Chapter 3. The nightmare of Suzumiya Haruhi.

"Meow..."
"zzz..."
"Meow..."
"zzz..."
BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP.

"mmmmnnnnmmmnyyygggmnnnn..."
Have you ever stayed up late a night before realizing that you go early to school the day after? I'm sure you have. And I felt like one of those buildings in closed space just after being smashed by a giant celestial. Shamisen, you lazy cat, how I envy you. While you only get to eat and sleep, I have to wake up early, go to school, study AND save the world from Suzumiya Haruhi at the same time. Maybe I wouldn't mind being actually recognized as a super hero, but turns out I don't have any superpowers at all. I dont even have my own giant robot to play with.

"Yawn..."

I opened my drawer and checked that the world was stable today. Maybe you can call me paranoid. But since the events of December the 18th, I decided I had to be more careful to avoid panicking all of a sudden. I was keeping in my drawer a paper with my name and age, the names of my schoolmates, our classrooms, the school we went to, and the names of my parents and family. This way, if the universe gets changed, I only have to read the paper and see if it fits with my memory. If anyone asks, I'll just tell them that in case I get a sudden case of Amnesia, I can use this as a backup. That would label me weird, but not crazy.

Yup, today it fits. It's a normal world today. I scrolled down the paper - the names of the SOS brigade members were last so I could read it when I was most awake. There I read the name: "Nagato Yuki", and remembered. I wondered if Nagato could sleep fine.

I took my breakfast and prepared my body and mind to go to school.

"Haruhi's not planning anything weird...
Haruhi's not planning anything weird...
Haruhi's not planning anything weird."

Ah, that feels good. If I really can influence Haruhi, I hope a little mantra can calm her feelings. Perhaps I should dedicate a shrine to her and say my prayers? "Oh, great demon goddess Haruhi, please don't destroy the world today." A cold shiver ran through my back when I just thought about that. I better grab my bike and go to school.

The closer I got, the more I began thinking about Nagato. But first I had to go to the SOS Brigade room, and see if Asahina-san was there. Luckily for me, I did not need to go to the brigade room, I spotted her just arriving to school.

Yes, there she was! I couldn't mistake that light brown hair, those voluptuous curves, and that shy attitude whenever she did something clumsy, and yes, she was clumsy. There she was, a cumulus of moe factors with legs, picking up the books she just happened to drop by accident.

"Hey, Asahina-san!"
"Uh?"
I approached her, and helped her pick up her notebooks.
"Oh, hi, Kyon-kun! Thanks!"
"I need an important favor."
"Yes?"
"Could you please arrange me a meeting with your boss today? It's urgent."
"Um... I can send a message... huh? Ehh???? You want to talk to my superior in person?"
Ah, how could I explain to her that I have met her boss more than three times, and that her boss is a mature version of herself? Of course I don't need to worry about that, since I promised not to tell her. But what should I tell her now?
"Just relay the message."
"But why do you need to meet my superior in person?"
"It's... complicated. How should I put it... classified information."
"Aw, kyon-kun, not you too!"
"Please? It's for Nagato, she needs our help."
"Nagato-san? What's wrong with her?"
"It's a long story. Just tell your boss to drop me a message in my shoe box. Thank you."
"Okay. I will."
"See ya."

I arrived to my shoe locker, and inside I found a freshly-scented, pink colored letter with some writings on it.

"I received your message. I'll be at the usual place at 6PM.
Sincerely,
A. Sensei"

Wow. They received my message and I got a reply even before the message was sent. Now that could be a wonderful business model, you know? "Time travel post service. Instant results." Then I wondered what would happen if suddenly Asahina-san couldn't send the message. Would this create a universal paradox, one of those things that can destroy the world? Well, let's hope that doesn't happen yet.

"Kyon-kun!"
There she was, again.
"Yes?"
"I sent the message."
"Yes, I already got my reply."
"Oh... can I see it?"
"Sorry. Classifed information. See ya later", I said, turning around, raising my hand and walking away.

