."

Can you not be so long-winded!?

I closed my eyes and slowly drifted along in my ocean of memories......

Haruhi suddenly wanted to go to the flea market, it was the last few days of the spring break. Oh yeah, it was the time when we were planning to shoot the trailer for the sequel to our first movie.

She made Asahina-san wear her waitress costume and Nagato her magician's hat and cloak. Then, as if holding a press conference, made both of them stand in a line while she held onto the yellow loudhailer. She then said to Koizumi and I, who had just returned after being chased out of the clubroom.

"Don't you all agree we've got too many things in this room? Just now, I was attempting to find the Super Director armband but failed. I guess it must be with something else somewhere. Perhaps it is time we sort out this mess."

Wasn't it your idea to bring all these useless things back for collection like a crow? Nagato would only have books at the most, Asahina-san her tea leaves and tea set and Koizumi his many different board games. Other miscellaneous junk of various sizes occupying space were all brought in by Haruhi.

Haruhi sat on the chair meant for the brigade leader.

"Normally, I would definitely take one when I see anyone giving out fliers about some event coming up. I nearly forgot that I took a particular one recently."

Saying that, she took out a flier from one of the drawers of the table.

"This is a notice about a flea market coming up. Although it is a bit far, we can get there in about fifteen minutes if we take an express train. If it were possible I really wanted to join, but we're currently really busy. Also, for the application to be approved, it will take time as well."

The reason we are all so busy now is no thanks to you.

I took the flier Haruhi was using as a fan from her hands and returned to my seat. A flea market huh. In this period of time, I guess this means we take out any of our things to be sold or something.

I looked at this flier that gave Haruhi inspiration for yet another target.

"Tea is coming."

My personal tea cup suddenly appeared before me.

Asahina-san is always such a gentle and caring person. Even though she is wearing the waitress costume used for filming, she will never forget to pour us tea or stop smiling. Such a gesture almost made me tear up. The waitress costume she is wearing now is just so different from the previous maid costume, what a refreshing change...... after all such a job has always been more suited for her. Normally, waitresses do not usually hold a showdown against aliens.

"Hmm, this costume is really cute, as long as she doesn't go out......"

Asahina-san seems very mindful of the length of the skirt and continuously kept her legs closed tight, after that, seemingly satisfied, she would happily hug the serving tray and walk back to where the teapot is. Gradually, she finished pouring tea for all members. Although the world is huge, to be able to see Asahina-san in her waitress costume, an image that would make all her supporters salivate, should be for me and the Literature Club clubroom only. And Nagato reading books in the magician's costume too. I should really take photos of them to preserve these memories.

I thought about all these while sipping my tea with my head bowed down, moistening my dry throat.

"Hey! Kyon!"

After finishing her tea in five seconds, Haruhi suddenly screamed at me loudly and slammed her teacup on the table. What an impatient person.

"It's not possible this time around, but we will bring something along to participate next time. Quickly sort through the things you have at home and fish out those that will fetch high prices when sold! There will definitely be something. For example, collectibles which you know you will never use but are unwilling to just throw it away, and thus leaving it to collect dust in one corner, presents which you have not even unwrapped after receiving......"

What about those never-before-seen robot models that come with magazines that were bought when I was young? Although there are a lot of them, but because piecing them together is just too much work, so they have been left there for quite a while.

"Those will do."

Haruhi rudely snatched the flier away from my hand before folding it back up to be kept in the drawer.

"Robot models? I have a feeling that the robot model itself thinks that it will be destroyed in your hands. You might as well sell it to the people who can appreciate it better."

Compared to the robot models which only kids will buy, why don't you sell the notebook computers you snatched from the Computer Research Society instead? Those will definitely fetch a good price.

"Those are valuable possessions! Speaking of that, I suppose it is time to get them over to upgrade the notebooks already."

Haruhi next turned her attention to Asahina-san, who was busy blowing at her cup of tea.

"Mikuru-chan should have loads of things as well, right? Like those old clothes and unused cutlery, since you buy things so often."

"Ah...? Th-That..."

Asahina-san widened her beautiful eyes.

"Y-You are quite right. If I see anything cute I will buy it. But after putting it on, it doesn't seem that suitable, or may feel very weird... W-Wait, how did you know?"

"Looking at how you are usually is good enough. When walking past departmental stalls with you, your eyes will always light up, sending out electric waves as strong as a child wanting to buy a toy. The 'I will buy it next time' look is already plastered all over your face. I wonder how you still have any pocket money left."

Asahina-san, after hearing this much, shivered all over for a while. But Haruhi had already turned her attention away to the next person by now.

"Yuki surely has a lot of books. There should be enough to open an 'old books' stall. The shelves of the clubroom are already filled to the brim, not to forget the floor as well. Look, the floor looks like it's going to fall through soon."

"............"

Nagato slowly turned her head to face Haruhi, then to take a glance at the shelves, finally giving me a quick look before continuing to read.

I think that Nagato will never let go of her books. Also, her house is not only just filled with books but rather the house has only books and nothing else. Just when I thought of correcting Haruhi...

"Kyon, in that case, you should go to Yuki's house with a cart to help carry her books. You could also help pack them up in a box."

Nagato turned her head to stare at me again. I suddenly had a strange and familiar feeling, reading the message in her eyes. When did I feel this before? ...Oh it was around the same time that stupid Nakagawa called me about his ridiculous confession. During the last winter break when we were cleaning out the clubroom, Nagato said nothing about her dozens of books on the clubroom shelves. After all, she doesn't want to lose any of her books in the clubroom or the ones in her home, I think.

"You are right..." Koizumi said with one hand holding onto his teacup. "Although I brought the games here, I could find no opponents at all, so perhaps I should use this chance to reduce the range of my collection."

Can you not face me with that bitter smile of yours?

Haruhi hastily jumped onto the director's chair and sat on it.

