A/N: TMoHS OVA trailer = epic! Can't wait..! I haven't read the novels yet, so I'm more than ready to watch it!

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I sat on the bed, scratching my head carefully to avoid touching the spot where the ball had made contact with my head. I took a deep breath and thought about what had transpired, and what the heck was currently going on.

Geez, endless summer, movie-turned-real-and-somewhat-turned-back, a remake of the world, and now a dream cycle?

"So what's this dream cycle thing?" I said, aiming the question at the three people. Well, it was probably the best way to ask, anyway. Nagato would most likely say something understandable only to her, Koizumi's explanation would be somewhat comprehensible, if not entirely vague, and Asahina-san's would be the usual: "Classified information!"

Well then, let's hear it.

If anything, my head hurts just from thinking, and it would probably hurt worse if I formulated my own theory on this bizarre phenomena. What was that? Tch, I should really stop thinking- for a little while.

"I assume that you have already experienced it – That is, waking up in a dream in another dream, to put it simply." Koizumi began.

The other two were silent. Nagato, well, probably because she's Nagato, and Asahina-san – Was it my imagination, or were her eyes struggling to keep themselves open? Obviously, everyone was tired, and I would be hearing an explanation from Koizumi.

I nodded, too tired and dazed to do anything else.

"The current situation, while rather annoying, merely poses a threat to the number of hours we can spend sleeping peacefully. However, if it escalates, that is to say, gets worse, I think-nyaa!" Koizumi said, his voice suddenly becoming a bit more high pitched at the last word.

"W-what the?" I said, seeing cat ears appearing on his head, and his outfit suddenly changing. He was then wearing a black polo and matching black pants. He looked like some character from a shojo manga my sister would read.

"O-nyaa. I believe this is what I mean." Koizumi the human with cat ears said. He then started to lick his hands, which for some reason weren't paws.

"We believe that Suzumiya-san has entered a state in which her idea of reality is somewhat altered, and thus, unconsciously uses her powers to change reality in accordance to what she sees 'real'. Such a state in which the entirety of this reality is not changed completely.. We believe her to be dreaminnyaa~" he continued.

"..And the 'cycle' part?" I said, not quite weirded out just yet.

"Let's say you're playing an RPG of some sort. The time you sleep is your 'save point', and what happens after, that is to say your sleep, is the reality you experience after you save the game."

"No way.. Then, everything I'm dreaming of during that time is real?"

"Oh yes. Nyaa~ The time you wake up, therefore, is the part where you 'reload' the game, also resetting reality to the point where it was right before you slept."

I breathed a huge sigh of relief. So that means I really didn't kiss her, right?

A sudden burst of light that came from Asahina-san's direction interrupted my thoughts.

"Eeep!", I heard her squeal. The light faded away to reveal Asahina-san in her 'combat waitress' outfit. I was still taking in what had happened, when Nagato disappeared in a puff of smoke, and reappeared wearing a kimono, and toting a parasol.

"My, my. This is quite troublesome.." she said in a soft, but feminine voice. She started muttering something I could hear but couldn't understand, and then, all three of them were back to normal.

Maybe she gets pissed off, too..

"As you can see, the situation can still be controlled.. However, it seems that Suzumiya-san is quite unwell, for her thoughts are getting more and more random.. Ah, yes, I forgot to mention that while it may be true that Suzumiya-san is the one influencing our dreams, what we think, say and do in our respective dreams are entirely up to us."

Then, that means.. I-

This time, I was the one engulfed by smoke. I closed my eyes and covered my nose. The smoke then disappeared, revealing me in a.. An outfit similar to what Koizumi got.. I checked my head, and to my 'surprise', there was a pair of furry ears.. They didn't seem like cat ears, though.. more like..

I barked.

"Eh, a dog, huh?" Koizumi said, patting my head. I growled.

"Hey, Nagato, can't you change me back to normal too?" I said.

