"Hey, Kyon?"

Haruhi began asking me from behind, my neck prickling in response.

What is it now? You already mentioned how I should go about becoming Rudolph with a green nose instead of a red one so what other nonsense is going to spring out of your mouth?

"Have you ever wondered where 'if you're bad Santa'll give you coal instead of presents' came from? It's so stupid since the kids still get the gifts anyway even if they were the worst children on this planet."

How could you say that if you're one of those children?

While Haruhi was pointlessly rambling about meaningless things I started to drift about, my eyes wondering along the window sill. It was the day of the infamous Christmas party that Haruhi had announced only seven days in advance, leaving those with the minds of a bear in hibernation to feel left out.

I nodded at whatever came out of Haruhi's lips.

"Hey, are you even listening?"

Ever the mind reader, Haruhi? Haruhi puckered her lips like a sick duck who had been stuck in ice for over a month. I decided to answer her pointless question about Old Saint Nick with modesty.

"Sure, I get you."

"No you don't."

I groaned as Haruhi waved her finger around as if it was her magic wand.

"Kyon, you need to realize the truths about reality or else you won't get anywhere in life! That's why finding out why such a stupid saying would ever be invented should be a priority! That's what the SOS Brigade's about, haven't I told you this already?"

I'm not sure if finding aliens, time travelers, espers, or some truth about an unimportant statement made by the commercial industry of the modern world as "realizing the truths about reality".

Unless her sixth sense was kicking in again.

Which it probably was.

And I still don't really get what the Brigade is about. Are you still sure about your statement just now?

Haruhi grumbled as she sat back in her chair and breathed onto the glass.

"Whatever. I just wanted you to have more spirit. Reindeers aren't suppose to nag, they're suppose to guide Santa in the sky, get it?"

I thought they were just some sub-species of the moose that lived in the far north not a guided missile. Haruhi smirked as if she had just thought of either another costume that Asahina-san could wear or another way to unleash her unconscious powers onto the world, God forbid. However, she didn't say anything so I decided to let the fire die out before I got third degree burns. Okabe walked up to the front of the room and class got silent.

After school, Haruhi ran ahead screaming something about "getting the hot pot ready". You of course know the rest of what happened that Christmas eve night, reindeer humiliation, a hot pot that could blow off the top of Mont. Fuji - trash and all, and a New Years trip that would probably have that trash be thrown onto.

Otherwise it was a normal Brigade activity.

I retired home, seeing my little sister spring up from below me carrying a helpless Shamisen. At the rate she wears him down, I wouldn't be surprised if he was turned into a Shamisen.

"Christmas letter for Kyon-kun! What, oh what, could it be, Shami~?"

She began humming another tuneless tune, shoving a letter into my hand then spinning in circles along with Shamisen. May your nine lives rest in peace but just make sure you don't cling onto me for support. I remembered that I still needed to clip your claws.

I went into my room with Shamisen chasing after me, leaving me in silence.

I sighed as I collapsed onto my bed holding that letter up to the light.

Right on Chrismas Eve, that's just like her.

I opened it without hesitating, seeing a simple white card with a snow flake on the front. This type of card would be expected from Nagato – maybe Haruhi. It was very normal and dull. I slid it in my fingers, opening the card expecting a wall of text to come spilling out at me.

No such text existed. Only three lines existed.

"Have a Merry Christmas, Kyon. Here's my number xxx-xxxx, please write back with your own number. I feel as if you haven't been communicating with me as much as before.

Sasaki."

For some reason, the sudden joy I had found with the hot pot spectacular had suddenly drifted away leaving me at square one again. If I was even square to begin with. I dropped my hand that had suddenly gotten heavy and loosened it's muscles with a long sigh.

Sasaki . . . you have a way of making me feel guilty don't you? That's what you had been doing the whole time during middle school. . . Before I could think up my response, my sister burst through the door.

"Santa's letter, Santa's letter! All right!"

And so began my sister's epic struggle to create the letter that Santa had always wanted to see, the letter that would strike tears in his eyes as he ate the cookies that served as bait and bribery.

I wondered what my parents would come up with this year?

My sister hummed as she scrawled on her paper singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and other related songs.

After she finished, I had completely forgotten about what I would write back to Sasaki. I pulled out an empty cheap card that came in little packs and wrote the brief response "Merry Chrismas too. Hope it was great." And completely forgot to finish whatever I was going to write next. Looking back at the letter would be too much of a hassle.

Oh well, can't live on regrets now can I?

