A/N: Finally was convinced to upload this. This is the first chapter, and I'll warn you that it starts a little slow, but don't worry, it gets better.

Chapter 1: It Begins!

It was another boring day at North High, though I guess I can't really call the day boring when Haruhi is a part of it. I slid the door open to my classroom and found Haruhi with her head on her desk, looking outside as usual.

I can't say this was strange for Haruhi, but, at least of late, this wasn't particularly normal for her. I set my bag down at the desk in front of her and turned to her.

"Hey Haruhi."

She mumbled something I couldn't quite catch, shifted her body around so that she was no longer facing the window, and said nothing else for the rest of the class. I have a feeling she's getting bored again.

It looks like my 'feeling' was right, as Koizumi caught up with me right as I was heading to the courtyard to have some lunch. I can never really tell whether it's good news or bad news with him; that plastic smile he puts on is really annoying.

He didn't seem to want to drag me anywhere in particular, so I continued out to the courtyard, found a table, and waited for him to start complaining about Haruhi's boredom again.

"Kyon-kun," He began. "Things aren't going particularly well for the Organization recently."

I simply nodded as I opened my boxed lunch. Great, things can only get worse if the conversation starts that way. I continue to sit there, looking up from time to time to show that I'm paying attention.

"I'm sure you've noticed, but, Suzumiya-san seems to be getting bored once again."

Oh, you think? What gave it away?

"Things don't end there though. In the past, we were able to handle these situations until Suzumiya-san had been… entertained enough. There seems to be, however, another problem."

I look up, this time genuinely interested. "And that is?"

Koizumi sighed, looking up for a second before looking back at me. "Our abilities as Espers seem to be fading. Sometimes it takes us longer to access them, and sometimes it's like they're not even there.

Wait… what?

"The number of Shinjin is only increasing… while there's less of us able to get into the closed space to stop them."

"Well what do you expect me to do about it," I ask sarcastically.

"Isn't it obvious? I have to depend on you to entertain Suzumiya-san. If she keeps creating the Shinjin at this rate… the closed space may replace our reality."

I sigh. I don't know how he expects me to keep her entertained with how much she's expecting from the world. I mean, she already has a Time Traveler, an Esper and an Alien right in front of her.

"I'm counting on you."

I finish my lunch and head back to the classroom, knowing that I'm going to be in for a hellish weekend. Why does the world have to revolve around Haruhi? I'll never know.

I guess even I got bored over the period of the class, as I missed the introduction of a new student. I got a rude awakening of déjà vu as my chair was almost pulled out from underneath me. "Kyon! Look, it's a new student!" Haruhi exclaimed, pointing to kid around our age standing in front of the class.

I manage to stabilize my chair without falling flat on my back and look up at him. The kid seemed to have a sort of lean build, dark green eyes, and short, dark blue hair, with two strands falling right in-between his eyes. Definitely dyed.

I sigh and lay my head back down on the desk. I felt pretty tired for some reason, and the kid just didn't really bring anything new to the class. I heard bits and pieces out of his introduction, enough to know that his name was Fujiwara Kato, and he was from Kyoto.

I guess it didn't take long before I dozed off and Haruhi poked me in the back with a pencil. "Hey, class is over."

I mumbled something and picked up my bag, walking toward the door. Haruhi was out the door just seconds before I was, though I couldn't figure out why until about a minute later.

I could see the new kid and her talking in the hall as I passed on my way to the clubroom. He seemed to vaguely be paying attention to what she was talking about as he looked up, nodded at me, and turned back to her.

Poor kid, I can't believe he let Haruhi get him into a conversation. He's doomed for sure.

I let my feet carry me to the clubroom as I imagine Asahina-san waiting there in her maid outfit, serving tea to me. I can't wait.

It seemed like only a few seconds passed as I was at the door of the clubroom, with my hand on the knob. I take a step back and knock, hearing Asahina-san chime, "Come in."

I open the door to the sweet smell of tea. Asahina-san is over at the table pouring a cup of it as I enter, while Nagato is sitting in the corner with her book…staring at me intently.

A few seconds of awkwardness pass as she returns to her book and I close the door, walking over and seating myself. Maybe we'll get some silence if Haruhi is occupied with the new kid… what was his name again?

I take a sip of the tea, praising Asahina-san for her brilliant brewing, and looking over at Nagato. She was staring at me again, however, she immediately looked down at her book. That's… weird.

"I-is everything o-okay, Kyon-kun," Asahina managed to stutter out the question. I guess I was staring over at Nagato for too long and didn't notice.

I wave it off like it was nothing, and start a conversation with Asahina-san about all of the crazy things Haruhi is going to have us doing this weekend.

Asahina-san changed the subject about five minutes later into what kind of tea I would like to have in the clubroom, and what kind I think Haruhi would like.

About a half hour passed before Koizumi Itsuki joined us, bringing a board game over to the table to set up and play. I started to wonder where Haruhi went with that new kid, as it was already five o'clock.

"This is the third time I've beaten you today Kyon-kun," Itsuki announced, his fake smile shown to everyone.

Just give me one reason and I'll help you get rid of that smile. I started to clear the board for another round when the door of the clubroom burst open and the super-energetic leader made he glamorous entrance.