"Currently attempting to do so.. Analyzing current physical makeup.. Applying downloaded original composition.." She said, and in another puff of smoke, I turned into a human again.

Geez..

"Well then, any idea as to what could have triggered such a reaction from Suzumiya-san?" Koizumi added on a more serious note.

Silence on all sides.

"I guess we'll have to wing it, then." Koizumi finally said. He then took something out from his pocket, which turned out to be the "SOS Brigade Deputy Chief" armband. He put it on, and smiled, if you could call it one.

"Oi, oi.. Aren't you taking that position a bit too seriously?" I got off the bed, stood up, and stretched a few times. Why do I feel so light all of a sudden?

"Kyon-kun!"

Asahina-san squealed.

I was floating.

"PK-LT.." Nagato said, and pointed at Koizumi.

And Koizumi was pointing at me.

Had I not experienced something weirder than floating around because some self-proclaimed esper was pointing at me, I would have been hysteric. Oh yes, compared to most of what I've already experienced with this bunch, floating around is as normal me not doing homework..

"It certainly seems so.. It seems that I am now able to use my powers outside of closed spaces.." Koizumi said, sounding lost in thought.

That's new..

"Suzumiya Haruhi's normal thought process is currently being influenced by her imagination. Her distinction between what you humans would call 'reality' and 'fantasy' is rather blurred at the moment, and if you would notice, I am speaking more than I need to. That is also because of Suzumiya Haruhi.", Nagato said in a breath. She blinked.

What the heck is Haruhi thinking..?

"A-ano! Excuse me, but.." another voice said. I flipped over to see who it was. Apparently, this floating thing didn't limit how much I could move in thin air.

An orange-haired guy about my age was standing where Asahina-san should have been. I gasped sharply as I realized what had happened.

No freakin' way!

Asahina-san had turned into a boy.

"Well, well, well.. Pleased to meet you, Asahina-san." Koizumi bowed a little.

"Nice to mee- Ah! That's not- Ehhh? Wha-what should I do..?" the male Asahina-san frantically whined.

I can probably take me floating around, but Koizumi having PK whatever, Nagato talking like some walking encyclopedia and Asahina-san.. No way!

"That's nice of you," Koizumi said.

Did he just read my mind..?

"Oh yes. And I'm not liking these extra powers.." He examined his hands like they weren't a part of him, or something.

"Well, you can probably guess that I don't really like floating around." I said sarcastically.

"Ah, yes, sorry." He pointed at me again, moved the finger a bit, and then I was back on the ground.

"The distinction is still there, however faint it may be, and it appears that Koizumi Itsuki cannot read my mind." Nagato stated blankly.

"That's a relief.. Nagato-san, do you think you can do something about this?"

"Currently, there is only one solution: Suzumiya Haruhi's normal thought process must be restored. As of now, we are the only ones affected, however if she continues to think like this, I believe the world as you know it may be reforma- I mean, created anew."

What is she doing? She's the one who said that Nagato is the 'indispensable, silent member', or whatever, and now she's.. Whatever she's thinking!

"True.. But remember that she is also the cause of the existence of aliens, espers and time travelers.. Which means that she's also free to change things as she sees fit."

"Stop reading my mind. Anyway, she's dreaming, right? She has to wake up sometime!"

"Well, who knows.. She might be awake, staring at the ceiling as she wonders about things.."

"We need to do something about this now." And by now, I meant now.

"Shall we go, then?", Koizumi asked us.

"Do you really need to ask?"

†x

By some freak coincidence, no one was there in the hallway, so no one noticed the male Asahina-san try to make her- himself as unnoticeable as possible. Needless to say, we got out of school without too much attention.

We went to Haruhi's house. We knew where it was, but we never actually went there before.

Who'd want to go to her house, anyway?

"How rude. I think it's a nice house.", Koizumi said, pressing the button on the gate.

"That's not what I meant.."

A female voice, thankfully not Haruhi's, came out of the speaker.