The next morning was Christmas morning. My parent's ninja job had been completed with my sister going unawares once again. I got nothing of any real importance or anything I considered a rare memorable. Just stuff that was convenient. If I didn't know otherwise, I was probably getting cold coals along with fiery flames. My sister gasped at everything she unwrapped as if it was really from a fat old man with serious facial hair issues.

Next year will probably be the same. . .

I suddenly got a call from, you guessed it, Haruhi.

"Met us at the station at ten sharp. Don't be late."

Didn't you tell me this yesterday when we left?

"Yeah but you'd probably skip out since it's a holiday."

I would probably forget about every holiday if you weren't there nagging about every one that flew past us. Oh, and you still forgot about Halloween.

"That doesn't count alright!"

Before I could retort she hung up.

Hugs and kisses Haruhi . . .

Who knew that this generation of kids were so serious? They might've chuckled a little at my failed attempts at comedy but it almost looked like they were laughing at me and not at the stupid jokes I told.

I brought the letter addressed to Sasaki along with me so that I could send it to her as I was out. I wasn't sure if the postal services were closed on Christmas but I could always try. Otherwise, I would forget later.

After the children's party fiasco, Haruhi dismissed us with a wave reminding us that the snow mountain extravaganza would be next week. For once I was looking forward to something, however the fact that Kozumi had planned another mystery made me weary. I wouldn't work my brain too hard on the trip though, I've had plenty of thinking over this past week.

"Bye, see you tomorrow Kyon."

Asahina-san waved politely, with her practically glowing. Nagato filed past her without bothering to turn around. For some reason, I felt and annoyed aura coming from her. Nagato, annoyed? Maybe the kids got to her . . . they were climbing all over her during the party like a jungle gym. I certainty would be annoyed by that.

Kozumi made his exit as always, making some pointless somewhat related comment as he strode away with a smile. I had no time to be annoyed as the letter continued to weigh down my coat pocket.

"So . . . this is the first day you need to pay for us . . ." Haruhi said, making a mental check out loud. Technically, I'd still be paying anyway since I was "late". I didn't say anything though as Haruhi continued to stare into space. The sunset cast a dark shadow onto her face and I turned to look her in the face.

"So . . . see you tomorrow?" I asked. Weird . . . why was I so hesitant? I usually left as soon as Nagato went but for some reason something was off with Haruhi. Was she not satisfied about the party? I mean, even I was satisfied and even I know how rare that was. What was up with her?

We probably stood there for a good two minutes but it felt as long as the half-life of Uranium. If I didn't leave now then the post office would be definitely closed, whether it was Christmas or not.

Yet I couldn't leave.

"Idiot. How long are you going to stand there?"

I snapped out of whatever trance I was in as I saw the pissed off face of Haruhi.

"Huh?"

"Come on, we're getting a coffee. Since you were late today I need to find another way to punish you. You're so horrible. Two punishments stacked up onto each other! Stop slacking around."

She suddenly grabbed my coat sleeve and lead us back into the café we had just left. Why would she want another coffee? Didn't she just have one?

Accepting my fate, I was lead past the automated doors – the waitress hesitating as she realized we had come back – and sat in the seats we had just been sitting in.

We remained silent even as the waitress came by to take our order.

"Hey."

I attempted to make conversation but was met with a dull ". . ."

"Haruhi."

Still nothing. She looked out the window solemnly. Haruhi . . . what is it now? Aren't you happy? It's Christmas, you were jumping up and down ten minutes ago. What's changed? Did Kozumi say something weird to you? Did you actually see Santa Clause yesterday and are too stunned to say anything?

. . . Now that just isn't possible, what's with me?

"What's–"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Huh?"

Wait, shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who dragged me back in here with the excuse of "double penalty". You're the one acting strange, not me.

"I said, what's wrong with you. You've been staring out the window the entire time the Brigade was in here. Then when we leave, you don't even try to go. You just stood there like a total moron."

Haruhi shook her head.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

"Then what's with you? I mean you didn't even bother leaving me behind, it would've saved you the trouble."

"You're the one who's in trouble, stupid! Now you need to pay for two coffees."

Stop calling me stupid, damn it! It's getting on my nerves. And you haven't even ordered your first coffee yet.

Haruhi continued burning and I was starting to melt as if I was a bug underneath a magnifying glass. The waitress must've heard the word coffee for one happened to appear underneath Haruhi's nose. She didn't even bother looking at it.

"You know what you said seven months ago?"

"What I said seven months ago?"

"About the SOS Brigade having some secret behind my back."

Oh, that. I would rather you forget about it...

"What about it?"

"Was that really a joke?"