Then I went to the brigade room.

*Knock knock*
"Hello?"
I opened the door. Sitting on a chair, there was the girl in sailor uniform, with her eyes looking at me.

"..."

"You were expecting me?"
She nodded.
I closed the door.

"Nagato, how was it yesterday? Are you feeling any better?"
"Worse."
"Why, what happened?"
"Nightmare."
"Mind telling me about it?"
The silent girl shook her head, and then looked down to continue looking at her book. And I say looking at it, because I noticed that she wasn't actually reading. And then she spoke again.
"Something worse happened..."
"What?"
"Suzumiya Haruhi."
"What do you mean Haruhi? What did she do?"
"The cause is unknown, but she received some of the random data that was affecting me."
"What?"
"She saw my nightmare, and confronted me about it in a shared dream. She tried to access all of my data, and I barely escaped by using a decoy before waking up. I'm scared - No. Terrified is the appropriate word."

My God. Just when things were about to get better, here comes Haruhi again and messes everything up. But first, I have to give some words of comfort. I began to speak, as I approached her.

"Nagato... look. Haruhi's not stupid. She will just dismiss her dreams as that. She's not going to hurt you. After all, she doesn't know it's YOUR dream. She will just think of it as a dream of her own, or, at the worst case, a premonition. Look - In case she tells me about her dream, I'll try to tell some psychobabble to her and convince her it's about her own subconscious. Are you OK with that?"

I was going to put my hand over her shoulder, but she quickly stood up and pushed me away. My head barely touched the thin utility locker that was on the wall. I heard a mild "clank" behind me.

"Stay away."
"But, why?" I said, stepping forward.
Nagato grabbed me and threw me to the wall near the door This time, the *thud* was loud.
"OW!"
She immediately sat down and reopened her book.
"Sorry for the head. I'm too scared of Suzumiya Haruhi right now."
I sighed. "I understand... just one more question, Nagato. The person you referred to in the poem... I really need to know so I can take the appropriate decision to help you. Don't be afraid of telling me, I'm not an idiot. And I'm much more calm than you are right now. Please..."

"..."

"Was it me?"
She turned her head and stared right at me.

"..."

She didn't answer, but she kept staring at me. My God, her eyes were so sad right now. If I could become invisible and hug you with all my strength, I swear, Nagato, I would right now.

"But, you're afraid of her getting jealous of you?"

She nodded slowly, and her eyes... my God... her eyes looked depressed, and in pain. I even think I could see them getting slowly filled with tears. Was she about to cry?

I couldn't help swallowing. "I understand. But I'll get help, Nagato. I promise."
"Hurry."

I quickly opened the club room and got out. I closed it, and ran - no, sprinted to Asahina-san's classroom. Damn you, Haruhi, damn you!

"Asahina-san!"
"Eh? Kyon-kun?"
"We need to talk, fast!"
She stepped outside. "What's... going on?"
"Nagato needs your help. As soon as possible."
"What, what's going on?" she said, getting out of the classroom (thank God the classes hadn't started).
"Look, I'll be brief. She's been having horrible nightmares. Right now she's scared to death, and lonely, and in pain. You're the only person who can help her right now, and if you don't, who knows what she might end up doing."
"Eh? Uuh???"
"Just go, dammit!"

We arrived as fast as we could to the brigade room, and we opened the door.

"We're here."
As soon as we opened the door, we saw Nagato. She was staring at us, expecting the help I promised to her.

"...?"

"Asahina-san." I said. "Please escort Nagato to her appartment. We'll just say she got the flu and needed to go home. Nagato, please tell everything you need to Asahina-san. We can help you, but we need you to cooperate. Will you share with Asahina-san all you shared with me?"

Nagato nodded, without saying a word. To the untrained eye, she would look just fine, but to me, she looked so tense it was depressing.

"Asahina-san..."
I remembered Asahina-san (big)'s words when she talked about herself. 'Please take care of this child'.
I held Asahina-san's hands and told her.
"Please take care of this child...

