Suzumiya Haruhi:Volume9 Chapter 2

From Baka-Tsuki

a-1

"Hello."

The voice echoing from the other side is a female voice that I had not heard before.

It isn't Haruhi, it isn't Nagato, not Asahina-san from any time plane, not Mori-san, not Sakanaka, much less Tachibana Kyoko or Suou Kuyoh, or the one with a little possibility, Sasaki. One can know it after hearing the first sentence. The voice does not come from anyone I know of, a voice that has never entered my eardrums before.

"Ah, are you bathing? Sorry! I am too impolite. Why don't I call back later?"

That isn't necessary. However, just before I could say that...

"But, but, if I call too many times it will be very... I'm really sorry."

After continuously hearing that incessant voice come through the headset, I stopped her.

"Who is this?"

"Its me. Me, just me~"

No, you are not Haruhi, and so that is not considered a formal introduction.

"How is it possible you don't remember..."

The female voice said. Since it's coming from the phone, it's not very clear. The owner of the voice spoke in a jovial high pitch.

"But it is alright. I am only planning to say hi to you. Your younger sister is so cute! I want a sister just like her! Arithmetic drills~...... Hehe, so cute."

Eh? I haven't heard this voice before, but her tone and style of speaking seems very similar to someone else's. But no matter how hard I search in the recording stores of my brain, I'm still unable to find it. I only felt that it is a voice with a childish tone sounding like that of my younger sister.

"I only wanted to hear Senpai's voice."

The owner of the voice said.

"It is only this, there are no other special purposes. If there is a need to trouble you next time, please take good care of me. If only we could be together for a longer time."

Wait, did this person call me a Senpai?[1] Meaning younger than me? But, the voice indeed does not exist in my memory. Just when I wanted to tell her to "at least give me her full name"......

"I am going to hang up. So chat again soon. If there is a chance, hehe."

Click.

The opposite party hung up in a rather impolite manner.

What exactly is this? Just a newly-reunited old friend Sasaki, Tachibana Kyoko and Kuyoh is enough to bug me, I do not wish to see more new characters appearing in this time frame.

I suddenly had a stroke of inspiration and took a look at the call lists, only to find out that the other party had used a private number.

All the way till the time I finished bathing and put on my pajamas, I continued to question myself on who exactly is the girl who called, and the end result is a waste of time.

"What exactly is wrong with today......?"

But I guess no matter what I think is useless, I should just go with the flow. If it doesn't work, no matter what, I will make sure it does. If there are any surprises, I will discuss it with Koizumi, Asahina-san, Nagato ...... and an infinitely long distance to Haruhi, in order from easiest to hardest. Till then, I could ignore whatever that happens.

"How troublesome."

Tomorrow is a full day of rest, something that is extremely hard to come by, as long as Haruhi doesn't come up with any strange ideas before I sleep, Sunday is going to be relaxing.

To prevent myself from catching a cold after a bath, I hugged Shamisen like a heat bag and walked towards my younger sister's room.

ß-1

"Hello."

The voice echoing from the other side is a female voice that I had just heard this morning.

If it was Haruhi, Nagato or Asahina-san (big), it would still be alright. Haruhi would at most be telling us what naïve plans will be carried out tomorrow. If it was Nagato, I would have to discuss with her the measures that can be taken to deal with Kuyoh. For Asahina-san (big), I still have many, many things to ask her about.

"Ah? Are you bathing? Your younger sister should have told me. Why don't I call you back later? But since you already answered the call, according to my predictions, you should be done and coming out soon, right?"

It was not anyone I had imagined. I said the name of the owner of the familiar voice.

"Is this Sasaki?"

"Yes, it's me. As for today's incident, I originally wanted to talk to you for a longer time, but Suzumiya-san arrived a bit too early. I am afraid this is a miscalculation on my part."

Sasaki laughed in her cluck-cluck voice.

"But your younger sister hasn't changed one bit. I'd already told her my name, don't know if she didn't hear it or if she forgot about me already...... but I guess it cannot be helped, we have only met twice...... no, thrice.

"If you wanted to be my younger sister's tuition teacher, I think you had better not."

This is one of my rare contributions to the family.

"I understand. How would I snatch your cute younger sister away? While there are billions of people who don't know each other at all, those whom one is related to in blood are only the few members in the family. This causes the ratio on the difference on both sides to increase. This is one of those things in the world that must be viewed seriously; as they say, blood is thicker than water."

"So, what is it?"

"I will be direct then. Nine in the morning tomorrow. Hope you can come to the old place in front of the train station. You know the place right? I guess you should, even if I mentioned only the old place part. As for what is going to happen...... well, actually it isn't me looking for you, and I guess it is time to listen to Tachibana-san directly. According to my considerations, I think you will understand this better than me."

"Those fellows are coming, aren't they?"

I felt very irritated the moment I remembered the quiet and alienate Kuyoh.

"He should be coming as well. He is called... well, that self-proclaimed time traveler guy."

This made me feel worse. If that idiot talks some rubbish about Asahina-san again, I have no confidence that I can control myself this time around. If I lose control and end up beating that guy up, you shall be the one to stop me.

"So you are saying that you will be coming? Kyon, don't worry. Those three hope to come to terms without coming to blows. If we can exchange our opinions by just talking, no matter who it is, it would be better that way."

Let's hope that alien understands Earth language. Speaking of that......

"Sasaki, where did you go with them today?"

"You wanted evidence to prove that I am not there? We took the train to the city and walked for a few rounds. Tachibana-san is really nice to hang out with. She even talked a lot about her high school."

Sasaki calmly added.

"And, about the incident four years ago."

Four years ago.

Because when I first heard about this was last year, and back then it was already three years ago. This is a keyword that everyone often talked about and caused them to shake their heads. That is when Haruhi used some sadistic superpowers to cause something major to happen till now. We can now hold Olympics [2].

"What did she say?"

"You should ask her about this directly. I am still very confused now. Oh yes, Kyon, actually I am very unsettled now. It is like I am going to attend a swimming lesson tomorrow and yet not knowing how to swim, like an elementary school child."

I remembered my middle school days when Sasaki stood and waited beside the pool. This person is indeed a girl. When she is mingling with other girls from the class, she seems like a normal girl. The only thing out of the ordinary would be her above average communication skills and her shining eyes when she is talking. Indeed, other than when talking to males, she is a common middle school, and now a high school, student.

It had always been like that, but why must Sasaki call me and discuss such strange topics? This is indeed something not common at all. Must be a mistake somewhere. Whose fault is it?

"Sasaki, I know that you are now the messenger of that group. But, I really don't understand, why must you do something like this?"

Sasaki, on the other side of the line, remained silent for a while before breaking into a laughter of deep thought.

"This is because I am your good friend, more than the others. If someone asked you out, you wouldn't be so obedient would you, after all you are not one who is so easily tricked, although you are quite easily defeated in a debate of words."

I had never thought of defeating you in a debate of words.

"You indeed have the qualities of a listener, with the right amount of intelligence, as well as that of innocence. Don't get angry, but reporting something you know the other party already knows is kind of meaningless. But for this, if the other party is Kyon, then there is nothing to worry about. You give others such a feeling, a feeling of being able to talk to you freely."

I kept having a feeling that it doesn't seem like you praising me, but since it came out from the mouth of Sasaki, it would be instantly understandable. Speaking of this, it had always been this way since the beginning.

"If I don't want to interfere with your younger sister's studying I should hang up now. I also do not want you to lose your opportunity to wield the power of a senior. Make sure you wake up punctually tomorrow or I would've wasted my time flipping beds and cupboards upside down digging for the contact list of my ex-classmates. It would be easier if there was at least a contact number written on the New Years' card."