"So, everybody, remember to free the last day of the spring break on your schedules! We will visit the flea market, and if we see anything interesting, use the activity funds to buy it!"

Regarding the "activity fund" she is talking about, needless to say, it does not belong to the SOS Brigade but the Literature Club instead.

Just like this, the school seems to be saying "you can have some fun for a while" and closed their doors on us. (!) But under the leadership of Haruhi, SOS Brigade members are deprived of even their right to have a fitful rest till noon, being dragged by the nose to visit various places. Even on the last day of the spring break, we are forced to meet at the open space in front of the train station......

"You finally recalled to this point. I am still worrying whether this incident had already been wiped from your memory."

Even if I wipe this incident from my memory, I am pretty sure there would be no advantages to it anyway.

"It is difficult to judge whether it will be an advantage or disadvantage. But if possible, I would very much like to forget about it."

Why say such strange stuff in the first place. Koizumi would not understand a technique like mind control. Also, even if you have such a power, why not operate on Haruhi's brain first instead.

"Just like you said."

Don't put it so seriously. Using your own valuable time to fret over Haruhi's matters is equal to wasting your life away.

"You can't say that either. Suzumiya-san's problems are my problems too."

Koizumi explained in a resigned-to-fate manner. And I continued to remember.

On the day of the visit to the flea market, I obediently woke up after hearing the piercing screams of the alarm clock. The feeling of reluctance could be best expressed now. Turning back to take a look at the warm bed, only myself waking up seems pretty miserable. Seeing Shamisen happily sleeping away, I have a sudden urge to pull him out of bed, but that seems kind of unmerciful. So I moved on like a soldier going on a journey of no return and walked down the stairs.

Taking a peek at the kitchen, I saw my younger sister biting into freshly-toasted bread before running towards me.

"Ah, good morning, Kyon. Where is Shamisen?"

I opened the fridge and took out the bottle of malt tea and poured a large portion of it into my mug.

"Still sleeping."

"Do you want me to toast you bread as well? Oh, and the egg with the sunny side up is on that plate."

"Toast one for me then."

After saying that, I walked towards the wash basin. When I returned, my younger sister had already put the bread into the toaster and was putting the plate with the ham into the microwave oven. Actually she wasn't really helping me from the bottom of her heart but rather she found operating these machines interesting and just wanted to do it once more.

I might as well add something here. My eleven year old younger sister, who will be attending her sixth grade starting tomorrow, plans to go to Miyoko's house to play for the entire day, returning only at nighttime. She had already dressed herself up rather cutely and is now waiting for her friend, who simply does not look her age, to pick her up.

When I saw Miyokichi on the road three days ago, I was shocked. It had only been a while since I last saw her and yet she looked even more graceful and mature. When my sister and Miyokichi walked together in a line, it looked like the difference between five sisters: Miyokichi as the eldest and my sister the youngest. What exactly did she eat to make her look so different?

Seriously speaking, if Miyokichi was my younger sister, she definitely would not enter my room without permission, much less take things out without asking. She would also wake me up in a more graceful way and would not chase after Shamisen, who already has a phobia of being stroked by my younger sister, around the house and crashing into things. The more I think about it, the more I want to ask – why was I not born being the brother of Miyokichi......

"You need not show off your girlfriend."

Koizumi picked up a fallen petal of the cherry blossoms with his hand and said that matter-of-factly.

"The person who has Miyoko as a younger sister would be very lucky, this is a fact that cannot be doubted. But if we look at it from a different angle, there should be people who will think that your younger sister has a lot of potential as well. But can you mention the incident concerning another person in greater detail? Just talk about the time when you left the house and went to the meeting place."

Don't you think you are sounding a little uncaring here? This is because you have never seen Miyoko in person before, that is why you are so cold towards this.

But it is alright, arguing with you over this is useless anyway.

If you really wanted to know the memoirs of the spring break of my first high school year so much, then I will talk about that first. But Koizumi, you were one of those present there too, shouldn't you be well aware of what happened as well?

"I am not interested in my own affairs."

Koizumi continued playing with the cherry blossom petal with his fingers while continuing.

"The person I care about is not there. If I must say it, I am a bit mindful of how I am seen through your eyes, but that is only a very small matter."

He flicked that cherry blossom petal away.

"Please continue."

I cycled speedily towards the train station as usual.

One of the rules of the SOS Brigade is that the person who is the last to arrive during outings has to pay for lunch. This is effective even till today. Till now, I haven't been treated by anyone else. Although, once in a while, I get an urge to cycle faster with the hopes that I might be treated by Haruhi for the first time. However, as if going against me, Haruhi always manages to beat me to it by a small margin. Is she hidden somewhere, monitoring my every action?

I thought about this while checking for any available parking spaces at the bicycle park near the train station. Suddenly, a voice boomed behind my back.

"Yo, Kyon!"

"Wah~~!"

This is just like a guerilla attack. The voice literally rang just behind my back, so it cannot be avoided that my legs, which had been propelling the bicycle forward while maintaining balance while I looked around for a parking space, suddenly leapt off the ground. It almost scared the daylights out of me.

I instinctively turned backwards and, after seeing the face of the owner, immediately shouted in response.

"Sasaki! It's you?!"

"Hey! What is this? Is this how you greet a friend you haven't seen for so long?"

Sasaki held onto handles of the bicycle while standing beside me, giving a gentle smile that was totally irrelevant to the contents of our conversation.

"Kyon, I was talking on the phone with Sudou yesterday. Seems he wanted to have a gathering with our classmates from third-year middle school. Although he didn't mention it, according to my gut feelings as well as various reports from multiple sources, he is still unable to forget her. And from my observations, the girl that Sudou likes seemed to be Okamoto who got into a girls' school. Do you still remember her? The girl with the curly hair, a rather cute appearance and a member of the sports society. He asked whether it is okay if we held the gathering this coming summer break, and I agreed. Actually anything is okay for me, how about you?"