Now that I look back to that moment, maybe it wasn't me who learned that phrase from her, but she learned it from me. Is this how "predetermined events" get to be constructed? Like a car entering a loop, there must be a high probability of the sequence of events being constructed. Maybe Asahina-san (big) learned it from somewhere else in a previous period of time. But now she learned it from me. Anyway, I completed my phrase.

"...after all... she's only four years old."
"You mean..."
"Her boss isn't human. I can't comfort her because of Haruhi, and Koizumi barely knows her. She's lonely and desperate. Treat her as you would treat your own daughter. Please!"

Asahina-san looked at Nagato, while Nagato looked back.
Asahina-san approached her as she would approach a 4 year old kid, and got to her chair. Asahina-san crouched and looked at Nagato's eyes. "Nagato-san... are you scared?"
Nagato-san nodded.
"Do you want to go home?"
She nodded again.
"Come here."
Nagato stood up, and Asahina-san hugged her gently. Nagato hugged her back. Asahina-san gently caressed Nagato's hair.
"Everything will be fine, Nagato-san. You'll see. Everything will be fine."

"..."

A heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders. It was so gratifying. But at the same time, the scene was so sad I felt like crying all inside. I remembered one of those depressing movies for "all ages" about some kid with a trauma-caused autism, and I couldn't stop looking at Nagato as if she had experienced the same trauma. My throat even felt sore.

As they were leaving the room, Nagato stoped to look at me.

"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."
"I'M SORRY", she said again, this time louder.
"Just go."

They got out, and I looked at myself in a nearby mirror. Was I sweating, and trembling? This wasn't right. I needed to calm down. I went to the restrooms and washed my head. Then I felt dizzy.

Remember those times I traveled back in time along with Asahina-san, and felt like I was throwing up? I began to feel worse. Fortunately I was already in the restrooms...

Ok, this is gross. Let's play back a scene of Asahina Mikuru's adventures episode 00.

"Huh?" said the bunny girl while being given a very realistic toy AK-47.
"Uh... eh?"
"Em...."
*pulls trigger*
"AAAAAAAAAAAA" *rattattattattattatt*
(blank screen)

Back to our main story.

"Kyon, you look tired."
"Uh huh...."
"Did you eat well?"
"I forgot something in the brigade room... I ran a lot... and something I had eaten made me throw up... did I mention I couldn't sleep well?"

Haruhi's face looked as if she had seen a dying rat.
"Kyon, you need to take care of yourself. Otherwise how can you keep up with the brigade activities?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention... Nagato's got the flu, and she looked even worse than I. Asahina-san took her to her appartment."
Haruhi twisted her mouth. "That's not fair! I wanted to restart the brigade activities today! Oh - if you get infected", she threatened, "you'll pay for the days you get absent, understood?"
I just stared at her with my exhausted, underslept face.
"Whatever."

Lunch time. I was starving. I was eating my lunch like a hungry wolf when Haruhi offered me some of her lunch.
"Eat it. You need it."
"You shouldn't..."
Haruhi stared at me with her evil eyes, and ordered me.
"I said... EAT IT. Commander's orders."
I was hungry so I didn't protest more. I needed as much energy as I needed to help Nagato. I really hope she's feeling better.

Haruhi turned the chair and began to talk. "You know, I had this weird dream and I can't stop thinking about it.", she said while eating from her lunch box.
"What dream?" (Please, Haruhi, you need to tell me what you dreamed.)
"You wouldn't understand."
I stared at her with a daring smile. "If you don't want to talk about it, why mentioning it in the first place? Besides, didn't you tell me that day that if I kept secrets to myself I would start feeling sick?" (Hmmm, now that I think of it, wasn't this the reason for Nagato's crisis?)
"Ok, Ok. Here goes."

I began to pay attention to whatever Haruhi told me. This was the perfect opportunity to find something that could help Nagato.