I am going, of course I am.

I had long wanted to clarify things with them. There is no need to confirm anything by IFF [3], they long had enough information for me to classify them as an alien, time traveler and esper foe. Since they had decided to come together and not operate separately, it allows me to waste less effort.

"Be careful not to catch a cold after bathing. And, help me say hi to your parents."

The phone lightly hung up.

I hurriedly got out of the bathtub, put on my pajamas and hurried towards my room.

ß-2

I speedily picked up the phone Shamisen was lying on and called. Somebody picked up after only a few rings.

"I am Koizumi."

The way you always remain on standby to pick up the phone as soon as possible is something that I really admire.

"Because I felt that you would be contacting me very soon, in fact it seemed to have come a bit later. I originally expected you to call right after we were dismissed."

I called you immediately after Sasaki called me, if this is still considered late, I guess I have to put superluminal particles [4] in the phone line.

"Seems what we are talking about isn't of great concern. So that is why, is it the other side that contacted you? No, I actually expected you to call me no matter if Sasaki-san called you or not. Didn't you have some things to ask me?"

"Do you know that Tachibana Kyoko girl?"

"Of course I do. After all she is someone who has no similarities with the 'Organization', which means she is from a competing faction."

I really wanted to know what kind of competition it is. It shouldn't be some war with guns at a secluded corner I suppose. Don't tell me it is a war with superpowers in Closed Spaces?

"If that is possible, it would be really interesting. Unfortunately, this is not something that is so simple. Because she is not able to enter the Closed Spaces created by Suzumiya-san...... It is just that Tachibana Kyoko and her group is not much different from the 'Organization' I belong to. We had activities due to similar interests but each of us have our own explanations to them. I guess it can be put that way."

And that is the so-called legendary theory about the new world created by Haruhi three...... no, four years ago?

"Although the inability to prove the theory causes it to remain an assumption, if we put it more simply this is how it will be. There are many believers in the 'Organization' as well. Regarding the fact that the source of our powers being Suzumiya-san, it is something that we had agreed upon. This point can be made without any exaggeration. All members, including myself, had already agreed with it."

What about Tachibana Kyoko?

"That is why I said she is one of those representatives that doesn't have the powers bestowed upon her. Yet she just thinks that she does, making her different from us. A bunch of people refuse to believe Haruhi is a god. They could have been innocent bystanders, and yet somehow knew about these things and wanted to appear on the stage, although I understand how she feels as well."

Koizumi's explanation seemed to be carrying some expression of pity.

"So, what did Sasaki say?"

"Tomorrow, I will be meeting them."

I told him everything Sasaki said.

"Don't know why, they seem to have something to say to me, and I have something to say to them as well. Even to the extent of giving them a dressing down."

Koizumi laughed lightly a few times and continued.

"Let me add on. Tachibana Kyoko will never carry out any acts of violence against you or Suzumiya-san. Regarding the kidnapping incident, she is actually disapproving of it. The problem lies with the inability of some people to control themselves after believing the honeyed words of the time traveler. And to them, you two are equally important. The one that is dangerous should be the opponent of Nagato-san. Her thoughts are harder to decode than that of the Integrated Data Sentient Entity."

After telling me to "Please be very careful", the emergency telephone call between Koizumi and me ended. The reason why we did not have a longer chat is because I know Koizumi should know what I am trying to say with these. If I am kidnapped then, I would have to trouble you.

"After that......"

The next is Nagato.

I am able to remember her phone number clearly even without using a phone book.

This time round, the phone rang thrice.

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

"Nagato, it's me."

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

"Regarding tomorrow......"

Although there is no reply, just from the silent breathing, I am able to tell who it is that picked up the phone. I continued the phone call without any form of response. All the way till I mentioned "And so tomorrow, I will be meeting the alien I met today." before she replied......

"I see."

I heard Nagato's voice that is devoid of any emotion.

"If Sasaki did not lie to me, they plan to solve the problem peacefully. Koizumi thinks so as well. That is why I decided to consult your opinion."

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

After a period of silence that lasted as long as one takes to check a dictionary......

"The current moment is of low risk. This can be approached without concern."

Because this came from Nagato, it is very convincing. I felt my body suddenly relaxing.

"The Integrated Data Sentient Entity is currently analyzing their reports."

"Is there any actual information captured?"

"Not yet, the only things determined are that it is a macro-spatial quantum cosmic existence."

"Did you manage to successfully communicate with that fellow named Kuyoh?"

"Unable to find common link. Thought process remains unclear."

The riddling alien still remains a riddle?

Just when I am wondering whether I could catch that Kuyoh woman and pass it to some alien development organization, Nagato suddenly continued.

"Their salutation has been standardized temporarily."

"Oh, tell me about that then."

"Canopy Domain."

Without considering any dramatizations, Nagato revealed the name in monotone.

"From what we see, they came from above the sky."

a-2

After finishing my younger sister's homework together with her, I left Shamisen with her and returned to my own room. I picked up the phone lying on my bed and called. Somebody picked up after only a few rings.

"I am Koizumi."

The way you always remain on standby to pick up the phone as soon as possible is something that I really admire.

"Because I felt that you would be contacting me very soon, in fact it seemed to have come a bit later. I originally expected you to call right after we were dismissed."

I am not such an impatient person. Although in actual fact, I needed some time to conclude my own thoughts.

"Those fellows this morning, what exactly is it about?"

"This is something I wanted to ask you as well. But you need not speak too much of anything regarding Tachibana Kyoko. I had already expected their group to run out of patience and start taking action. The kidnapping incident back then is just a foreshadow to what is about to happen next, although we cannot say it is something that is caused by Tachibana Kyoko."

Didn't expect you to speak for the other side.

"I hoped to prevent any needless competition as well. A violent confrontation is totally not my style. Luckily Tachibana Kyoko, if you stretch it, is someone who can be communicated with. A rational opposition is better than an ignorant ally, this is something that is worth being a classic. No matter what, it would be best if they can just remain bystanders. This is a suitable time for action, which is the same situation as when 'spring is near when winter began'. This would be much better than remaining in a cold war isn't it?"

Can you not use words that will cause attrition to my nerves?

"Or there is another possibility. Maybe the time traveler gave her some weird ideas. We should also not forget even Nagato-san's opponent has made an appearance, they would have to take action now."

What exactly are those fellows trying to accomplish?

"Honestly speaking, Tachibana Kyoko's group and the 'Organization' I belong to are totally unrelated, although there are not many major differences. We had activities due to similar interests but each of us have our own explanations to them. I guess it can be put that way. It is just that they wanted to minimize and purge instances of the possibility of them making mistakes themselves. This I understand very well, because this is equally valid for me as well. The reason we can have superpowers is because of the powers Suzumiya-san bestowed upon us. This is a fact that could not be wavered."

And that is the so-called legendary theory about the new world created by Haruhi three...... no, four years ago?

"This is not a matter of believing or not believing. Even if we remove the 'god' from the salutation, 'Suzumiya-san is the source of Closed Spaces and Celestials, and the reason we exist is to control the situation' is a fact that is agreed upon. Because I knew of this since the beginning, if we say it is otherwise only now, I will be very troubled. So this is something I am not willing to make concessions on."

It would be best if we are debating to solve this problem, Koizumi said with the tone of a bystander.

"Tachibana Kyoko and Sasaki-san would still be fine. At least, they live in the same time as us humans, with the same values, and thus easier to monitor. The one that is totally unpredictable would be that one not belonging to the Integrated Data Sentient Entity, with no other similar party other than Suou Kuyoh herself. From this point, she is the monomer that still exists on Earth. Since we do not even know what methods she employs, much less will we know about her motives. Compared to her, time travelers and the like can even be said to be 'cute'."