If it is held, I would definitely participate. There are a few people with whom I got along with quite well in the past, but we have not met since middle school graduation. As for Okamoto, I am unable to recall who exactly she is at this moment, so I would gladly leave the seat next to her to Sudou.

Sasaki revealed a unique smile that cannot be described, lips curled slightly upwards.

"I knew you would say that. But, Kyon, you mentioned those good friends whom you haven't met since middle school graduation, I guess that includes me right? In fact, I haven't seen you ever since we picked up the middle school graduation certificate together. It must have been a year already."

Sasaki let go of one of the handlebars to the bicycle and ran around it with the free hand, trying to show the passage of time.

"Kyon got into North High right? Has high school life been great so far?"

I cannot decide if it is great or not, at least I am not unhappy about it at this moment. In fact, it may be a bit interesting. If I were to narrate all the amazing events that occurred in this past year, it would be longer than a bolt of cloth [11]. "Isn't that good? Unlike me, who can hardly find anything to talk about. I can't say it's boring, just that nothing big enough in school happened that would upset the natural balance of Earth."

That is good. If incidents like mine happen in every high school nationwide, it is no longer a question of interesting or not. I am afraid the world will sink into chaos.

I fixed my gaze on the ex-classmate of mine, trying to spot any changes since middle school.

"You entered that suburban private high school didn't you? I heard that the chances of entering a university are high..."

Sasaki once again changed to another smile.

"Seems you haven't totally forgotten about me yet, what a relief. Indeed, this is because a day of lessons in that school is enough to tire you to death. Look, I even have to study today."

Sasaki pointed in the direction of the train station.

"I will be taking the train to cram school later. Sometimes I really feel that I study just for the sake of studying. I can't even feel the spring break. And starting tomorrow, I still have to take the train to an even further place to study. There isn't anything else that turns anyone off more than adapting to a crowded morning train."

This can be compared to that miserable slope I have to climb up to reach North High daily.

"Isn't that good? It's good for your health. I should have chosen an urban school back then. I really envy Sudou."

I don't know what exactly is so funny, but suddenly Sasaki let out a hearty laugh that is not easily imitated.

"Oh yeah Kyon, what did you come to this train station for? If we are travelling in the same direction, we can continue our conversation. I wouldn't mind sitting with you."

I checked the time on my watch. Drats, I am only three minutes away from the agreed meeting time.

"Sorry, Sasaki, I have already agreed to meet someone else. The person is especially conscious of time and God knows what dire consequences there would be if I were to be late."

"Someone else? From high school? Oh, I see. Then I have to park the bicycle quickly. Ah, don't worry, I will be parking my bicycle here daily. I have a season ticket with the operator. As for the location..."

Sasaki found an empty spot at the bicycle park and parked the bicycle there before turning back to me.

"...It's here. Kyon, I want to follow you along to where you will be meeting the person. Your friends are my friends after all, I really want to see what they look like."

There will be no benefits to seeing them. But since Sasaki wanted to take a look, I didn't really mind either. Although I felt that introducing them would not do any good for Sasaki's life. I do not really know why, but I feel very proud of myself when I am able to introduce the cute and gentle Asahina-san to others.

After I found an empty parking spot and rushed to make the payment, Sasaki had already come over with the bag slung over one shoulder. We discussed fragments of our middle school life while on our way to the meeting place. When we were about to reach that place...

"Kyon, you still haven't changed a bit."

Sasaki said in a low voice.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I am relieved now."

Why should you be relieved? Now that I look at it, you haven't changed either, have you?

"If that were really so, it would have meant that neither of us had grown at all. If the result of my height and weight measurements were anything to go by, the amount of flesh on my body should have changed."

Then I must have grown taller by a bit.

"Sorry, I don't mean that. A person's appearance can be changed as and when he or she wants. For example, just leaving the hair to grow longer or cutting it short is enough to make a difference in the image you present to others. The aspect that is harder to change is the character. No matter if it improves or takes a turn for the worse, if humans are interested in material comforts, unless we make massive changes to the concept of material comfort, thought patterns and viewpoints are not easy to change."

Listening to this gave me a sense of familiarity. Oh yes, I remember now. Back in middle school, Sasaki always liked to ponder strange theories.

"Also..."

Sasaki continued talking while walking.

"...There is the possibility of thoughts suddenly making a 180-degree turn, much like changes introduced by Nicolas Copernicus [12]. Changes in the world are changes in ideologies. This probably represents everything, because it is impossible for humans to correctly understand creatures who have an intelligence exceeding that of themselves. Our eyes cannot see infrared rays, but snakes actually have eyes that work like heat-sensitive goggles, and rays like these are in plain view for them. When sound waves go beyond a certain level, our ears will be unable to pick them up, yet dogs and various other animals are able to hear ultrasound waves. Infrared rays and ultrasound waves produced by Galton's whistle[13] cannot be seen or heard by humans, but it does not mean they do not exist, just that we cannot feel their existence."

Sasaki, perhaps you really should have come to North High. We have a guy here who sounds exactly like you. You would definitely get along very well with him. Fortunately, he will be at the meeting place as well. Do you want to use this opportunity to get to know him?

Just when I was talking about such a meeting, images of every member of the SOS Brigade, with the exception of myself, of course, appeared before me.

"You had indeed brought someone interesting along."

Koizumi replied in a slightly offended manner.

"From a particular perspective, we are indeed able to communicate with each other well. But in actual fact, people who seem like me cannot actually be compared to me. Our views are too different. I am pretty aware of my own limits, so people whom I admire philosophically are actually not too little. If I have to make an example, you are one of them."

Even if you try to curry my favor like this, unlike the Priestess of Delphi [14], I would not tell you the Oracle [15].

"This I understand. There is nothing scarier than force majeure [16]. Those forces that can be seen by the eyes and heard by the ears yet remain uncontrollable really make people paranoid."