"Yes?"

"We are friends of Suzumiya-san, may we come in?" The usual Koizumi etiquette never ceased to amaze me. He could've been speaking to that.. Haruhi's mother, and he could still talk like that.

Well, whatever.

"Ah, just what she needs! I'll be there in a bit."

A woman who looked like she was in her mid-thirties came out and opened the gate.

"Come in, come in! She's still a bit unwell, so I'd really appreciate it if you cheered her up a bit.."

Haruhi's mom? Doesn't seem to look like it..

"Excuse me, Madame, but how are you related to Suzumiya-san?", Koizumi asked, as we made our way in the house.

He probably, no, obviously read my mind and probably read that woman's mind as well.

That means we can talk to him without speaking.. Oi, Koizumi, why the heck did you ask that?

"I'm Haruhi's aunt. Her mom and dad are still out of town, so I thought I'd take care of her." She smiled sadly.

"I see."

"Haruhi sure is popular with the boys, hm?" She led the way to Haruhi's room.

She would be, if she were just a bit more normal.. What I said out loud was:

"We're members of her club, actually."

"Oh, the SOS Brigade? Haruhi, your club's here to see you!" Haruhi's aunt knocked thrice on the door.

Please don't let one of those god-things come out.. Don't let a sleep-deprived sick Haruhi come out, either.. And, luckily, what came was:

"Come in."

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." her aunt said, and left us with the terrible choice of opening the door or not. Koizumi turned the door knob. Slowly.

What's with the suspense?

I made for the door knob, and as if he had planned it, he took his hand away from the door knob, making me the one who opened the door.

You..!

I was just about to let him know how much of a jerk he was when something remotely soft landed on my face.

A pillow.

"Hah! Everyone, that's a lesson: Never underestimate your Brigade leader even if she's sick!", Haruhi said, and laughed arrogantly. Nothing out of the usual.

Then, that means.. Oi, Koizumi, can you hear me?

"Oh, no... Not just yet, I think.. And please do not be surprised that I can communicate back. Although I have gained these powers, it seems that I cannot read Suzumiya-san's mind.."

Big surprise. I don't think anyone can.

"Why're you all so quiet? Anything happen at school?" Her voice sounded nasal, so she's probably been sick for some time.

"I got hit by a soccer ball." I suddenly blurted out. I don't know why I did.

"Maybe it hit you really hard. You seem like you don't have anything to complain about today. By the way, where's Mikuru-chan? And who's that guy?" she said, jerking a finger at Asahina-san.

Geez, what do you think, huh?

"Suzumiya-san, this is Asahina-san cosplaying as a male. We thought it would somehow cheer you up." Koizumi said, as if it were absolutely natural for something.. to change to something else.

"Eh? Pretty good job, Mikuru-chan!" She gave a thumbs up to Asahina-san, who could only nod her.. his head vigorously in return. S/he then gasped.

"A-ano.. Suzumiya-san, may I use your restroom?" S/he said.

"Hn? Sure, it's down this hallway."

Asahina-san darted out of the room, closing the door behind him/her.

What was that about..?

"Asahina-san seems to be returning to normal. If we can fully restore Suzumiya-san's sense of reality, everything else will snap back into place."

There's not much of a problem anymore, right?

I have detected the presence of several enclosed spaces within a 15 kilometer radius.

Great.

"Hey, Haruhi, you think Nagato is the silent, indispensable member, right?" I said.

"What kind of a question is that supposed to be? Of course she is! The SOS Brigade wouldn't be complete without her!" she declared.

"And Koizumi's the 'mysterious transfer student', right?"

"You're asking the Brigade leader too many questions!"

We're not going anywhere with this..

"Then, shall you play along with Suzumiya-san?" came the simple reply.

No way in freakin' hell.

"Then please do something out of the ordinary. Destruction is taking place as we speak."

I sighed.

"Permission to speak, Chief?"

†x