Although Asahina-san's cuteness is something of an obvious fact, I do not think all time travelers are this way.

"I agree with this as well. Asahina-san, who is part of our team, falls under the category that protects the target. After all she is a senior with irresistible cuteness, we can't possibly leave her alone. It is just that we do not want them to bring their future conflicts to the past. I guess problems regarding time travelers should be solved by time travelers themselves."

Or it will be too irresponsible. Koizumi added.

"Anything other than this can be settled by Nagato-san and myself. You too, if you see any evil arms reaching towards Suzumiya-san, you will definitely not sit still right?"

Of course, she is our brigade leader after all.

"We will just wait for the other party to take action. No need to think too much about it. No matter what, we still have Suzumiya-san on our side after all."

ß-3

Just as I finished with the phone call with Nagato, probably due to impatience, my younger sister had already brought along all her work to look for me.

But she immediately threw her practice questions and stationery on the floor and started fooling around with Shamisen. After my younger sister had enough fun with Shamisen and finished her work, an hour had passed. She undoubtedly has the same blood flowing through her veins as mine, not much talent with academics. She can do the four fundamental operations of arithmetic [5] easily, but if the question introduces a twist somewhere, she cannot continue.

I passed the practice questions booklet with the answers I had worked out for her together with the lesson notes back to her while saying the following.

"Go to sleep since you have finished, it would be best if you could bring Shamisen along. He always presses on my blanket and is so heavy that it is uncomfortable."

"Shami~ want to sleep together?"

The calico cat raised his head and looked at my sister with doubt, and proceeded to move slowly towards my blanket.

"He says no."

My younger sister seemed to be very happy as she hugged her work, skipping happily like a dancer as she went out of the room. As my younger sister, this is considered obedient. I shall give you a bonus point for this one.

I conveniently turned on the television. Although there are obviously no shows to watch, I changed channels randomly while pondering about the event tomorrow. Think it is better to be slightly prepared.

Might as well sleep earlier tonight.

a-3

After talking on the phone with Koizumi, I wondered whether I should give Nagato a call as well, but after thinking that it is already so late and that there is nothing much to talk about even if I did, I returned the phone to the side of my bed.

If Kuyoh is like a death god that will determine the survival of Nagato or something like that, she would of course not remain silent. What's more tomorrow is a Sunday, a normal weekend our merciful leader bestowed upon us. Shall use the time to take a good rest and recuperate.

Once Monday comes, whatever reluctance would still be faced in the classroom or the clubroom. If I pay a visit to the clubroom during lunch time, I should be able to listen to Nagato's alien seminar anyway.

Just when I was about to take out that book that I haven't returned for reading, a scratching sound came from the door. I opened the door and Shamisen crawled in, its throat producing croaking sounds and a face filled with exhaustion. Without even greeting the person who opened the door for him, he climbed onto the bed, rolled into a ball and started sleeping away.

This seemed to symbolize that the world and cats' lives are eternal.

a-4

Next day, Sunday.

I didn't have much to do, only read some books, played some games, fully enjoying the time spent alone. Uneventfully, it is evening. This rest day without any link to Haruhi and related incidents, is great, though it happens sparingly.

Tomorrow is about to start. The melancholy-inducing Sunday night is about to pass, the start of the week with the only reason for existence is for weekends to come quickly, a new day of a week with an odd number.

Monday is about to come.

ß-4

Next day, Sunday.

I had already woken up at seven in the morning. Thirty minutes after the alarm clock rang, I was fully prepared and entered standby mode for departure from home.

I had never felt that breakfast and washing up, morning routines I am used to for a long time, are as much a waste of time as they are today. Could have slept a bit more originally, but if I slept more, I won't wake up for another two hours.

Can't be helped, I can only read the morning papers in the kitchen. Right at this time, my younger sister, who is extremely proud of her achievement as being the earliest to wake up in the entire family, stared at me intently with a look of disbelief.

"Wow, Kyon woke up earlier than me for two days in a row. Why~?"

What is there to 'why' about? I am now living the life of a high school student that is much busier as compared to a sixth year grade school student. You will sooner or later reminisce about the time when you were the current you, so you should enjoy your grade school life fully now. Don't write things in your graduating speech that would make others laugh at you.

"Ohh~ where are you all going today? Haruhi should be there too?"

If answered honestly, she might want to tag along. Although Sasaki would reveal an understanding smile, that time traveler guy would definitely carry a look of disgust. No, I should just let younger sister come along, after all it is considered a way of getting back at them.

"I'm meeting some middle school friends today."

But, I eventually decided to conveniently send her away. There would be plenty of chances to meet Sasaki later on, also, I do not wish to make my younger sister, who still believes in the existence of Santa Claus and had a pure and innocent upbringing, to know the hard truth so early. Aliens actually being extremely clever, time travelers being brats that piss people off et cetera...... destroying fantasies like this seems a tad too cruel.

You stay at home with Shamisen instead. And, if Haruhi calls the house, you go think of some reason to cover up, whatever reason is up to you. But you have to be careful, you are not to mention even the 'Sa' of 'Sasaki'.

"O~kay."

My younger sister rushed off to wash up with thump-thump sounds.

Now is the chance. Although it is still early, I think I better set off now. If I am questioned by my younger sister later and end up leaking anything, it is going to be troublesome. I feel uneasy all over when staying home, having a feeling of wanting to end all the activities of today as soon as possible that is pretty unbearable and constantly presses into my chest.

But, just when I stepped out of house, I realized that my occasional habit of being an early bird has incurred the wrath of the skies.

Just as if it is waiting for me to open the door......

"It's raining already?"

I returned the key to my bicycle that I originally intended to use back to its original position, stretching the other hand to pick up an umbrella before saying the said phrase.

From a slight drizzle to a pitter-pattering plum rain and then to a thunderstorm with dark clouds obscuring the entire sky. This entire process takes less than thirty seconds.

Although there is no thunder.

I endured the pattering of the rain as I approached the train station, spotting the trio from yesterday waiting for me.

Sasaki carried a blue foldable umbrella, Tachibana Kyoko a branded "Fen" something one. Like a genetically-similar replica of Nagato, Suou Kuyoh donned the uniform of her girls school, carrying a transparent umbrella that looked like it was bought from a convenience store, a demonstration of the totally different personalities of the three in the heavy rain.

Kuyoh's extraordinarily long black hair, although having already exceeded that of those that could be covered by an umbrella bought at a convenience store, shows no sign of being drenched by the rain. She also seemed to have turned transparent to the unrelated pedestrians. However, to prove that theory wrong, those pedestrians, upon hitting her umbrella, would move away immediately. This is really convenient.

Oh yeah, that time traveling brat hasn't shown his face yet. Did he turn into some chameleon sticker by any chance?

"No, he is at the coffee shop."

Sasaki replied.

"I would never wait blankly for a person in such huge rain, even more so the person is you...... that is what he said. So we let him have a seat away from the rain."

What a self-righteous person. Seems the person's character hadn't changed a bit even after two months. Although I have no idea how many days had passed for him.

"Seems you and him have really deep hatred. Although I haven't heard of anything regarding the incident from you, but I guess this beats not knowing each other at all, this is good."

Sasaki laughed in her usual way.

"I am not worried now. Because if he really had some ill intentions, I suppose he would not have taken such a direct approach. He took a similar approach with me as well."

That is even more unforgivable. Shouldn't come if he hates this time frame. At least learn from Asahina-san. To find someone who works so hard for the tea-making business is not simple even in this time and age.

Sasaki laughed softly.

"I wanted to drink tea brewed by Asahina-san too. I could if I visited North High right? What a waste, I should have visited during the cultural festival last year. I will definitely go this year."