". . ."

I dumbly stared Haruhi in the face.

"Yeah it was. Sorry 'bout that."

Haruhi looked like she bought it as she sat back in seat, almost looking disappointed.

"You shouldn't say stupid jokes like that. People could actually take it seriously someday and where would you be then?"

I struggled to look Haruhi in the eyes, so I decided to look out the window.

"There you go, looking out the window again. Whatever you're thinking, just spit it out. If it's another joke, I'll behead you for real. And I'm serious."

Somehow, this conversation seemed familiar. Haruhi was regretting something and was trying to get something out of me. Does any of this seem familiar? I just can't tell deja vu from nostalgia anymore with what I've been through. I can't be blamed, can I?

After a moment that could be as short as microwaving instant noodles, Haruhi grabbed her cooled off coffee and grumbled an inaudible word.

Haven't I been saying what's on my mind the entire time? What else is she asking for?

. . . Oh well, might as well try something.

"Have you ever gotten a letter from someone you hadn't seen in a while that only had three lines in it?"

. . . Uh . . . anything but that? When she says "spit out whatever you're thinking" make sure it's the opposite of what you're actually thinking next time. Haven't you already figured this out yet, me?

"No, why would I? I never write back to any of my relatives so I don't really care."

Thank God she's so oblivious, unless I need to thank her for her own obliviousness that she had granted herself. Whatever, either way I'm thanking someone.

Unfortunately, that wasn't what I was actually thinking and that wasn't what she actually said.

"What, was it an offending Christmas letter or something? Can I see it, you must have it on you to be thinking about it."

Damn it! Fortunately, I didn't have said letter on me otherwise I would've been running out of there by now. But I did have my response . . .

Well, maybe I should run after all?

Haruhi – probably seeing the resistance in my eyes – made a pounce at my jacket, right when the waitress was coming by with someone's eggnog. I stood up out of my chair suddenly to dodge the ever present Haruhi but my feet were tangled up in their sitting position, making me flail around in the air. Haruhi fell to her knees but sprang up to the jacket pocket that had the response in it. How she knew it was in there, I would never know. I was still flailing about like a baby bird so when a strong force practically tipped me over, I fell right onto the waitress with said eggnog.

Guess I'll have to pay for that too, huh?

Haruhi, oblivious to the fact that warm eggnog was dripping all over my head and shoulders, reached into my pocket and grabbed the artifact. She got off me satisfied, leaving me to deal with the waitress on my own. How embarrassing . . .

After my wallet emptied for the second time today and wouldn't stop emptying any time soon, Haruhi made her comments on my letter.

"What a lame response."

"How are you suppose to convince whoever sent a letter to you to have a merry Christmas?"

"Who would send a Christmas card to you anyway? You're such a loser that I thought you're middle school people wouldn't care."

"Though, a response like this is expected from you so I shouldn't be surprised."

After a long lecture on caring whether or not I write a poem of winter on the back of the card, I interrupted Haruhi.

"Does this really matter? I didn't really think my response would engrave a huge impression anyway. I just wanted to get it out of the way."

"Who are you sending it too anyway?"

. . . Just someone from middle school who was nice enough to remember me, that's all.

"Oh . . ." Haruhi sighed as she put the card back in it's envelop. "I thought that . . . well never mind. It doesn't really matter anyway."

. . . What? She gave up so easily? After all of that?

Haruhi returned the card to me and began staring outside. I grew nervous as I saw her melancholic face. What is she thinking of doing now?

She got up from her seat and began heading towards the door. I felt like telling her something but . . . I couldn't find the words. I just couldn't think of anything.

"I guess I just wanted one coffee. I don't want to be up all night. You'll take the bill alright? See yeah."

I just couldn't let her leave.

"Haruhi, wait."

Haruhi stopped and turned around.

"What?"

". . . What else should I say? In the letter."

Haruhi stared at me as if I was crazy. She then preceded to stomp off shouting this over her shoulder.

"Tell 'em how you've been, I don't know! I wouldn't know, stupid!"

And left, leaving both me and the poor waitress in wonder.

The next day I decided to take Haruhi's words seriously and added two extra lines to the card. Hopefully, she'll regret it later.

"Merry Christmas too. Hope it was great. Haruhi Suzumiya wishes you a Happy New Year. I'm good."

. . . Maybe a bit too blunt but at least it was something.

I mailed it as I was on my way to the Brigade meeting, the letter being safely transported to it's final destination. All the while, I had forgotten to write down my cell phone number that the letter had requested . . .

. . . Let's just say I didn't remember any of that, shall we?