You are right, this is what I am referring to. Sasaki is powerful in this way. After all, it's someone that I had spent the third year of my middle school life with, so of course I would understand that. But the fact that even Koizumi understood this fact made me really surprised.

"This is nothing to be surprised about. You should know that the 'Organization' had once conducted investigation into your life right? Thus, it is obvious that everything about you since you were born was already analyzed before reaching the conclusion that you are a normal person."

Thanks a lot then. I didn't realize that your 'Organization' is able to bestow upon me a Certificate of Guarantee.

"If you feel there is a need to, I can always give you one. No, I am just joking. But when I knew that you knew Sasaki in third year of your middle school and even became close friends, my mood is no longer that of just joking around."

Why?

Koizumi continued as if he was reciting poetry.

"Because your friend Sasaki, despite looking like a normal person, if observed in another way, could be extraordinary as well. Moving like a particle, each action Sasaki triggers causes disturbances, much like light."

I don't care about whatever force majeure. I am already used to having random vocabulary words being thrown at me once in a while. As for the photoelectric behavior [17] of light, I hope I would never come across it in my entire life.

Back on topic, Sasaki and I had already reached the front of the train station. Where we were standing now was the usual meeting place of the SOS Brigade.

I had gotten used to seeing the scenery as well as the people. Explanation: three of them in plain clothes, one in uniform.

Then, the very appreciative words which the leader must always mention...

"How dare you arrive late! I have already mentioned it countless times, not only are you the last to arrive, you even arrived later than the agreed meeting time! Don't become so lazy just because spring has arrived! Kyon, can't you just appreciate each and every passing second? Your time does not only belong to you, each of us here who has been waiting for you here have a share of it too! So, we should double your fine if you are late! Although the time that has past can never be gotten back again, you should at least try to make us a little happier."

After Haruhi finished the entire paragraph in one breath, she took in a deep breath and looked at the person beside me with a surprised look.

"Who is this?"

"My, my, this person here is......"

Just when I was about to introduce......

"......a really close friend."

Sasaki added quickly.

"Eh?"

Haruhi widened her eyes. Sasaki gave a slight shake of the head and explained.

"A friend from middle school, and for the third year only as well. Don't know if it is because of this, but this guy heartlessly cut off all forms of communication with me for the past year. Although I have done the same as well, but, despite meeting only after one precarious year, we are still able to talk to each other without being overly formal. Thus, I think that the relationship between the both of us could be considered close friends. To me, Kyon, it is indeed so."

I would not deny that we were once very close friends. Back in the middle school days, I often mixed around with Sasaki. After class I hung out with Sasaki more in comparison to my other middle school classmates, I think.

But why do I feel uneasy? I must first say that I did not remember doing anything that is against my conscience, in fact, I don't think I actually did any. But as I listened to how Sasaki said we were very close friends, seeing that strange expression on Haruhi's face, my feeling is like that of not bringing an umbrella out despite knowing that a storm will be arriving in five minutes....... Why exactly is this so?

Now that I think about it, I can vaguely feel that the frequency of Asahina-san blinking her eyes had increased back then. Also, Koizumi had entered a state of deep thought with his hands rubbing his chin. In her uniform, Nagato stood at the same spot without moving, but I had already focused my attention on Haruhi, so I can't be sure either.

At this moment, I noticed Sasaki stepping out half a step, lips curled into the shape of a crescent, revealing a smile and stretching out a hand, seemingly offering it for Haruhi to shake.

"I am Sasaki, you must be Suzumiya-san. How do you do? I have heard a lot about you."

Haruhi's eyes took a quick glance at me, as if I'm now forced to take the rap and become a criminal...

"I didn't say anything about your devilish deeds! Sasaki, how do you know of Haruhi anyway?"

"We live in the same area, and I tend to hear of controversial rumors once in a while. You are not the only one who went to North High from our school either, Kyon."

Are you referring to people like Kunikida?

"So he went to North High too? Hmm... is he okay? It must be relaxing for him. With his potential, he could be in a much better school, and yet he went to North High, what a strange person."

Sasaki turned back to Haruhi after commenting on our ex-classmate.

"I heard that Kyon has been under a lot of your care in North High. I hope you can continue to take care of him well."

Sasaki did not withdraw the extended hand and revealed a kind smile.

Haruhi, facing the American-gestured greeting from Sasaki, gave an expression of a child accidentally mistaking a pebble for chocolate and putting it in his or her mouth, but still shook Sasaki's hand eventually.

"Sure."

Haruhi held onto Sasaki's hand and stared its owner right in the eye.

"Seems like I do not have to introduce myself then."

"True."

Sasaki stared back at Haruhi with a face full of smiles, and laughed with a voice like that of the croak of a baby Japanese tree frog before saying.

"So how many seats are available over there?"

Sasaki let go of Haruhi's hand with a sense of reluctance and swept through the people present.

"Perhaps introducing the members is the role of the leader as well right?" Haruhi quickly countered.

"The cutiepie on that side is Mikuru-chan, the one in her sailor uniform is Yuki and the one on this side is Koizumi."

The people she pointed to slowly responded...

"Ah...ah... I-I am Asahina Mikuru."

Looking at the only senior in her spring outfit that would definitely sell very well if a "Mikuru Series" is ever launched, with both her hands holding onto a handbag, hurriedly turned over and bowed.

"I am Koizumi."

Our assistant brigade leader bowed politely at a near forty-five degree angle, as if he had special lessons from the 'butler' Arakawa.

"............"

Wearing the uniform, dressed totally like she would be in school, Nagato remained motionless.

After hearing the various responses from each of them, Sasaki must have thought it would be too troublesome, and so did not request for handshakes with the other few like Haruhi.

"Hi all."

After saying that, Sasaki evaluated each of the people standing in front with interest.