I would of course not say things like "it is better if you don't appear."

"You coming is of course not a problem. But our cultural festival has nothing too interesting..."

"Both of you......"

Tachibana Kyoko suddenly invaded into the space between Sasaki and me. In order not to hit our umbrellas, she held hers high up.

"Can casual chat be left to when only the both of you are around? The reason I called for you today......"

Tachibana Kyoko cleared her throat with an "Ahem" sound and looked darkly at Sasaki and me.

"......is because I have plenty to talk to you all about. This is something very important. I should have told Sasaki-san before."

"Sorry", Sasaki said, smiling. "I did not forget, just that I am pretending to have forgotten. Honestly speaking, I do not know how to say those things out loud."

In this period of time, Kuyoh remained motionless like a model made in a 1:1 ratio. Is she really not used to our kind of language?

Following that, Tachibana Kyoko said.

"We better get going. I have a premonition that ambassador from the future is more or less running out of patience in that shop. It is about time too."

Just as she said that while walking, Kuyoh started moving without even nodding her head, moving slightly faster than Ksitigarbha with an umbrella carrying a heavy sack moving along a walkway covered with snow, following closely behind [6]. On her face that is lacking any tinge of scarletness is a pair of sleepy eyes that makes people wonder whether she had already fallen asleep. I don't know if the alien here has low blood pressure or is unable to handle the humidity, making it seem as if her state of being changes daily. If Nagato is described as diamond dust, then Kuyoh gives a feeling of peony snow [7].

Looking at Sasaki and Tachibana Kyoko, it is as if they had already taken Kuyoh as transparent. But I suppose they did that because they knew even if they ignored her, she would follow anyway. Regarding this point, it is rather similar as compared to Haruhi and Nagato.

Kuyoh expressed an expected movement. Although the steps are not very large, there is no feeling of it being slow as well, continuously maintaining a similar distance from us. And I, while walking, discovered......

The direction we are heading in is the meeting place of the SOS Brigade since god-knows-when. It is the coffee shop where ninety-nine percent of the time, it is a particular member, me, who will pick up the tab.

As I had predicted, the duo walking in front paused in front of the automatic sliding glass door, and a man holding onto a glass with a face full of unhappiness could be seen inside.

That fellow raised his head up and discovered us, but all he did was to curl his lips uninterestedly.

Just like when I met him near the flower bed, it is a Koizumi kind of smile that has been made evil.

There is no need to imitate the SOS Brigade to such a stage, making me feel uneasy all over. And the me now is sitting at the exact same spot yesterday with the same member formation, beside me is Sasaki and opposite are the supernatural trio.

After the female waitress left after leaving four drinks on the table, the five mouths, including mine, show no sign of movement.

I am staring at the time traveler guy whose name I still do not know till now, Sasaki and Tachibana Kyoko with a look of relief. Kuyoh is as stiff as a clay doll, not making any sound. The atmosphere is like when a final meeting is being made by the army inside a castle that is surrounded by a huge opposing army, ready to fall anytime......

Automatically picking up the bundle as the emcee is Tachibana Kyoko.

"Although many things happened......"

With this phrase as the opening statement.

"I am really excited now. Do you all know how many days I have waited for this day to come? We can now finally stand at the starting line now. Thank you for giving me the chance."

She lowered her head and bowed at me.

"I would also like to thank Sasaki-san, suddenly troubling you for such a matter, I am really sorry."

"Hm."

Sasaki uttered a simple syllable, raised her head and looked at me.

"Kyon, can you not show such a scary expression, at least listen to her first. I wish to refer to your conjecture, because you should be more knowledgeable with matters like this. After all my intuition and analytical skills are not that superior, and thus I chose to rely on previous examples and experiences of others. Because of this, your presence here makes me more relieved, since I have nobody to refer to this time round."

I adjusted my gaze away from the face of the time traveler of similar origin as Asahina-san – the face that would not be able to bring any benefit to my eyes no matter how I look at it.

"Please make the explanation short and simple."

I tried to sound as serious as possible. But all I got in return is a cold laugh from the time traveler. How infuriating.

"I shall first invite you to report your name."

If you remained as an anonymous time traveler guy all the time, my perception of you would only become worse.

Facing my second round of staring attacks, the guy with the face full of sarcastic expressions produced a voice that I had awaited for two months.

"Names are just a sign of acquaintance."

That ridiculing tone is no different from the one in my memory. He shifted his body for a bit, seemingly uneasy.

"I don't mind whatever you all call me. There is no purpose to that at all. That is just like you people changing Asahina Mikuru to Asahina Michiru. Totally pointless."

What a lover for negative sentences. I should have given my sister a ticket of approval and let her come along. Just a sentence or two from this guy is enough to bring one's emotions to the bottom of the pit. And how could Asahina-san be pointless?

"Although you said that." Sasaki said to that fellow. "At this time and age, even if it isn't a real name, a salutation would help to make things easier. Even a governmental position or a status, for an ancient Japanese imperial guard or a governmental representative, that kind will do. Just tell Kyon."

"Fujiwara."

The time traveler unexpectedly replied.

"Just call me that."

"He said that."

After hearing him give a name that is very obviously made-up, Sasaki shrugged her shoulders at me.

"In that case, the self-introduction of every member has ended."

I suppose this counts as knowing each other's name. But I did not come here to know all these. After all I can address you all as time traveler (guy), Asahina kidnapper and Canopy Domain alien, no concern about salutations at all.

"Um." Tachibana Kyoko followed. "Next we move onto the main topic."

After deliberately "ahem"-ing a few times to clear her throat, this esper girl who has an alien and a time traveler sitting on each of her sides revealed a smile of the door-to-door salesgirl.

"We believe the existence of the real god is not Suzumiya-san but Sasaki-san here."

A bomb dropped suddenly.

I kept the cold drink in my mouth without swallowing, the thought of spitting it on her face flashed through my mind for an instant, but almost immediately decided against it, and so returned the glass onto the table while swallowing the drink before saying.

"What did you say?"

"No, that is what I said. Are there any parts that are difficult to comprehend?"

Tachibana Kyoko revealed a bright expression and gave a great sigh of relief.

"Phew...... it is finally said. I always wanted to tell you this. But because there is always no chance to do so, remained in my heart for quite a while. It would be better if Koizumi-kun isn't around. I even thought of transferring into your school this spring, but those people are really scary. I had reaffirmed this point not too long ago, I really do not wish to see that Mori-san again."

That satisfied expression while laughing jovially is no different from a normal high school girl.

"This is how it is. Just like how Koizumi-kun is bestowed with the responsibility to ensure Suzumiya-san's safety at all times, we have to do the same for Sasaki-san as well. But, both the aliens and time travelers had joined Suzumiya-san's side. This causes me to feel very uneasy and helpless."

She looked at the two persons beside her and continued.

"To prevent destruction by a similar body, I can only do this. Koizumi-kun has Asahina-san and Nagato-san but we don't. Thus, we need a similar replacement and it is finally assembled now."

This is not something to be trusted just anyhow. If Haruhi is not the kind of godly presence in Koizumi's words, I have to ask myself what the heck I have been doing the past year. Nearly being killed by Asakura Ryoko, in actual fact I was stabbed once, an endless summer break, time traveling to and fro, receiving orders from an anonymous future, even more important is that of being fooled around by Haruhi's sudden impulses, Nagato's rampage...... if Haruhi isn't the mysterious events generating machine, won't all of this be impossible to happen?

"This is one of the views, one of the realities. But the reality need not necessarily be limited to one only. The surface is just a false façade, while the truth is hidden way below the surface kind of thing, isn't it a very common style employed in detective stories?"

