Disclaimer: Nagaru Tanigawa created the characters, setting and general plot for the Haruhi Suzumiya series, and the anime is owned by Kadokawa and animated by Kyoto Animation. I own nothing, and just wish to use these characters in my own little sandbox.

Author Notes: This chapter takes place during Melancholy I and Chapter 1 of the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya from pages 17-19 of the official English edition(Kyon noticing Haruhi's hair pattern and the results of that). Yes, this story has been going slowly, but things are going to pick really soon as we are getting closer to the start of the SOS Brigade. Tsuruya's given name Haruka is taken from Durandal's masterful Kyon: Big Damn Hero which recently had its 50th chapter(it's no longer updated on fan though). Please read and review so I know what my readers are enjoying and what you find weak about the story.

Chapter 7: The Calm before the Curtain Goes Up

As I walked to Nishinomiya North High for the first day of school after the end of the Golden Week holidays, I saw the signs of a lovely May just unfolding before all of us students. I knew that within that month, Itsuki Koizumi would transfer into the first year class, and that would advance some mission that the Agency had. Perhaps it would even take some of its attention away from myself and Mikuru. Looking up the big hill that had to be climbed to reach the school, I felt bad for any students that were out of shape. The daily climb had to be hard on their knees, and probably winded them as they finally reached their destination. I at least enjoyed the extra little exercise, although it was nothing compared to some of the training I had to go through in mastering martial arts.

Not long before our first class, Mikuru had caught up to where I was waiting for her. I guess she was still a little tired from the walk up that large hill. At least it seemed like the rest of Golden Week went well for her. She seemed like she was glad that she had some time to relax, but there was also a sense that she enjoyed the learning here at Nishinomiya High.

What had followed was like all the other days that Mikuru and I spent together since the start of the school term. The time away didn't impact her ability to mostly keep up with the material, although history was still her weakest subject. I didn't exactly blame her for having trouble with that subject although as the heir to the Tsuruyas, I had to know a lot of the family's history and also the history of the prefecture as well since we had had a significant presence in the daily going-ons for at least a few centuries. It also helped knowing the unofficial history too as many things were never recorded but were important knowledge nevertheless. And so the day passed rather quickly, and Mikuru and I found ourselves walking to the calligraphy club's room after school.

"Have you reconsidered joining?" Mikuru asked me.

I thought of the time required to properly do calligraphy and then the time I needed to fulfill my obligations. I also know that I would not enjoy the process and would only be doing it to be closer to her. "I am not sure that I would be joining for the right reasons, Mikuru-chan"

She looked downwards as she kept passing by empty classrooms. "I see. I suppose I would be putting you in an imposition for my sake." Seeing her like that had made me feel awful.

"You don't have any reason to feel guilty about asking me. It's not a bad thing to want to spend more time together. It's just something that we'll have to work out that's all." I said. "Perhaps when things get warmer, we'll be able to look at swimwear and such together for beach excursions and so on and so forth." That would be a nice experience all around.

Mikuru blushed a little but then said "Sounds like that would be fun." she said. When she noticed that we had arrived at the Caligraphy Club room, she told me that she'd see me later. I had something else on my mind to check on anyway so I waved as I walked away.

I walked by a few other clubrooms that were still basically familiar to me. One of those rooms was conspicuous by how quiet and empty it usually was. I tried to remember why I was fascinated with the Literature Club room and its serene quietness balanced by the nearby sounds of computer fans. I was about the enter the Computer Research Society's room when I saw someone out of the corner of my eye. There was a second-year student with medium length green-ish hair trying not to be noticed. I didn't know if she was spying on the Computer Research Society or checking on the Literature Club. I tried to recall her name, as I had seen her before. Then I remembered, her name was Emiri Kimidori.

I had decided to ignore her presence as I was certain she didn't follow me and she didn't seem to want to talk. I opened the door to the Computer Research Society, and greeted the club president.