"I was in a library. I don't know why, but it felt like if the whole brigade room had become a library. I even recall seeing some of the brigade room stuff there. There was the sun on the wall, on some corridor there were Mikuru-chan's clothes. And there were a lot of books. I really don't know how I recognized those books, but I had the feeling I had read a lot of them. And I 'remembered' nice feelings when I looked at them. I mean, isn't that weird? How can I remember a feeling about something that I haven't even done?"

I really don't know what was more interesting about Haruhi's talk - her dream, or all her non-verbal communication. Remember the time we played baseball and she was giving all kinds of weird signals to Asahina-san? Well, it wasn't as ridiculous as that, but she seemed to grow a mouth in each one of her arms.

"Anyway, I felt like if I had been in love with those books. Then I approached a small bookcase. My favorite books were there. Not my actual favorite books, but the books I "knew" while I was in the dream. I felt like crying, because they had many pages and I had only read a few of them. In particular..."

"Yes?"

Haruhi drank some juice and continued speaking.
"Those books felt alive, as if everytime I read them they told me something different. And there was a book which I treasured the most. I opened the safe box..."
"Wait, what safebox?"
"I don't know, that's how dreams are, do you want me to suppose dreams are logical?"
"Sorry. Go on."
"I opened a safebox that was where the small bookcase was earlier. And inside there was a book with your name."
"My name?"
"Yes, it said "Kyon" on the cover. What's funny is that the book was divided in various sections with bookmarks. One said 'Day 1, differential... something, I don't really remember, but I knew it was related to Yuki, as the words used were very technical. Anyway, this was "my" book, the book I loved, and I felt the book loved me, too. And the bookmarks marked relative dates in time. So, there was this bookmark called 'advise'. This is where the dream starts getting weird."
"Go on."
"I wanted to read the sections 'advise' and 'comfort' because I was scared of a monster. What is curious is that the monster's name was in the same bookcase."
"And what was the monster's name?"
"Research subject". But then the book had many covers. One of the cover said "friend", and another said "enemy", and another said "danger", as if the monster had many names. It gave me the impression that at first, the monster was friendly, but then I unknowingly became the monster's enemy. Also, I didn't actually read the names, but I knew those were the names given to the book. And the last cover... I didn't open it. That cover contained the monster's human name, and I was scared of even remembering it. I knew what the name was, wait - in the dream, I knew... that I knew the name. But I actually didn't. Anyway, this is what I don't understand. At first I was reading your book, and then I was suddenly reading the monster's book. So I took the monster's book and put it back on the bookcase, because I was afraid of what the monster would do if I dropped his book. But then the book looked at your book, and I was reading 'advise'. I turned the page to 'comfort' and the monster got angry at me. It was... jealous of your book. And then I got more scared.

Then the monster was just behind me. I swear to you", she said, still eating her lunch. "I was scared to death. I hadn't been more scared in my entire life. So I kept running from the monster. I kept running, holding the book, but I knew that the book belonged to the monster. Still, the book didn't want to be with the monster. And I wanted to be with the book. I felt as if the book wanted to help me. I wanted to keep the book forever, but the book was silent about that. I think the book was also afraid of the monster.

"So I kept running in the library, and the monster was burning all of my books. Well, they weren't books anymore, they were computer files. and the monster was hacking into my computer, and all the files were being deleted. I told it to stop, and I began crying..."

Haruhi drank some juice, or milk, or whatever, to pass her food. She took a deep breath.
"So, I gave the book to the monster, and then I saw the monster eating the book. And everything turned black. And it was raining, I was crying... and then I wasn't myself."
"What do you mean you weren't yourself?"
"There was a pond in the rain... and I saw my reflection on the pond. It was Yuki's face. Then I woke up."

"I see..."