If you wanted to discuss mysteries, look for Koizumi. On the other hand, if you want to discuss about novels, look for Nagato instead.

"Sasaki" I said, "Do you really believe in all these?"

Sasaki, who was flipping through the café's menu, raised her head.

"Hm, honestly speaking, I had always felt intrigued. I am not too interested in myself and have no strong desires. If I could be raised to the status of being godlike just like this, I think it is best if it could be avoided. Even when playing football, I prefer playing as the quarterback. I would be happy if I could live a life without bringing trouble to others. I especially hate people who like to make a big deal out of themselves. I would feel very offended when I see people like these around."

Sasaki waved her hands to catch the waitress's attention.

"Oh yes, we haven't ordered anything yet. Has everyone decided?"

That prankster smile is exactly the same as those she revealed in the middle school classroom.

The waitress who is dressed simply with an apron wrapped around casual clothes came forward immediately with menus, during this process, the only sound made by the entire crew is that of Sasaki's "four cups of hot coffee" only.

Time traveler Fujiwara and alien Kuyoh did not respond, only exhaling a "hmph" sound from the nostrils, while giving an expression of being immersed in eternal speechlessness. I really want to know what the people around us think about us. Even if we reluctantly think towards the bright side, it would be very difficult to think that this is just a meeting of high school students. I increasingly felt that compared to a situation like now, SOS Brigade appears much more normal.

Tachibana Kyoko, who first started talking, broke the ice again.

"This would be it. I believe you would have heard of it from Koizumi-kun as well right? The matter about Suzumiya-san creating this world about four years ago. She has a strange power, and yet is not conscious of it herself, unknowingly creating Closed Spaces. Koizumi-kun and the rest were suddenly awakened and formed the 'Organization' which continued till now. Suzumiya-san kept having her wishes come true, bringing aliens and time travelers to her side. But, my companions and myself believe that this power should lie with Sasaki-san."

It is just purely thoughts after all. Thinking has no shackles to limit it anyway. But it will be different if actual events had already occurred. This is a country governed by law, and kidnapping is a major offense.

"Regarding that incident, I would like to apologize. But, this doesn't seem very likely to succeed right from the start due to strong interference from the future. It is only an attempt. I have no plans of succeeding at all, but at least it is not fruitless, since we can inform you of our existence. This is considered a great step forward already."

If I am the moon, I would probably be wondering "why are you leaving strange footprints on me?".

"Four years ago."

Tachibana Kyoko narrated the events as if she is telling her friends something that happened in the television serial shown yesterday.

"I suddenly felt that I had received some form of power without any omen. It is something that I had knowledge suddenly. Since I do not know the reason, I would much less know why me. What I know is that I am not the only one turning this way, there are other companions too, and this originated from one person."

That shining pair of eyes casted beside me.

"And that is Sasaki-san. Even before I thought about it, I already knew you are the person who granted me the powers. I immediately started looking everywhere for Sasaki-san, on the way meeting my companions. Everyone has the same belief as me."

I recalled the members of the kidnapping syndicate who got off the van.

"Just when we are discussing whether we should make contact with Sasaki-san, and if we were, how, there was something very strange. I don't know why, but there seemed to be another group very similar to ours, and those people are very similar to us too. However, they seemed to be concentrating on a person that is not Sasaki-san."

And that is the 'Organization'?

"Yes, they are the ones who treat Suzumiya-san with godlike status. And conflicts broke out between us, thinking that their opinion is wrong. In order to correct them, we met them many times as well. And yet they said we are in the wrong and refused to believe us no matter what. We are unable to accept their views, much less for them to do the same. Finally we talked about breaking off......"

Tachibana Kyoko nonchalantly looked afar before turning her gaze back quickly.

"Since then we have not met at all."

"And after that?"

I said. Could there be any more views?

"So, I wanted to ask you how would you want it?"

This representative from a faction opposing the 'Organization' let out a huge sigh.

"We firmly believe the powers Suzumiya-san are holding onto now originally belonged to Sasaki-san. However there must be a mistake somewhere that caused it to transfer to another person. And therefore, I hope to change things back to how it was. In that case, the world will definitely move in a much better direction."

After that, she looked at me straight.

"I hope to have your help."

"Sasaki."

I escaped from her line of sight.

"Whatever this fellow said, what are your views?"

"I do not wish to have these unknown powers."

Sasaki spoke with a voice of clarity.

"Although it is not something to be proud of, not only am I an introvert, I am also a below average mortal. Even if I acquire those humongous and unexplainable powers that are beyond imagination, it will only wither with time. I will definitely end up with some mental problem. Hey, it is better if it can be avoided."

"She said that." I said. "Even the person said that herself, why don't you just give up?"

"Do you seriously feel it is better to leave things this way?" Tachibana Kyoko showed no sign of retreating. "Do you seriously wish to have Suzumiya-san in control of these powers? Even in the future? In that case, you wanted to be fooled around with by Haruhi for the rest of your life? Do you know that this does not only concern you, but it is everything in this entire world that will be fooled around with by her!"

That gaze full of urgency turned towards Sasaki.

"I would like to invite Sasaki-san to reconsider. Compared to Suzumiya-san, you are more suitable. This is something that would never be wrong. You do not have to worry about anything. You just have to continue living in this world unknowingly. I am very sure that Sasaki-san would not twist the world upside-down. I know you can do that."

Sasaki fixated her gaze upon me. That smile that seemed to be asking me "Really?" is again totally similar to the one I've seen in middle school.

My head started to ache. I also know that Tachibana Kyoko is very serious regarding this issue and very candid about it as well. Whatever she wanted to say, I have understood to the extent of being impossible to understand further.

If there is a need to make an assumption, Haruhi is like a time bomb, except without the timing readout. Even the timer is totally random, impossible to predict. And thus an explosion cannot be predicted as well. A person like her, for some reason, had the mystical power to control the world. Unless one has the benevolence of Sakyamuni Buddha [8] or Jesus Christ, would be unable to bear with it.

But, this is a conclusion that is made under the circumstance that she is not aware of the aforementioned.

I understand it very well, so does Koizumi, Nagato and Asahina-san. But, that girl does not know about it all. It is just like this, it is just a very straightforward and innocent problem like this.

I faced Tachibana Kyoko again.

"I am of course able to understand your theory, but what do you plan to do now? No matter how one thinks about it, Haruhi indeed has the ability to defy all laws and realize wishes to a certain extent, although it isn't a good thing. For example, making cherry blossoms bloom during autumn and things like that. But, doesn't Sasaki have such a power now? Wouldn't that be impossible then? No matter how you insist that Sasaki is a god or something, the reality would not change."

Haruhi would usually not really let her subconscious drift too far from reality. You can even say they do have a bit of logic if you look at them differently. The most is her use of wish papers in temples to bind me to a lowly position in the Brigade. That person seems to love this current world quite a lot as well, and would no longer do strange things to destroy it already. As for Closed Spaces and Celestials, it is only a shortcut for Koizumi to earn some extra pocket money, not really something of great danger.

"It is really so."

Tachibana Kyoko changed to an expression of sadness.

"Although it is really so, but I always felt that Sasaki-san would be more suitable. You might understand Suzumiya-san very well, but you should understand Sasaki-san equally well right? After all the amount of time spent together is about the same too."

Third year middle school and first year high school would of course be very similar from a timely perspective. But, the closeness is different. I did not form some strange brigade together with Sasaki to waste time outside school, as for the amount of conversations, Haruhi wins by scoring an ippon [9]. She always sits behind me in class and slaves me around in the Literature Club clubroom after school. This is an unchanged rule since the formation of the brigade. And while I had activities with the SOS Brigade, there is a one year gap where I had no form of communication with Sasaki. Even if I had a habit of maintaining very good relations with an old friend, I can't possibly just leave the current activity grounds like this. Not only Haruhi, Nagato, Asahina-san and Koizumi had been with me for so long, I also help them sometimes. Even if for that three brigade members, I cannot possibly change Haruhi to other people, and do not wish to.

