"Fujioka-kun, is it alright to call you by your first name?"

Haruhi stares at him and before he can reply, he blurts out an explanation. "I-I don't mean to be rude or presumptuous. But even though people say my Japanese is quite good I'm not comfortable with using honorifics and it feels awkward to call people by their surname, so, so…"

He trails off uncertainly and he directs a teary and woeful gaze at her, which she would learn to be wary of in the future.

"It's okay. I call you by your first name so it's fair, I think. You can call me Haruhi."