Once upon a time I knew this girl. I'll tell you now that she was something else. She had this way about her that was completely different from anyone else. The way she dressed, the way she spoke, the way she dreamed when she looked out at the snow, yes she was different from everyone else to me.

I had known her for so long and yet it was so short. It was many, many years ago. We were just kids then but I still think of her from time to time. The thing is that one-day she just disappeared from my life, as she did from all of ours.

But unlike when I disappeared there was no way to correct what happened, there was no way to bring her back. So here I am, existing. Sure life goes on but sometimes I just wish I could go back into that summertime loop another 15000 times, just to see her again. For some reason I never could forget her.

When she saved my life, when she bit my arm, when she offered me books to read that I never would. But that was long ago and here I am.

I boarded the train to go to work. Another boring day. Had I known high school would be the most fun I ever have I would have complained less. And then, when I left the subway, I saw her. I dropped my things and ran to her.

"Nagato! Nagato you're back!"

It's her, she's returned to me! Her short purple hair, her big brown eyes, her North High uniform. She looked exactly the same, where as I, now 43, was less than that.

She looked at me, and without thinking about it we went to the library. I probably looked like her dad. That's right… I'm a dad now.

"Nagato, you've come back to me. I'm sorry I've grown old, I didn't know you'd return."

I held my arms out to her and her expression changed, she was happy and sad all at once and she took my hands. Some books dropped off the shelf and I looked over.

My head was in my arms and I was in the SOS Brigade clubroom. Koizumi was helping Miss Asahina pick up pieces of a game board she had knocked over. Haruhi burst into the room with some strange proclamation as always. And then I looked over to Nagato, reading her book, silent as ever. Her eyes flashed at me through her bangs. I watched her for a minute and realized that I was in high school again.

A dream?

I wiped the drool from my face and sat upright. I looked around again at my club-mates and just thought about losing them. I don't know what I'd do if that ever happened, even Koizumi. These guys are my friends… I just hope I don't have some weird dream about Koizumi next… gross…