Even if one recalls that Haruhi is a mysterious bomb that puts any ideas popping into her mind right into action, I cannot possibly just leave her alone like this. I haven't even shown her the trump card yet. Won't that be an opportunity to show the better side of myself in a major crisis?

"And I think Sasaki would not agree. I think it is better if you stop now. Koizumi would still be okay, but if you do anything to irritate Nagato, Haruhi will explode in a chain reaction. At that time, I do not know what would happen."

"And that is why I hope to deactivate Haruhi's powers so that you all would not have to worry all day."

Tachibana Kyoko put her palms together, as if praying.

"We are not even thinking of our own benefit, just look at Koizumi-kun, just maintaining the status quo is already so difficult, but if it is Sasaki-san, there would not be a need to. I am really hoping from my heart for stability in the world."

"Even if you put it this way I can't help it at all."

Sasaki let out a small sigh, and turned towards the direction of the counter.

"Our hot coffee is coming way too slowly."

She fiddled with the ice cube in her glass with her fingers while acting nonchalantly.

"Kyon, I suddenly have a query. Grade school student, middle school student, high school student, university student...... Of all these names, why is the high school student written differently from the rest? Is this something worth thinking about......" [10]

"Sasaki-san!"

Tachibana Kyoko seemingly hurriedly screamed out loud, but immediately lowered her head, embarrassed. She seemed really disheartened. I am starting to sympathize with her. You really found the wrong target. Although to me it could be a little...... but Sasaki, among my friends, is someone who is very normal. She is not the kind of idiot who would agree immediately when others ask whether she wanted to be a god.

Hey, I am sounding more intelligent already.

If Sasaki is still Sasaki, then no matter whom she must go against, she would never agree. Tachibana Kyoko seemed to have found the wrong person. She is not this kind of person.

I used my fingers to point at the other two who just listened without contributing: Fujiwara and Kuyoh and said.

"What do they think then? I know you wish to make Sasaki god, but what do your companions think? Have they reached a consensus too?"

Of course, the reason that I would ask something like this is because judging from the expressions on the two weirdoes, I predict that they did not really take Tachibana Kyoko's opinion to heart. Fujiwara seemed really bored while looking at that cold glass, Kuyoh did not look at anything, just staring at the ceiling with a look of blankness.

Tachibana Kyoko, with her brain drooped low, looked left and right through the gaps between the strand of her hair, upon seeing no response from the time traveler and the alien, drooped even lower.

"Oh yeah, this is one of the difficulties as well. They have no interest in cooperating too."

After hearing Tachibana Kyoko's voice that sounded like she is about to cry, Fujiwara laughed in an irritating way.

"That is obvious. You talk about cooperating? I am not going to stoop as low as to work with the people in this time frame. I only came here after considering that I might be able to contribute to this time frame. Turns out there isn't much to expect."

Listening to his kind of tone, if Tachibana Kyoko does get angry I will help to chip in a few words as well. He continued.

"It doesn't matter whoever it is. Whether it is Suzumiya or Sasaki, if we only consider the natural occurrences, there will be no difference at all. Individual humans do not have great value. The power of extracting the time, the power of changing the universe, we just have to take note of these. As long as the power exists, it doesn't matter whose hands it is in."

"You should think so too right?"

Kuyoh did not give any response to the time traveler. Her fluffy hair having no sign of movement in the slight breeze from the air conditioning, she remains dazed beyond imagination, sitting on the chair, feeling as if she doesn't even know where she is. Is this fellow really in front of me? Even if she is sitting in front like this, her presence is now thinner than the word thin can define and is nearing zero. Don't know if I should say that she lacked thickness, I think even the electronic monitoring system at a construction site has more life than her.

Just as the atmosphere is once again threatened to be enveloped by silence.......

"Hmph! You all are really......!"

Tachibana Kyoko whizzed up and snatched the first word.

"Stretch your hands out."

She had her gaze upon me with seriousness.

"Instead of using words, it would be easier to just let you experience it for yourself. In that case you will care about what I say. Just a while will do. Stretch your hands out."

Just as if she wanted me to look at her hand, she stretched out her smooth and supple hands.

Just as I wanted to check if I am drowning, pondering whether I should hold onto her hands as well, Sasaki touched me with her shoulders.

"Kyon, please just follow Tachibana Kyoko-san's instructions."

I stretched out my right hand. Tachibana Kyoko's moisturized fingers held onto my palms and proceeded with a further request.

"Close your eyes. It will be over in a minute."

I reminiscenced this familiar feeling while I followed her instructions. My lightly closed eyes can sense the brightness of a light, the ears that became more sensitive due to decreased sight picked up sounds that are not noise but that of classical music. This piece should be by Johannes Brahms [11].

But......

"You can open your eyes now."

The emergence of the voice of Tachibana Kyoko matches the time when the background music disappears.

I slowly opened my eyes.

I could see Tachibana Kyoko with a smile, holding onto my hand. There is only Tachibana Kyoko.

My surroundings are in complete silence. There is no Sasaki, no Kuyoh and no Fujiwara. Other patrons and staff had disappeared elsewhere. Just like a mass disappearance, just like Mary Celeste, everything disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Tachibana Kyoko and I sat at the same spot on the table, still holding onto each other's hand.

"What......"

My eyes started moving by themselves. In the ambient lighting of this café, there is only the two of us left in this empty shell. What exactly happened here? Just when I wanted to say that, I suddenly felt a sensation of having experienced this before, and at the same time recalling it. A clone of the same place, nobody around...

"Closed Spaces......"

"So this is how Koizumi-kun calls it."

Tachibana Kyoko let go of my hand and whizzed herself up.

"Although we cannot exactly describe it as a visit, but why don't we take a walk outside?"

Tachibana Kyoko, like a fish in water, invited me outside.

My heart thought that just sitting down would not help much either and so I agreed. I haven't been to a Closed Space for a while already. In fact, I had only come twice, once with Koizumi and the other with Haruhi. This is the third time, and it seems a lot like the one Koizumi sent me to by cab.

I walked beside Tachibana Kyoko and watched how naturally the electronic sliding glass door opened. This is like how it is usually too. I don't know what the theory behind it is, but for some reason, there is electricity in this world too.

Walking outside, the first thing I did was to look up at the skies.

The rain has stopped. Wait, there is not even a cloud. The sky is not in a shade of gray. It seems there is no sun too, the light looks like it is part of the sky. The entire world seems to be enveloped in a foggy radiance.

"Walk for a bit."

Even though the entire street has nobody at all, giving me the vibes of a ghost town, it did not really have such a huge blow on me. This is exactly as how Koizumi had described.

The difference is......

I had previously entered two Closed Spaces, both of which are covered in darkness. Although it could be because it is night, but I still remember the sights in that world with clarity.

However, this world is filled with creamy whiteness: milky white on top of a rarely-seen radiance. Compared to the Closed Space in my memory this seemed much more cheerful.

There is an even bigger difference. No matter how one turns his or her head, there are no lifeforms around. Those huge and alienate lifeforms can't be missed by the eye so easily.

"Hehe" Tachibana Kyoko turned her head back. "Hm. You are right. There wouldn't be such things around here, and they do not even exist at all. This is my top recommendation. This is a good place right?"

Grayish-white monsters, rash and destructive-prone lifeforms, are the result of Haruhi's subconsciousness.

"There are no Celestials here, and there are no signs of them appearing. This is what my five senses are telling me. This Closed Space does not have anything that will threaten its existence."