I sighed. What bad luck today…

"What kind of tea would you like toda---" Asahina-san was cut off as Haruhi bounded over to her and begin to strip her. Koizumi and I quickly took that as our cue, exiting the room and closing the door behind us.

I sighed at the cries of Asahina-san, begging for Haruhi to let her dress herself, but to no avail. Koizumi looked over at me.

"Back to what we were talking about earlier, then."

Can't you just be quiet about that for a little while? I'm sure we can entertain her tomorrow… we'll be doing that city-wide search after all.

"Since our talk this morning, it seems the number of closed spaces has decreased severely. Have you done anything to calm Suzumiya-san?"

I shake my head and wonder for a minute. Is Haruhi that random that she's bored to the point of destroying the world one minute, and bright and energetic the next? Wait… this is Haruhi… of course she is.

"She was talking to the transfer student earlier… uhh…Fu…Fuji something."

Koizumi's smile faded for a second, but returned two-fold just a second later. We sat there for a moment in almost silence, if not for the cries of Asahina-san. "Do you know anything about this Fuji-san?"

No I don't know anything about him! I was asleep for most of the class… wait, why was I so tired anyway? I'm sure I got plenty of sleep last night.

"Kyon-kun! Do you know anything?"

Koizumi seemed to snap, which was very unlike him. I was taken aback a little, but returned with an answer. "He's from Kyoto… but that's all I remember him saying."

Koizumi sighed and apologized for snapping. I heard Haruhi yell that we could come in, and as I entered, I… jumped back. It took me a few seconds to register exactly what I was seeing. I immediately walked past Asahina-san, who was attempting to cover herself up, and up to Haruhi.

"What are you thinking making her wear that!?"

This was way too much. I can't believe Haruhi would make her wear something like that… it's just too… TOO MUCH!

"She's the cute mascot, and as leader of the S.O.S. Brigade, I see this as the perfect costume for her to wear!"

"I can't believe she would let you do that! You've gone too fa—" I was cut off by someone pulling on my arm.

"I-it's okay… Kyon-kun," Mikuru muttered under her breath so low I could hardly hear her.

So with Asahina-san's okay, I decide to stop my complaining and return to my board-game with Koizumi. She was forced to wear that for the rest of the afternoon, to the 'almighty' Haruhi's satisfaction.

Unfortunately for me, I didn't have a chance to get my revenge in our little board game, as Koizumi was called away to help Haruhi take incriminating pictures of Mikuru in that… outfit.

Mikuru waved her hand at me, as if to tell me not to interfere. I tried to convince myself that I could just delete the photos when she put them on her computer. Right, there would be no problem with doing that.

I took my leave and headed to the other side of the room, sitting close to Nagato. I took a glimpse at the cover of what she was reading, only to find that there was no title.

"How's the book, Nagato?"

"Similar."

As usual, the one word responses, straight to the point.

"Is it boring then?"

"No."

She looked up at me; her eyes seemed to be unfocused strangely. "Are you okay Nagato?"

"…"

She seemed to hesitate for a moment. She didn't answer, and returned to reading her book. This was very unlike her, but I figured I'd ask her after we finished with the brigade activities. I stood up and walked over to the window to look out.

The sun was setting slowly, and before I knew it, it was dark. Asahina-san had changed back into her uniform and left for her home, with Haruhi following suit.

I, however, waited for Koizumi to leave before going myself. In that, I was right. As I was about to leave, Nagato tugged on my sleeve, alerting me to her presence in the room.

"We need to speak."

I looked down at Nagato, whose eyes met mine. "Your house?"

"Yes."

I followed after Nagato silently as we made our way to her apartment. It was a long and quiet walk leading up to the gate. I followed her into the elevator, and finally through the apartment door, leading to the empty apartment I've come to know very well.

What does she need to talk about anyway?

Nagato moved into the next room and returned seconds later with two cups of tea. As I took a sip of the tea, she began to explain in her soft voice.

"I have been unable to establish contact with the Data Integration Thought Entity within the past two days."

I set my cup of tea down calmly. WHAT!?

"It is as though the Data Integration Thought Entity is no longer existent." She says emotionlessly. "My ability to manipulate data has been decreased by at least 65% as well."

I look at Nagato, feeling her emotionless eyes on me. I see a twinge of… fear within them. What the hell is going on here? Koizumi is losing his ESPer powers, and now Nagato can't contact her boss? What are you doing, Haruhi?

"Has Koizumi talked to you yet?"

"Yes. I believe that what is causing the loss of our abilities, and the disruption of the connection between me and the Data Integration Thought Entity is the same."

There's only one person who could cause all of this.

"Then it's Haruhi?"

"No."

….

I look at Nagato again, hoping for an explanation.

"I am using most of my data manipulation ability to locate the source of the disruption. With my data manipulation ability reduced to 30%, I will need at least several days."

"Do you think you'll be able to find out who's doing it?"

I look at Nagato, who is oddly silent. She stands up and walks over toward the door leading outside. "Speak with Asahina Mikuru."

She opens the door, signaling that I should leave. "Nagato…. Will you be able to find out who did it?"

She remains silent, walking away from the door and into another room. I guess I should go then… I'll talk to her tomorrow. Hopefully she'll find out what's going on.

End Chapter

A/N: Read and Review, thank you!