And the three SOS Brigade members used their own ways to evaluate this unwanted guest. Asahina looked at Sasaki gingerly, Koizumi with his usual trademark smile and Nagato stared motionlessly with her eyes that looked like they were taken out of the deep oceans, submerged in seawater.

Sasaki looked like someone that's trying to commit the names and looks of the three brigade members into their memory and stoned for a while, before turning back to me......

"So, Kyon, it's about time for me to embark on the train so I'll get going. See you soon. Bye~"

Sasaki waved goodbye at us and proceeded to smile at Haruhi before walking towards the fare gate.

My ex-classmate sure moves quickly. I stared blankly at Sasaki's back for a while until it disappeared, then I turned back.

Although we hadn't met for a while, we didn't exactly speak much. Perhaps the next time we meet, another year may have passed again.

After remaining silent for a few moments, Haruhi said.

"That person is a bit strange."

If even you felt the strangeness, it is definitely not just "a bit".

After saying that, she turned her gaze away from the fare gate and back at us.

"That...... friend of yours, has always been this way?"

"Yeah. Not a single change at all, be it physically or mentally."

"Hmm......?"

Haruhi tilted her head, as if she wanted to empty out any unwanted thoughts she had recalled out from the ears, but very quickly forgot about adjusting her head angle but jumped and changed the direction her body was facing instead.

"Forget it. Kyon, we'd better go to the restaurant now, your treat. I'm sure you've brought extra money along, right? If we see anything interesting at the flea market, we must try our best to buy it back!"

Haruhi revealed a smile that was like the fluorescent light on display at the electrical departmental store and walked out of the station in big steps.

My, my. If you simply asked me to carry things, I would be fine with it. But can't you buy anything you liked with your own money instead? Why should Nagato's Literature Club activity funds be used for this? I guess I must keep a close watch on her.

"As for what happened later......"

I looked on as Koizumi said.

"You should know by now. We went to the restaurant, I treated everyone to the meal, went to the flea market, Haruhi bought a whole load of things, and we had lunch at a restaurant with a sea view before going home. I also went to Miyoko's house on my way back."

Don't tell me you had already forgotten that because you kept holding onto the chess set you bought from the old couple, all of the carrying duties were left to me. Thanks to you, I was forced to carry a whole load of junk, like the unpolished desert granite, while running around the area. The only things that offered me some consolation were the shrieks like "Waa~ What a simple toy... but it is really beautiful..." from Asahina-san, who was holding onto a kaleidoscope [18] that looks like it was made by a grade school child, and Nagato, who seemed to be staring intently at some mask that looked like it belonged to some evil wizard from some ancient tribe.

"So far, is there anything that doesn't seem right compared to your memory?"

"Luckily, I don't think so."

Koizumi said while surveying the monitor in earnest,

"An objective truth is like what you have pointed out, there is nothing wrong. But, if we look at it subjectively, your opinion and mine seem to have some major differences."

He turned his gaze towards me while saying that. It is such a gaze that I most cannot stand about him.

"So, this is where the problem is. I said just now that the frequency of the appearance of 'Sealed Realities' had increased recently, or to put it more correctly, is comparable to when Suzumiya-san had just entered high school. Starting last year, and continuing until this year, the number of times I have had to work has decreased, but has recently spiked up to previous levels starting this spring. So what exactly is the reason?"

I am getting increasingly impatient.....

"What exactly do you want to say?"

"Although I did not want to spell it out exactly, but there are times when some things, if not expressed in words, will never reach the hearts of others. Cases when speechless communication being able to transmit information accurately are few and far between, I shall illustrate the following as cause and effect. According to the current situation, the part on cause is the sentence 'the last day of spring break'. Effects are 'Sealed Realities' and 'Avatars'. So, what exactly does this mean? This is my question to you."

"............"

I am engulfed by the speechlessness like that of Nagato. Areas near my hindbrain started to hurt.

Koizumi revealed a smile that looked like it is on a mask dug out from the Jomon Period[19]. If nobody said this is a smile, I really would not understand.

"Because Suzumiya-san started creating 'Sealed Realities' in the new school term, I can infer that there must have been a problem on the last day of spring break. And when we wonder what exactly could have happened, our normal SOS Brigade activities would not be of much importance. It is only that we spent one jovial day at the flea market. The only difference from normal circumstances would be the interference of the stranger...... as for the reason that would cause this, I think you should know that."

Sasaki, huh.

"But why? Sasaki is just a middle school friend whom I met by coincidence at our usual meeting place. Why did such a small thing turn into the source of Haruhi's problems?"

Koizumi closed his mouth with a look of shock before looking at me more with a sense of connoisseurship [20] than friendliness, just like when Shamisen first saw the cicada my younger sister caught and brought home, and continued this way for nearly ten seconds.

Just when I wanted to wave my hand in front of his eyes to check if he was still conscious, this esper with a harmless-looking and handsome face shook his head quite strongly.

"If you want me to say why......"

He turned towards me in exaggerated actions.

"This is, of course, because of that self-proclaimed very close friend Sasaki of yours, who exudes a charm that is able to mesmerize eight out of ten guys!"

Koizumi used a voice with the determination of an evil imperial official wanting to assassinate the king.

I have to reverse time back to two years ago from this time.

During the spring after entering third-year middle school, I was forced to attend cram schools by my paranoid mother, who was afraid that I would be unable to make it to a high school.

Coincidentally, Sasaki was in the same cram school class that I was, and also happened to be the only person in that class who was also from my middle school class. And also, very coincidentally, we happened to be sitting near each other. After that, though I am not really sure who began first, we started chatting. Although I do not exactly remember it very well now, but I think it began something like "Yo, you are having lessons here as well huh?"

That is the turning point, and after that, in the middle school classroom, we made occasional small talk with each other.

Although I didn't really pay special attention to it, I quickly noticed that the language used by Sasaki when she was with boys was different from that when she was with girls [21].

