Hey what's up? I'm back with another oneshot because I'm sick and can't go to school. Anyway, I've liked Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya for awhile now (along with the couple Itsuki and Yuki) and I've decided to put in my own fic. It's not my best and I could've down better but my head hurts like hell right now. So, enjoy!

It was ironic, really.

For a while now (a year and a three months to be exact) he wished he could simply leave his duties and live normally. To not have others call him about closed space, to not have to always be on alert, and to not have to wear a plastic smile all the time. He wouldn't really mind still being in the S.O.S Brigade but the rest was just tiring.

Itsuki Koizumi just wanted to be human again.

So it was ironic for him to feel something for the alien in their special brigade, the one person who was least like a human in their entire group. Yet it was that irony, along with the doll-like alien's delicate and pale features, that captivated Itsuki. He always had a thing for the unexpected and the interesting.

No one knew of his fascination with Yuki and he did well to keep his feeling hidden. He felt perfectly satisfied with just watching her from afar. Itsuki enjoyed watching the petite bookworm gently hold the book on her lap, turning each page slowly and neatly. Her eyes following each word with interest. Itsuki would always inwardly sigh in content.

"Checkmate,"

Itsuki tore his daily, but well hidden, gaze from Yuki away and looked to the male in front of him. Kyon's face was one of boredom as he moved his knight on the chess board in front of them. Kyon looked at Itsuki, who still wore his façade, and groaned.

"You really suck at these games," Kyon commented. Itsuki just shrugged his shoulders. In truth, Itsuki was actually very good at board games and noticed at once that Kyon's tactics to winning were quite simple. So why did he lose repeatedly? Simple: It was part of his character.

Though Kyon wasn't exceptionally good at board games, he had other talents. For example, attracting others.

"Hey Nagato, what are you reading?"

The quiet bookworm looked up from her reading and stared at the normal human. It was barely visible but Itsuki could see the same look of interest in her eyes when reading a book while she stared at Kyon. Slowly Yuki lifted the book up to show the title.

Romeo and Juliet

"A tragic love story, huh? What part are you on?"

Kyon got up from his seat and moved over to the alien. He knelt down beside her and stared at the page she was reading before being interrupted. Again it was hardly visible but with Itsuki's exceptional eyesight he could see a change in Yuki's expression. She looked almost nervous.

Itsuki stared at them from his seat. He wasn't angry or jealous but very…happy, to say in simplest terms. Kyon was finally becoming an interesting opponent. An aloof smile tugged at Itsuki's lips. No, he wasn't angry or jealous.

After all, he loved a good challenge.