"Isn't this a Closed Space?"

"It is a Closed Space? It is the same kind of dimension as you know."

Tachibana Kyoko seemed very happy to tell me this and continued.

"It is just that the creator of this world is different. This is not a world constructed by Suzumiya-san."

Other than Haruhi who has the ability to create such a world......

"Yup. It is Sasaki-san. This is Sasaki-san's Closed Space. But, we do not feel any sensation of being closed at all. Let's put it this way, it is like the same dish made by different people. The personality and character of the person will affect the taste right?"

She sounded like a housing agent selling this property to me as she said the following.

"I just felt that this place gives a very comfortable feeling. You can feel the air of stability and friendliness right? How do you feel? There and here, which side lets you feel more secure?

"Wait a moment."

If I have to chose between living in either of them, I would chose none.

"You meant the space created by Sasaki-san? What is the reason? When is it? Why are there no Celestials? Why does this world exist?"

"No reason at all." She continued with a more relaxed tone. "This world is not a time-limited toy model. It always remains this way, existing ever since it started. Yes, since four years ago. The reason there are no Celestials, is because there is no reason for them to exist, because there is no need to destroy at all."

No matter how hard I look, I am unable to find a bird flying in the sky. All my ears can pick up are absolute silence.

"This is a very big difference. Sasaki-san did not have any thought of destroying or recreating this world. For Sasaki-san's consciousness, the outside or inside remains unwavered and is stabilized. This is indeed an ideal state. Even if she is unsatisfied with the reality, she would never attempt to reject the reality but let everything go with the flow."

The only thing I can hear is the voice of this teenage girl.

"I will ask you again. Which do you prefer? A god that may accidentally destroy the world, or a god with general knowledge that may not do anything, but does not attempt to destroy it either?"

I suddenly felt like defending Haruhi for a bit. Actually she has plenty of general knowledge. Just that a screw becomes loose once in a while. At the end of all of it, she is still a normal woman. Although I do not know how she was in the past, the current Haruhi already knows how to live within the reality. Although she complicates things sometimes, she would never cause UFOs to rain from the sky.

One thing that can definitely be confirmed is that she will no longer recreate the world.

"You sure are confident of yourself. I feel that the things Suzumiya-san thinks subconsciously are things that nobody knows. Not even Koizumi-kun nor the time traveler."

Tachibana Kyoko clasped both her hands together behind her body and turned around to face me.

"Because even I don't know, and that is why I am feeling uneasy. But there would be no problem if it is Sasaki-san. You would know if you look at this place. There are no elements of instability at all."

The smile she revealed is sprinkled with generous amounts of cuteness.

"And so I believe Sasaki-san is the true holder of the power. The reason for that is as above. For Suzumiya-san to become this way, someone must have made a mistake somewhere to cause this.

The superpower of unknown origin held by Haruhi, bestowing upon Koizumi his esper powers, attracted the attention of outer-spatial origin, according to the words of Asahina-san, considered as the mysterious cause to the major time quake.

If all these things occur on Sasaki as well......? What would happen to the influence of the current SOS Brigade?

Totally unimaginable.

In order to chase away this unthinkable thought, I shook my head about.

"So," I finally regained my voice. "What do you want me to do? Do you want me to transplant the powers from Haruhi to Sasaki? How is that possible?"

Tachibana Kyoko looked at me seriously for a while before breaking into her jovial laugh.

"It is not impossible. As long as you are willing to assist us, we can do it. It would be possible if Sasaki-san and you are agreeable. We only wish for so much. Isn't it simple?"

She made a leap backward.

"Let's return to the café. Our union for today shall end here. And I believe you need some time to reconsider."

Talking about that, what exactly were we doing? We were originally sitting on the chairs at the café, and suddenly came out here, what exactly does Sasaki and the rest see us doing?

Just when I wanted to raise this concern, Tachibana Kyoko is already briskly making her way back where we came from. Thinking about it, a guy and a girl existing in this empty world together is indeed a bit problematic. Although it is not time to mind such stuff, but I do not wish to stay too long either. This place is really too quiet. If there are Celestials around, there would at least be some buzz to speak of and help to divert some attention away. What exactly happened? Why am I actually missing such things? Is my mind alright?

After the teenage girl's body entered the electronic glass sliding door for a few seconds, I am back in the café as well. Heck, I cannot even smell a hint of coffee anywhere.

"Sit down quickly."

Tachibana Kyoko returned to her original seat: between the trio, and put her hand on the table. I also returned to that seat still with my body temperature.

"Please close your eyes and stretch your hands out."

If I open my eyes, what exactly would I see? I thought about this while putting my hands on hers and closed my eyes, focusing all my attention on my sense of hearing.

Tachibana Kyoko applied some slight pressure on my fingers......

And immediately let go. Right at that instant, my sense of hearing returned. No, it should be that the world is revived.

Johannes Brahms playing in the background, slight pitter-pattering sounds from the rain outside. The rich aroma of the coffee beans, as well as the human flow, gushed into my five senses altogether. I opened my eyes.

Sasaki raised her eyebrows and said.

"Hey, you are back...... There should be nothing wrong with saying this right?"

I took a close look at the surroundings. Fujiwara calmly supported his cheeks with his hands, Kuyoh's sleepy face shows no response, Tachibana Kyoko in the middle of the two of them is moistening her throat with the ice water. I then raised my previous query to Sasaki.

"What was I doing just now?"

"Nothing much." Sasaki turned her wrists over and took a look at the watch. "You two only closed your eyes for ten seconds, Tachibana-san and your hand constantly grasping each others' the entire time."

She used that hand to touch her lips.

"So, what did you see? That supposed subconscious world of mine?"

"Hm."

Although not very willing, I still nodded for confirmation. If it isn't a hallucination, it could be considered a look. But in the ten seconds through Sasaki's eyes, both Tachibana Kyoko and I did not disappear. This is a point which I cannot understand."

"Any thoughts about it?"

"Not really."

"I thought so too."

Sasaki laughed jovially.

"How embarrassing. It felt as if you peeped at my inner thoughts."

"Sasaki-san", Tachibana Kyoko put down her glass cup. "No matter how I think about it, I still think you are the most suitable. Can you look at this more positively?"

"Hmm, how shall I put it......"

Sasaki looked at me with her head slightly inclined.

"Kyon, what do you think? That so-called mysterious superpower. Is it something that would be no problem even if I had it?"

It is not something that can be determined to be good or bad, and why must you ask me?

If we speak by intuition, even if Sasaki had that incredible yet strange superpower, it is unlikely that she would activate her powers just because of the unhappiness with the score in baseball, and not turn events in the movie into reality, not making August repeat endlessly, as well as not suddenly digging out a cultural artifact right? At the same time, she wouldn't wear a bunny girl costume and replace an injured senior and perform on stage nor argue with the student council president.

No, those things do not really matter. The root of this issue is that it is not only Sasaki that is involved here.

I cast a glance of nonchalantness to the other side of the table.

Time traveler Fujiwara and the other two.

You want me to cooperate with them? There should be a limit to cracking jokes. That time traveler who laughed at Asahina-san's name and that Asahina-san kidnapper. The other one is the person involved in the Snow Mountain incident, eventually leading to the collapse of Nagato.

Things like this still have to be considered?

Although I still want to remain good friends with Sasaki, if I were to work with this gang, not only will my body and soul not get tranquility, it might even move very far away from zero, right into the negatives.

In order to express such a thought clearly, I took in a deep breath.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

Just when I wanted to open my mouth, the waitress came towards our table with four cups in a tray.

Thus I paused for a while and fell into silence together with the rest.

This happens during normal conversations, much less during talk about things like this. Things like this had better not be heard by people uninvolved.