I guess there must be some justification behind her doing that. Could it be that the reason she chose to use the male form of speech is that she hoped that the other party would not treat her like a girl? Maybe that is equal to warning others not to treat her as a love interest or something? Maybe it's just me being oversensitive?

Of course, anything is fine with me. That is why I have never interfered with her decision on this matter. Also, I do not have enough confidence in my language skills to the extent that I am able to correct others.

As for my name, Sasaki seemed to find it very interesting.

"Kyon huh...... what a special nickname. Why were you given such a nickname?"

I explained the stupid reason behind it as well as my younger sister's antics with angst.

"Oh...... so what is your real name?"

After telling her verbally, Sasaki turned her neck and pupils in different directions.

"So this is how Kyon's name came about. So how do you write it out? Ah. Don't tell me first. Let me try and predict it."

The enthusiastic Sasaki thought for a while, before laughing out loud.

"Is this how it is written?"

After saying that, she picked up her mechanical pencil and started writing on the notebook. After seeing what she wrote, I let out a gasp of surprise. Sasaki wrote my name pretty accurately.

"Can you tell me the reason why you have such a royal and imposing name?"

And so I told her the reason, which my father told me when I asked him when I was still young, verbatim.

"That's great......"

After Sasaki said that, it kind of influenced me to think the same way as well.

"But, I still like the name Kyon more. The more I hear it, the nicer it sounds. Can I call you that? Or would you want me to consider calling you by other names instead? Because you seem like you don't really like this nickname of yours..."

How did you know that I don't like it?

"Because I got a quicker response when I called you by your real name than when I called you by your nickname. The difference was about 0.2 seconds I suppose."

That is because only those people who have proper business to talk with me will address me by my real name. For example, during lesson time when teachers ask a question or those people whom I do not know as well...... especially when it is girls or something like that...... and you just said 0.2 seconds? You can tell that kind of difference?

"Normally, this is the amount of time it takes for the signals to reach the brain and effect the action. You may think that you are responding immediately when others call you, but perhaps you didn't notice it yourself Kyon, it is actually a little slower. So I thought that maybe deep in your heart, you do not really like the nickname."

Now that I think about it, this is the first time I heard of so much jargon at once.

The cram school lessons happened three days every week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They were always at night.

Other than the Saturdays when there was no school, every Tuesday and Thursday, I would go to the cram school together with Sasaki. The cram school was near the biggest train station in this area. If we were to walk there from my middle school, we would probably never reach there even after the soles of our shoes had torn apart. And though public buses could have taken us there as well, we would have ended up taking a big loop to arrive there. So the best way would be to cycle from the school to the train station in a straight line distance. By this method, we can arrive at the cram school within fifteen minutes.

Since my house was just along the straight-line distance from my middle school to the cram school, I would often bring out my bicycle from my house before cycling to the cram school. After all, this is theoretically the best way to go about it. And so it became a habit to have Sasaki ride on pillion out of convenience. Sasaki said that this would help her save quite an amount of transport fees and was very grateful to me.

Although we were in the same class in the cram school as well, there wasn't exactly a lot of free time for us to chat all day long. Both of us would fit into the atmosphere and work hard with everyone else. Because of this, the steadily decreasing curve on my report card in middle school second year stopped moving downwards, allowing me to relax a little. After seeing the scores moving up with each passing test, my mother, who forced me into the cram school against all odds, felt gratified.

If my mother could have changed her pet phrase that "If you do not study well, you will not be able to make it into the same university as Sasaki-san.", it would have been even better. I just do not understand why must I get into the same university as her.

Every time, after the cram school was over, the world would have already turned dark. I would often raise my head up and admire the bean-sized natural satellites in the sky while pushing my bicycle along, with Sasaki following closely behind. I would normally accompany Sasaki, who takes a public bus home, to the nearest bus stop.

"So...... Kyon, see you tomorrow in school."

Sasaki would enter the long-awaited public bus and would wave to me while saying the above. Then I would be on my way home......

Okay, that's all for the reminiscing.

"I cannot believe you two had already progressed to that stage."

Koizumi placed his finger on his eyebrow.

"This is simply like a scene from a pure and innocent middle school love story, isn't it?"

You can say that, but Sasaki and I do not have that wonderful feeling of a boy-girl romantic relationship. Wait, let's not talk about whether it is wonderful or not, after all there is none.

"Yeah, of course it is this way. If you think this way, of course it would be correct. But how would the people around you see it? If they saw you like this, what would they think about?"

Don't know why I have this bad premonition. Back then, Kunikida and Nakagawa had misunderstood Sasaki and my relationship too......

"See, didn't I misunderstand too? After hearing you say this, it is obvious anyone would think that way. Of course I am not the only one who will think this way. And of course, after those two [22] understand your circumstances, they would quit worrying after a while and not take it to heart. But I know there is one person who would really mind."

"......Who?"

Koizumi's smile had a tinge of evilness. The look in his eyes seemed to be blaming me for something.

"If I reached this point and you still cannot respond properly, I think there is a need to cut your brain open and write the name there directly."

I knew it.

"But it's still unbelievable......"

On my head, I felt as if there were a whole lot of worms on it.

"Haruhi saw Sasaki, and even heard her calling me a very close friend. But must she throw a tantrum? Is it her subconscious at work again?"

"Sealed Realities and Avatars, they are phenomena which you should know about, but the current situation is different when compared to the past. While the Sealed Realities have not undergone any significant change, the movement of the Avatars is strangely quiet. Although they appear, they usually would cause major destruction, but instead stand around doing nothing. In fact, only once in a while are they reminded of their own duty and knock lightly on a few buildings around them."

The greenish-white monster is starting to gain sense, isn't it a good thing?

"To the 'Organization', it is the same. Because if we do not destroy these Avatars, the Sealed Reality would not disappear."

Koizumi continued his explanation...