"Wait, I'm not finished. I woke up in the same library of the dream, like if I had been dreaming inside the dream. Has it ever happened to you? Nevermind. I heard Yuki's voice. She asked me. 'How did you get in here?' And I was shocked, she was scared of me. This isn't the normal Yuki we see reading everyday, she looked like if she had seen a ghost in a horror film. I don't know what shocked me more: The fact that she was scared, or that her expressions were crystal clear, as if she was a completely different Yuki.

The point is... she was scared. Then, I followed her... I wanted to ask her."
"Ask her what?"
"I don't know... everything! I felt as if she had been keeping many secrets from me. Otherwise, why would she be scared of me? As if she had stolen my things, or something. I got mad at her for keeping all those secrets from me, I also felt insulted because she didn't trust me, I'm not so sure why I was mad. So I began looking for her inside the computer... you know, like in 'The Matrix', and when I found her, I was still in the library. She was crying, and bleeding, looking for help... I took her glasses... by the way, why did she stop using glasses?"

"I don't know." I said, shaking my head.

"Anyway, I took her glasses, and then I saw a book lying next to the glasses. It was the monster's book... and the name that I didn't want to read... had my name written on it. And then I suddenly knew that I was the monster, and the library was the entire universe, don't ask me how, I just knew it, and I had burned it all. So I looked at her, and she was dead. I had killed her. So I woke up in my bed, sweating, and scared..."

She looked like she hadn't finished her sentence.

"And crying?"

"Yes! I mean, this is the weirdest dream I've had in my entire life. And I've have weird dreams"
Don't tell me, I believe you. I looked down. From all what she told me, I felt like crying for poor Nagato, but I didn't want Haruhi to find out. So I just rubbed my eyes and sighed to pretend I was tired. Well, I WAS tired, so I didn't have to pretend much.

"You're right. I bet Freud would have a field day with it."
Haruhi had finished her lunch by then, so she just stared at the window.

"I still wonder... why Yuki? Why you, why me? What happened to Koizumi, and Mikuru-chan? Why weren't they in the dream?"

I wiped my tears trying not to make her suspicious. "Oh, but they were in the dream, remember? They were books in 'your' favorite bookcase."
"Oh, you're right."
"Well, I see two things. The main protagonists of the dream were you and Nagato-san. That should be obvious by now."
"Uh huh..."
"So, in the dream, Nagato was afraid of you, and you burned all of the stuff important to her. Her whole universe... so to speak."
"Hmm... makes sense..." she said, holding her chin with her left hand.
"Now that I Think about it... didn't you take the Literature club room to start the SOS brigade? Perhaps she feels that you invaded her space and began taking over it..."
"But it wasn't her dream, it was mine."
"Sorry, what I meant to say, is that you... feel guilty because you took the Literature club room..."
"That sounds better, too, but she gave me permission, remember?"
"Well, the problem is that she didn't know you, so you just came in, began shouting, intruding her space..."
I lowered my voice for the next few words. "Molesting Asahina-san," all in front of a shy bookworm who is having a very hard time expressing her feelings... perhaps she was overwhelmed by your presence and got scared of you, and you feel guilty about it. Because you have a much stronger ki than her. I mean, the super-utility sports player against a poor bookworm? Give me a break! Compared to her mouse personality, you're a 'monster' in comparison. How was she, the most shy student on all the planet, supposed to say 'no' to Suzumiya Haruhi? And I doubt you would have accepted a 'no' for an answer."
"Hmmm..."

Haruhi thought about it for a few seconds. Her expression made it clear that she neither accepted nor rejected the idea.

"I'm still not sure... but what about the book? That's supposed to be you, right?"
"I think you know the answer for that one. Think for a bit."

"Hmmmm... agh, I still don't get it! Kyon, if you have an idea just spit it out, will ya!"
I was walking on dangerous ground. I had to be very careful about this. Careful... careful... watch out for the traps...
"Okay, just promise you won't get mad at me."
"Of course I won't."
"Okay, I'm saying what I think, but you need to promise you'll hear it all and not get angry all of a sudden."
"Why would I get angry?"
"Because..." what will I say now? Think, Kyon, think! Think Freud, think psychologist... that's it! "... I'll be talking about your biggest fears and deepest emotions. That's what dreams are about, after all."
"Hmm.... you're right. Okay, I'll promise I won't get mad. Please, Interpret my dream."