As silence enveloped everyone, the clanking of the cups and the plates are especially pronounced. The first cup of hot coffee appeared in front of Sasaki, then me, Tachibana Kyoko and finally Kuyoh......

"Piak."

Unfolding in front of our eyes is a shocking scene.

Kuyoh, who had never moved since the start, actually reached out to touch the wrists of the female waitress.

I did not notice what time she moved her hand. In fact I could not even feel her moving. But Kuyoh is tightly holding onto the wrists of the female waitress, and what's more the hand carrying the tray with the cup of coffee to be placed on the table still on it.

She fixed her gaze at the front without any change in expression, not moving other than the one hand.

"......Ah?"

I opened my mouth wide like an idiot.

What is even more shocking is the cup in the tray the waitress is holding onto should have spilled some coffee, but there is not even a drip of it spilled out. From the sound produced just now, the impact should have been pretty strong.

Why......

I immediately understood.

"How may I help you?"

The waitress revealed a gentle smile, not showing any sign of disgruntledness or uneasiness. From the eyes of others, this is a very normal smile. But what I saw behind that façade was a sense of coldness similar to that of an icicle. This is not without reason. For that person's face is very familiar to me.

"Emiri-senpai......"

I produced a sound that sounded more like a groan.

"...... What are you doing here?"

"Hello."

With an apron covering the front of her chest, Emiri Kimidori-san is just like occasionally meeting one of the juniors in high school. And that is like the situation now: greeting each other nonchalantly. That tone that lacked sluggishness, it is unbelievable that an alien of unknown origin is currently holding onto the wrist of a living humanoid interface. Although I do not wish to use real life experience to confirm the strength of the grip of Kuyoh, it appears that it seemed much stronger than normal strength, and Kuyoh did not seem to bother about Tachibana Kyoko and Sasaki, who are staring in disbelief, and achieved a feat only non-humans can achieve: to not move any part of the body, including the girls' school uniform, other than her hands.

"I am really sorry, miss."

Emiri-senpai said to Kuyoh, who had already turned into an inanimate object that does not make any sound.

"Can you please let go of me? If you don't, I am not able to serve your order."

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

Her eyes looked like those of goldfish, not even blinking at all and to put it crudely, not even looking anywhere in particular.

"Miss", Emiri-senpai's voice sounded like a shepherd somehow, "I beg of you, you should understand what I am saying right......"

I seemed to have heard the two of them producing sounds of charcoal burning in the boiler. Am I the only one who heard that?

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

Kuyoh slowly loosened her grip. From the pinky finger to the thumb, just like worms slowly leaving Emiri-senpai's wrist one by one, and moving even more slowly back to the knees.

"Thank you." While holding onto the cup of coffee, Emiri-senpai bowed politely, before putting the cup in front of Kuyoh. Seeing Kuyoh resuming her doll-like state, I finally let out a huge sigh of relief while asking.

"What are you doing here, Emiri-senpai?"

"I am working part-time."

I knew that just by looking. If you are not working here you would obviously not be wearing an apron and bringing the coffee over. I wanted to know why you are working here suddenly as this question captivates more of my interest than the location of where the Tsar hid his gold [12].

But Emiri-senpai nonchalantly left a subpoena on the table while speaking to me in a soft tone.

"Please keep this a secret from the president. Because the student council's rules state that working part-time is prohibited."

And it is okay for Nagato? No, compared to that......

"Please enjoy your meal."

Both of our responses still remain unsynchronized. Emiri-senpai left with the tray very quickly. Looking at how skilled she is at the job, it seems as if she had been working here since three years ago. Had she always been the one bringing us our cold drinks and taking our orders? The reason for not noticing till now could be because one person becomes insignificant in such a large crowd kind of theory, or some influence coming from space...... if there really is one. I think it should be the latter. If Kuyoh can do it, I am afraid Emiri-senpai can do it too.

"Who is she?"

Regarding Sasaki's question......

"A... senior from my school."

I can only answer this way. Just when I am comparing Kuyoh's apparently extremely eye-catching and yet attracted nobody's attention's looks to Emiri-senpai, who is skillfully pouring tea for newly-arrived customers......

"Hehe."

Someone let out a strange laughter, seemingly from being unable to hold it back any longer. That is Fujiwara. He curled his full-of-sarcasm lips.

"Hahaha, I had indeed seen something interesting. This is what I call a farce [13] among the farce. Wahaha, isn't this something that could only be seen once in a lifetime? What an interesting farce. Haha."

I am really tempted to just pour the coffee on his face, but this time traveler seemed really amused. If he is not in front of me I think he would probably hug his stomach laughing. In fact, his body has started quivering from all that laughing.

Tachibana Kyoko with her face filled with astonishment slowly changed it to that of giving up, as if being unable to keep up with the speed of development of things and shrugged her shoulders. Sasaki and I checked each other's responses, wordlessly inquiring what exactly Fujiwara's response meant. But since there is no answer in the first place, it is naturally impossible to have an answer to that. Kuyoh's ashen white face is being covered by the rising fumes from the cup.

Due to the sudden addition of the part-timer Emiri-senpai, the trio other than Kuyoh and Fujiwara (including me) are totally astonished. Just as I was getting bored facing this time traveler who produced disgusting laughing sounds while recalling the matter and the alien lifeform who totally ignored the steaming coffee in front of her, remaining static without moving an inch like a broken ore radio......

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

Kuyoh suddenly stood up without any warning, moving without a sound and in regular steps at a standard unrivaled by even the most skilful ninja towards the automatic sliding glass door. It is indeed an industrialized tool, although the people around cannot detect her, the sensory mechanism in the machinery managed to and the door immediately opened with a zoom sound. Kuyoh did not forget to bring her umbrella she bought from the convenience store back with her, and she finally disappeared to somewhere unknown. Maybe she sensed the anger among the few of us. But, what exactly is this fellow here for?

"Me too......"

Tachibana Kyoko revealed a smile that is strong-willed despite appearing tired.

"I am really a little tired today, so I shall go now. I actually wanted to talk more. Sasaki-san, I may have to trouble you next time. Ah, I will settle the bill here. It is alright. I would like to really thank you all today."

She stood up and walked towards the counter and told the staff something about "Please issue me a receipt, just round up the numbers" or something like that and paid before waving to us and finally opened the umbrella and carried it home in the drizzle.

I am also very unhappy after being taken as a joke by the time traveler and thus decided to leave. I still want to return to my bedroom for my nap together with Shamisen.

"Goodbye, Sasaki."

"Hm." Sasaki calmly raised her head to look at me and said, "I think I will be contacting you soon, I also know that this caused you trouble. But Kyon, I really do not want this matter to drag on for too long. Plus the next national mock examinations are coming up soon, it is better to clear these things quickly."

"Fully agreed."

I agreed with this opinion from the bottom of my heart. Lucky it is you, the same Sasaki I know from middle school.

Fujiwara also somehow managed to resume wearing his uncaring expression while listening to our conversation, but did not comment in the end nor do anything that would make me uncomfortable. Although I am a bit mindful of the sudden appearance of Emiri-senpai that seemed more to astonish me, but once I think that she probably came here to observe Kuyoh, it becomes understandable. If the person facing Kuyoh is Nagato I am afraid she would not be able to control herself as well, and that Asakura Ryoko did not come back to life, is really wonderful. After all, something like having a small knife piercing my body, even in my topsy-turvy life, is one of those experiences that I would reject totally.

Because I left the café just like this, I have no idea what Sasaki and Fujiwara talked about.

I do not wish to know either, that was how it was at that time.

(Volume 9 Chapter 2 End)

Return to Main Page

Back to Chapter 1

Forward to Chapter 3