"From a conclusive point of view, the Avatars are currently in a state of daze, or Suzumiya-san is. It is as if she does not know what she is thinking, or even make sense of what she is thinking about. And so she could only drift along this dreary state of hers, thinking about her problems subconsciously."

I think Mr. Sigmund Freud [23] should be laughing in the other world. I am sure he did not expect the results of his research to be used so commonly to analyze Haruhi.

"From my viewpoint, if we attribute everything to Suzumiya-san's jealousy of Sasaki-san, everything will be much easier to understand."

I am afraid I have to rebut this statement. I did not say the following for anyone else, but for the good of Haruhi......

"She was the one who mentioned that love relationships are a kind of mental illness!"

"Then I shall ask you, do you think Suzumiya-san's psychological skills would be able to see through all the different kinds of love between males and females?"

How is this possible?

"I thought so too. Suzumiya-san may look like she understands it very well, but she actually knows zilch about it. Let me put this in another way. Her maturity does not seem much different from the girls of the same age as her. If you only look at these areas, you will see that she is actually a very normal teenage girl, except that she tries to act cool once in a while."

I don't think you are qualified enough to say that. From my perspective, strangely, you are someone who likes to act cool a lot as well.

"Really?"

Koizumi stopped his smile that resembled that of an ancient mask, while he stroked his cheeks as if acting.

"It seems my skills are still not enough, you actually saw through it so easily."

He spread out his two hands and shook his head.

"If we are to analyze this, then we can say that after Suzumiya-san found out that you have a friend that she doesn't know of from the past, and had an emotion that could not be described. Although she might have thought that such a case may actually be true, but after all, she hadn't seen it happening till then. Such an emotion cannot be described as just jealousy, but an emotion that is more primitive and present deep inside one. Or we could describe it as unexpected. Even if it is you, you ought to have at least one or two friends. This, Suzumiya-san can understand. Even if there are any female friends, there is nothing to be surprised about. But having Sasaki-san proclaim herself that you are a very close friend of hers is something that is unexpected. Even though I already knew of her existence, it is still something unexpected for me as well."

"I still do not quite....... no, I still totally do not understand this, really."

"Because Suzumiya-san had always been mostly alone throughout middle school, or rather in a state of loneliness, perhaps the words very good friend shocked her."

"Didn't she want it that way herself? Where she would be 'aloof from worldly affairs'?"

"Even if so, it still cannot be avoided. For example, if I have a friend of the opposite gender whom you do not know of suddenly appearing in front of you, how would you feel?"

"Do you have any?"

I lifted my body outwards while asking that. Even if this guy has a girlfriend behind my back, it wouldn't be surprising at all.

Koizumi gave a bitter smile.

"This example is perhaps not very good. My situation does not seem very appropriate in this case. So if Asahina-san had a very close male friend in the past, and they are still rather close even till now?"

Of course I wouldn't feel good about it.

"This can't be quite possible. Asahina-san and Nagato are not here to play or sightsee."

I think that it would be better if they were able to unwind a bit more and have fun instead. And Asahina-san's past is actually the future that is very far from us isn't it?

"This is only an assumption. What if it is true, what would you think of? Although it is only my imagination, but there should be a strange feeling that could not be described isn't there? It isn't jealousy, nor is it puzzling. First, Asahina-san did not pay any special attention to the guy, and on the surface, it is as if there are no special feelings between them. Thus, questioning them aimlessly would be pretty stupid. And so attempting to forget such an incident is the best way to go about it. And now, you can try applying the example of Asahina-san and yourself to you and Suzumiya-san."

Cheers from a small group could be heard from the opposite of the quadrangle. It seems a first-year has decided to join a particular society.

Koizumi turned his head in that direction.

"However, one's subconscious mind isn't so easily fooled. That is why as the subconscious mind tries to vent its feelings, Sealed Realities and incomplete Avatars are formed. Although the reason for this seems very clear, in actual fact it is not. And that is why there is no good strategy to counter it. Actually it is not really true that there are none......"

Koizumi squinted harder with each passing second.

"Kyon! Koizumi!"

Haruhi, along with Asahina-san, was walking towards us with steps that seemed as if she was trying to break the ground of the quadrangle, her hands placed over Asahina-san's shoulders.

"Kyaa~! Ow, ow ow....."

Because the difference in distance covered in each step was probably about five times more for one than the other, Asahina-san's legs simply could not handle it at all. Haruhi simply ignored this point and dragged her along as if she were prey she just caught and walked towards us.

I originally thought she would at least bring a first-year along, but she actually returned empty-handed. Even cheongsams and maid costumes are not enough to catch a single fish? Seems the first-years of this year are people with good general knowledge.

Haruhi stood in front of the LCD monitor screening the trailer, still refusing to let go of Asahina-san.

"Is there anybody interested in joining coming by? What about Yuki? Is there anyone?"

I think that Nagato's head seems to be shaking slightly side to side.

"We went to many places, but they all don't make the grade. No way. There are some who, after hearing that they would be able to drink Mikuru-chan's self-brewed tea if they joined the brigade, had their saliva dripping all over the ground. Those who nodded their heads to that would have failed the first part of my admission test. As for the girls, as soon as we got near them, they started running away. Seems there isn't much luck this year."

I am afraid that we are giving others the false impression that we are a Cosplay Research Society......

"But I still think that there should at least be one person who can pass the test. Everything had only just begun! Just begun! Kyon, are there any interesting juniors from your middle school? I definitely don't think there will be any from mine, so all those who came from East Junior High should be ignored. I forgot to inform you all about this until just now."

While Haruhi is talking loudly just now, her face......

Showed a beautiful smile that radiated the glow of a nuclear fusion of multiple stars. I don't think there are any words other than glitzy that can describe it better.

On that day, we still failed to achieve anything in the end, and so we could only return to the clubroom in a dark mood.