Haruhi had finished her lunch by now, and rested her chin on her both hands.

"I think you're jealous of Nagato-san and you feel guilty about it." Yup, that should be it.
"What? Why should I be jealous of her?"
"Well, you are the commander of the SOS brigade. So everything you do for her, and for any of us, is an obligation. In contrast, she sees me, OR you think she sees me, as her best friend. Or her only male friend, for that matter."
"Hmmm... you mean I'm jealous of her... for YOU? You got to be kidding. And why should I have a nightmare just about it?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" Of course you don't, you idiot, if you were sensible for other people's feelings you wouldn't steal and blackmail anyone who opposes your Majesty.
"No, what?"
"You're afraid of her falling in love with me. Or worse, maybe SHE is afraid of falling in love with me, and you let her be afraid because it's much more convenient for you. In other words, she feels lonely and you don't even know if she cries alone in her appartment, begging for just some love. And while the only thing she can do about it is reading books and fantasizing about relationships in dating-sim games, you could blackmail her, embarrass her in public or throw all her precious books to the garbage if you ever get jealous of her. And, the only opportunity she has right now of getting a boyfriend is me and Koizumi. But it should be obvious right now that you're much closer to me than to Koizumi. I mean, have you ever talked to him seriously about anything?"

"... no..."
"So... maybe she IS jealous of you, and feels miserable about it. Have you thought about that? How could she stand that loneliness? Who knows, maybe the only reason why she accepted joining the brigade was because she was feeling lonely," (I'm such a damn liar about this one!) "and you're making her feel more miserable every day of her life."

"Or maybe..." I said to her, looking right at her eyes. "Maybe she wants a man to listen to her feelings and comfort her, but she's afraid of what you might do to her if you see me hugging her. I mean, look at the ruckus you made when you got jealous of Asahina-san." Of course you made a ruckus, don't try to deny it, because you were about to destroy the world, and only a kiss from your Prince Charming could calm you down.

"You're an idiot."
"Oh yeah? Well, tell me, how many men have given Nagato a hug whenever she felt lonely? GO AHEAD, PICK A NUMBER!"

I didn't notice the whole cafeteria began to shut up and stare at us. But right now I needed to pass my message. And... Haruhi didn't reply. Jackpot! She stayed quiet. Well, buckle your seatbelt Miss Almighty, because I'm not finished. I still have many things to tell you and I won't shut up until I'm done.

"I know you don't like falling in love. You chose to live the chaste life of a medieval paladin on your own, but Nagato did not. She wants to fall in love, have a guy send her presents, hug her, kiss her, even sleep over? I don't know... and she can't because only the bravest warriors would dare to step a foot on the domains of the SOS brigade.

So her only possible choice to be at least a little happy and a little less lonely is me, who has this tag written on my forehead that says 'Property of Suzumiya Haruhi'."

Haruhi's eyes showed true belief. She really was believing what I was telling her. Calm down, Kyon, don't ruin it... don't let this get personal. I sighed, and calmed down. "So that's what the dream means. She wants a man to care for her, and her best chance is probably me, but that's an impossible goal thanks to you. So she feels very, VERY lonely, and you're afraid to accept that you're partly responsible for it."

"And couldn't you give her some words of comfort, or hug her, or something?"
Okay, that does it!

"OF COURSE NOT, YOU IDIOT!" I said, standing up. "SHE WON'T ALLOW ME TO BECAUSE SHE FEELS THREATENED BY YOU! And she told me."
"... what did you say?"

Oh crap, crap crap crap! Now you've really ruined it, Kyon, you idiot!
Haruhi grabbed me by the tie. "Why didn't you tell me something so important!!!"
I swallowed. "She asked me not to."
"But..."

