"Mom, I'm staying after school today." I said.
"What?" Mom asked. "Who is this?"
"Your son-" I began.
"I don't speak Japanese very well. Could you slow down?" Mom asked.
I sighed, and texted her. She texted back "O.K."
"Life is getting very complicated. Very, very fast." I sighed, leaning against the wall beside the S.O.S Brigade's door.
"Oh. Hello. Are you the new kid?" Itsuki asked.
"I'm more of a hostage, actually." I said.
"You have an Irish accent." Itsuki said, subtle as a boot to the face.
"Yeah. I'm from Ireland. Or, the UK, at least." I said. "I lived in Northern Ireland."
"Was it a good place to live?" Itsuki asked.
"Of course. It was...no, it is my home." I said. "Where's Haruhi? She said if I was late it'd be the death sentence."
"Her rules don't apply to her." Kyon said, walking to the door and unlocking it. Inside, there was a girl with purple hair that was very cute. "This is Yuki." Kyon said, nodding towards the cute girl.
"How was she in a locked room?" I asked.
"Maybe she never left." Itsuki said. He still had a smile, just like he had when I first saw him. I scooted to the left, away from him. People who are always happy creep me out.
A girl with red hair and large...err, assets, walked into the room.
"That's Mikuru." Kyon said.
"Nice to meet you." I nodded.
"Are you the New Kid?" Mikuru asked quietly.
"That's what everyone says." I shrugged, taking a seat and taking a deck of cards out. "Anyone want to play Black Jack?"
"We usually play Chinese Checkers, actually." Itsuki said.
"Dude, I can't even speak Japanese. How am I gonna play that?" I asked.
"You're speaking Japanese right now." Mikuru said.
"Oh...Right. Forgot about that bit." I said. "Yesterday I couldn't read or speak Japanese. Now, I can read and speak Japanese like I can English. Which sucks, because my parents can't understand Japanese and therefore can't understand me."
"It's a supernatural case!" Haruhi said, kicking the door open.
"The door was shut?" I asked, though no one heard me.
"I'd hardly call it supernatural. Personally, I think New Kid is joking around." Kyon said.
"I thought you had my back!" I said.
"It's definitely supernatural." Itsuki said.
"For the love of..." I muttered.
"I know, right! How should we begin the investigation?" Haruhi asked.
I began walking around her slowly, hoping to get out of the room. I was convinced these psychos were going to chop me up to bits.
"How about we try to get him to read English?" Kyon asked, obviously the voice of reason.
"Why don't we just chop his throat open?" Haruhi asked. I began walking to the door faster.
"Because murder is illegal." Kyon said.
'Thank you, Kyon.' I thought, nearly out of the door.
"Where are you going, New Kid?" Haruhi asked.
"Uh..." Everyone looked at me and I wasn't able to think. Well, I was, but all I could think was 'Piss' and something else that was much too rude to put on .
"I hope you weren't leaving." Haruhi said.
"No, I bet he was just going to the bathroom. Right, New Kid?" Itsuki asked, looking a bit panicked. I nodded, and Itsuki followed me to the bathroom.