Knock knock.

It was the sound of someone knocking on the door of the literature club room, which Suzumiya Haruhi had, roughly one years ago, requisitioned to be the headquarter of the Spreading Excitement All Over the World with Suzumiya Haruhi Brigade, abbreviated as the SOS Brigade.

"Come in!"

Haruhi spoke in a loud voice, without even looking up from whatever she was doing on the computer.

"I apologize for my intrusion."

Some girl I do not recognize walked through the door. With long black hair that almost reached her waist, she gave off the impression of a classic Japanese beauty. She must have been a freshman since she was wearing a North High girl's uniform.

"Is this the SOS brigade?"

"Yes it is! What do you want."

Upon the mention of the SOS brigade, Haruhi finally bothered to take her eyes off the computer monitor to take a look at the freshman, who was wearing a poker face that betrayed no signs of any emotion.

Is she one of your comrade?

I took a look at Nagato Yuki, hoping that she could somehow divine my question. However, the resident alien of the SOS Brigade did not even lift her eyes off her book. I knew from experience that everyone who approaches the SOS Brigade of his or her own volition has some sort of ulterior motive involving Haruhi, so I was a bit wary even though she was quite attractive. After all I had a near-death experience involving a pretty girl who tried to kill me with a knife while wearing a smile on her face.

"I am Akemi Homura. I am hoping that I can join the SOS Brigade."

I know it. Come to think of it, wasn't Haruhi complaining about how there wasn't any new members in the Brigade? There was Watahashi Yasumi, but she turned out to be an ineligible middle schooler, or according to Koizumi, a manifestation of Haruhi's subconscious created to protect the SOS Brigade from the threats posed by the anti-SOS Brigade.

"Oh? How come you weren't here for the club recruitment exercise?"

Haruhi finally became interested in the newcomer.

"I did not have the opportunity, since I am a transfer student who only arrived during the earlier part of the week."

"Do you know what the SOS brigade is about? And why do you want to join?"

"To find aliens, time travelers and espers, and befriend them. It is a very interesting activity. I would especially like to befriend some time travelers or espers."

"Not aliens?"

"Sorry I do not like aliens. It is something personal; please do not inquire further."

Whoa that's discrimination Akemi-san. I have some bad experience with aliens too, but you can't lump all aliens together. Nagato-san here is definitely a good alien!

Haruhi turned towards me.

"Kyon, where did we put the excess Brigade exams?"

"Huh? How should I know. Didn't you handle all aspect of the application process?"

Haruhi can be so unreasonable at times.

"Argh! you're so useless. Why do I have to do everything."

Taking a piece of paper lying around, Haruhi quickly jot down the content of the brigade examination from memory and handed it over to Akemi-san, who took it dutifully and began to fill it out.

Akemi-san was dismissed and told to come back tomorrow for the second stage of the brigade entrance examination.

"So what do you think? Honestly I wasn't expecting anyone to want to join at this time. The answers are a bit boring too."

After looking over the exam paper, Haruhi turned towards us and passed the exam paper over.

The content of the exam:

Name: Akemi Homura

Class: 1-2

Q1: What was the aspiration behind the formation of the SOS Brigade?
To find aliens, time travelers and espers, and befriend them, as well as other interesting activities.

Q2: What can you contribute to the SOS Brigade?
I am multi-talented and can do just about everything.

Q3: Out of aliens, time-travelers, sliders and espers, which do you like best?
Time-travelers.

Q4: Why do you like them the best?
The burdens of a time-traveler are great.

Q5: Write down a personal encounter with something mysterious.
No comment.

Q6: Write down your favorite idiom.
If you don't succeed, cheat and try and try again.

Q7: If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?
I will become a god.

Q8: Last question. Please express your resolve in wanting to join the SOS Brigade.
I am determined to join; I will do whatever is required so that I can join.

Extra: If you brought an item you like very much, here's an opportunity to earn some bonus points. Please bring the item to me.
Understood.

"Her replies are interesting."

Koizumi gave a uncommitted response. I glanced around the room. Nagato was still absorbed in her book and did not look like she was interested in Akemi-san in any way. Asahina-san looked confused and did not look like she had anything to contribute, so I guess it was up to me to say something to our supreme overlord. And maybe this was where all the trouble started.

"Didn't you complain about how it was pathetic that we didn't get any new members? We should give her a try."

After Haruhi dismissed the rest of the brigade, took her bags and went home, I finally found the opportunity to ask the rest of the brigade what I wanted to know.

"Koizumi, Asahina-san. Is Akemi-san part of your group?"

"Nope. I would certainly notify you before any members of the Organization do something like this."

Koizumi replied with his trademark smile on his face. Meanwhile Asahina-san mumbled meekly.

"Um...probably not...you see I don't know every agent that get dispatched to this time plane...and they won't tell me anything anyways...besides [classified] is [classified] and..."

"What about you, Nagato-san? Is she a humanoid interface of yours?"

I would not have known what to do if Akemi-san was another humanoid interface. Kimidori-san was alright, but someone like Asakura Ryoko was genuinely scary. And the one interface of the Sky Canopy Dominion that I knew was scary in a different way.

"She is neither an interface of the Integrated Data Sentient Entity nor an interface of the Sky Canopy Dominion."

Nagato finally spoke.

"So she's just a normal human then."

I felt relieved.

"Inconclusive."

Nagato's next response was rather unexpected.

"The Integrated Data Sentient Entity failed to come to an agreement on the issue."

"Wait what? Then what is she then?"

"Insufficient data."

Oh boy. I should have known; I should have known better. No one who approaches Haruhi out of his or her own volition is ordinary.

"Koizumi, can the Organization..."

I made a request to Koizumi, but he already knew what I wanted.

"They're already on it. The Organization will conduct a detailed background check on her. I can probably tell you if there is anything amiss tomorrow."