Haruhi looked at me, and her gaze felt like a chainsaw going through my brains as if I was in some kind of survival horror game.
"Kyon, answer me one last question. And you better tell me the truth or I'll kick your ass to a parallel universe."
"What is it?"
"Is it really the flu, or she didn't want to see me? TELL ME! I think I have the right to know!"
Should I really tell her the truth? Well, after looking at Nagato's face, I knew Haruhi should feel at least a little bit guilty about it. But you know what? I became angry at that moment. I just remembered all the times Asahina-san cried, and Nagato's crisis, damn it, I couldn't keep myself in silence anymore.

I looked at her fiercely. Well, if the world's going to end, it better end with Haruhi knowing the consequences of her stupid behavior. I'm tired of this. "Do you really want to know?" I told her. "Well, yes, she had a nervous breakdown today, and it's NOT the first time. The other time it was also because of you. Satisfied?"
Haruhi looked at me with rage. "Why... why didn't you..."
She clenched her fist and was about to beat me with all her strength. Go ahead, beat me, destroy my face with your stupid rage, because nothing in this world is your fault. That's all you know to do, destroying stuff and blaming everyone else. Come on, hit me with all you've got! I may be gentle enough to forgive you for making Asahina-san cry, but this time you've gone too far! What are you waiting for? Eh? COME ON! PUNCH ME!

But at the last second, she didn't. Maybe it was the fiery look on my eyes that made her stop. Her eyes got wet, and without saying a word, she turned around. She was about to kick a chair, but she just pushed it a little bit. She wiped her face with her uniform. Did she... was she actually crying? Everyone looked at Haruhi, and when she ran out of the cafeteria they stared at me. All of them. I couldn't stand that (I already had too many problems), so I cleaned up my stuff and left.

The next class, Haruhi didn't show up. But she did come for the last class of the day.

Have you studied about the Cuban missiles crisis, when Castro received several nukes from the U.S.S.R, threatening the entire american continent? Well, that's how the last class felt. I was like the U.S., and Haruhi was Cuba. Except that, well, I didn't have any missiles with me. I didn't even dare to say anything now, I felt it would just pull the trigger.

When classes finished, Haruhi stood up, without daring to look at me in the face. "I'm going home", she said. Her voice sound broken. As soon as she left, people began chattering. I was approached by Taniguchi.

"Kyon, did something happen between you two?"
"Yes, how did you find out, Sherlock?"
"Well, this is the first time I saw Suzumiya-san like this. Did you look at her face?"
"Actually... no. To be honest, I was too scared."
"Okay, good luck, champ", Taniguchi said, patting my shoulder. "The next time you have an argument like this, at least give her some tissues."

Ouch.

I slowly stood up from class. This little argument of ours had become the gossip of the week, and everyone looked at me with fear. I can imagine the headlines: "Kyon made Haruhi cry." And I even imagined my photo on the newspaper: "Badass of the year." Great, as if having to deal with closed spaces, time warps and giant crickets wasn't enough: Now I had to deal with the greatest evil of all: Society.

The sky was getting dark. VERY dark. Where did all those storm clouds come from? You can guess where.
And as if the skies wanted to tell me something, it began to rain like crazy just after I got out of school. In 2.5 seconds, I was all wet.
"Nice storms brewing, don't you think?" said Koizumi, who approached me from behind with an umbrella. "It was a very risky decision the one you took."
"She's just so hard-headed sometimes, and I'm sorry, but she just crossed the line. I just couldn't keep myself silent after seeing Nagato suffer like this. I'm sorry... I just couldn't."
"So the discussion was about Nagato-san, eh? Well, thanks to your little brawl, several closed spaces have been appearing since lunch", he said, not smiling at all. "And they're not ordinary closed spaces. The organization is very confused about it. Wanna look?"

As soon as I entered the closed space with Koizumi, I realized the magnitude of my actions.
"Holy shit. What have I done?"

(End of chapter 3)