Asahina-san heaved a huge sigh of relief that seemed to have emerged from the bottom of her heart, before carrying the teapot to the stove and started heating them. On the other hand, both Koizumi and I buried our heads in the messy wires coiling all over the table.

Nagato rolled the stickers that are labeled Literature Club into a ball and threw them into the rubbish bin, much like how one does with a tissue one just cleared his or her nose with, delicately placed the club magazine sample back onto the bookshelf, as if holding onto a gem, before mechanically moving back to a corner of the clubroom and opening up a hardcover book. Although she sat pretty far away from us just now, I don't think she wouldn't have overheard my conversation with Koizumi. But the emotionless face and lips in power-saving mode of the alien humanoid interface that haven't changed in the past year brought me unlimited serenity and calmness.

Haruhi sat on the seat reserved for the brigade chief and shook the pyramid-shaped sign with her fingers at the top part of the figure.

"Seems like there is nobody interesting among the first-years. Looks like we have to widen the search area after all. Maybe the ones with potential had entered the sports clubs. People will never appear by themselves if we keep waiting. It is always better when the sea is larger and the frequency of casting a net is increased."

Haruhi crossed her slim legs that are emerging from the cheongsam, revealing an expression of a person popular with children thinking of the next game to play with them. No matter how you look at it, it shows excitement.

As for my own opinion, instead of mindlessly casting nets, why not find a specific place and fish there with a fishing rod instead? It might be easier to catch large and quality fish this way. But I have no plans to share my thoughts with her and thus automatically participate in her plan to tempt and abduct members.

"I have no decision to let go of big fish either. In fact, I am thinking of surveying clubrooms one by one and getting hold of them before they decide to join the other clubs.. We have so many students here, there must be at least one that fits our appetite."

Fits your appetite? So what flavor of first-year would you like? It would be best if they could be eaten right after being roasted.

"For example, those that are cuter than Mikuru-chan, more obedient than Yuki, more courteous than Koizumi, all these kinds would do."

You are sure setting a high standard. Plus, the only realistic option that Haruhi gave of the three would be for Asahina-san only. Let's not say that the actual reason for having Nagato is "Wearing spectacles is so unique" kind of crap. At that time, it is because the clubroom Haruhi wanted to occupy belonged to Nagato's Literature Club that Nagato was accepted as a member. As for Koizumi, it is only because he was a "mysterious transfer student" in Haruhi's terms that allowed him to enter. Will she get the next person who transfers over in May as well?

"The spot for mysterious transfer student is already filled by Koizumi and so it is enough. And he has been quite an excellent assistant brigade leader. There is no longer a need for a similar role anymore. It must be someone interesting. The SOS Brigade only recruits the very best after all."

After turning on the computer, Haruhi supported her head with one hand and clicked the mouse with the other.

"I am so careless."

You being extremely careless didn't exactly start now.

"I should have surveyed the middle schools in this region and taken note of all those with potential. Otherwise, if those who could have been our club members entered other high schools, it would be too much of a waste. Why don't we set up branches of the SOS Brigade in other schools as well? Or should we set up a preparatory SOS Brigade in nearby middle schools instead?"

Haruhi's fantasies seems to be reaching intoxicating levels. I let out a sigh.

"What are we recruiting so many members for? Are you planning to set up an American football team?"

"My SOS Brigade must go global as fast as possible. Isn't hard drive space increasing all the time as well? My target is the entire world. If we do not globalize, how can we survive in this globalizing world?"

So globalization comes after the information age? I still like my current humble life more. My current status is a high school student without any proper credentials anyway. I am not so oblivious to my own limits as to globalize a simple brigade like this.

Why don't you find a place and set up a private school next time and become its principal and name it the SOS School instead? You can then force everyone to become SOS Brigade members at that time. Hmm...... now that I think about it, such a thought is rather scary.

"Haha, that is so stupid, I don't want to set up a business." Haruhi exclaimed with laughter. "We are not even profit-driven!"

This is considered an improvement perhaps. Although she spewed a whole lot of unrealistic things, but if it was the Haruhi of last year, she would have insisted on attending the clubs and societies briefing and printed large volumes of SOS fliers and distributing a piece to any random person. I don't know if it is because of that strict student council president with his shining eyes, but Haruhi has gone underground instead.

It seems that while she still plans to have multiple SOS Brigade branches, she isn't yet willing to accept anyone that comes by the brigade headquarters. I guess she hopes that every member who joined the brigade would bring her a strange surprise. For example, victims of alien abductions, time travelers waking up and finding themselves in the past, espers fighting bad guys in alternate dimensions, people like that. These would be the types she definitely wanted to hear from.

Those things used to be what I wanted to hear too.

But, at this moment, I do not think there is a need to anymore.

I am playing chess with Koizumi, sipping on the tea prepared by Asahina-san to moisten my throat, using the corner of my eye to monitor Nagato, who is sitting in a corner in the correct sitting posture, reading a book, all the while thinking about...

The official members of SOS Brigade shouldn't be increasing anymore, right?

Even though we have people like Tsuruya as our Honorary Advisor, Sakanaka a non-member supporter, or when we take over clubs like what we did with the Computer Research Society, it is very unlikely that there would be new members who can join us five, who already have our roots deeply embedded in the brigade, and stay for long. This is what the current me thinks now.

This is just my prediction after all, and there isn't any reason that justifies this. I only subconsciously felt so, and the reason for this could probably be explained by Carl Gustav Jung [24].

In the end, my prediction was half-right and half-wrong. But, I must add a classic sentence here...... the current me is obviously unable to predict what would happen in the future.

I guess no one would have expected such a troublesome thing to happen, no matter if the person was Koizumi, Nagato, or perhaps even Asahina-san (big) as well.

As for the source of all these troubles, it can be no one else other than Suzumiya Haruhi.

(Volume 9 Prologue End)

Return to Main Page

Back to Color Illustrations

Forward to Chapter 1