"Tsuruya-san, what brings you here to our clubroom?"

"I wanted to ask if you had received certain materials from certain parties in Tokyo that attended Winterket." I said quietly.

"Oh, the Marimite stuff. I can arrange to have them discreetly delivered to the Tsuruya household. I also made sure to secure an autograph from Minorin for you. That will also be in the delivery."

"Thank you, president-san. I may have some good news for you in the future, so I'll likely visit you again in a few weeks. Until then, I hope this term is a very fruitful one for you." I waved to the rest of the Computer Research Society as I left. They really were some of the nicest guys in the school. Sure, they were hardcore Otaku and I wouldn't have been surprised to find them with a hugging pillow of Chii from Chobits or Nanoha the White Devil herself, but they were loyal to a fault and they genuinely enjoyed all things computer-related. They probably would have hooked up the whole building on the LAN if they had enough time and energy. Them being huge gaming Otaku did take up a lot of their time though.


A few days had passed, and it was now a Wednesday. It had been a while since Itsuki and I had that conversation in the garden, and I hadn't seen any signs of the Agency setting their gears in motion. I suppose they were planning their infiltration operation or whatever operation required a teenager, and they were going about it at their leisure. Which meant that whatever they wanted with the infamous Haruhi Suzumiya was not an immediate problem, which meant that it really wasn't worth my attention. The Agency itself was concerned with unusual people with potential and also with threats to the world that couldn't be dealt with by conventional means, that much I was certain of. I did not receive any sort of sign that Suzumiya-san had youkai lineage, although there was something about her ki that I had never felt before. Perhaps it was by its own ineffable nature was what caused the Agency to look at her with interest. Or they somehow discovered she had a latent power. If the Agency was making no haste in this matter, it was likely she had some sort of dormant power that had to be watched and/or she had to be protected from the wrong people.

It had felt like time was moving faster than normal, although from an objective standpoint, I knew that it moved at the same pace as it had since time immemorial. When it was lunch break, Mikuru and I had gathered our desks together, and we had opened our respective bentos. Hers was certainly a lot neater than mine, as I always just threw something together. Mori had said that I ought to take more care in how I prepare a bento box for image purposes. She certainly knew me enough that I started making my own once I was old enough to.

"I took your advice, and watched some K-ON ! on Disney Japan. There are a few things that I don't understand about it though." Mikuru said and then used her chopsticks her lunch.

"Oh, like what?" I asked.

"I wonder why Tsumugi was spaced out when Yui was so enthralled with those lyrics."

I chuckled a little "Oh, she just had the goggles. That's all."

"Goggles?" Mikuru said while looking very puzzled.

I blushed "I suppose your better off not knowing. Did you like the concert scenes?"

"Oh yes, very much so. Especially the Episode 12 concert."

"Oh yes. It was a lot like Linda Linda. KyoAni has done their research for sure."

"KyoAni?" Mikuru said puzzled again.

"Kyoto Animation, the studio that animated K-ON!, and they are quite an animation studio." I said

"Oh, I see." She smiled as she was slowly eating the chicken in her bento. "I still have a lot to learn about what other people watch on television."

"No worries, you gots me, that's all that matters." I laughed, and it was just another peaceful and delightful lunch period.


It was later that evening when I saw Itsuki again. He was in Father's study talking to Mori and my father. I was much too far away to hear anything, but the general tone of those unintelligible words were that of anxiety and of annoyance like somebody had left a perfectly good cake for Christmas in the rain. And if they had ever lose that recipe, I think that would be what my father's reaction to whatever Itsuki was telling him.

Come to think of it, something felt different as I was walking home from school earlier. I almost didn't notice it, but it had felt like a small gust through a decayed ley line. It felt like the source of this surge of energy had come from the high school. I had made a mental note to investigate if I had felt more bursts of spiritual energy like that. Such occurrences would attract some unwanted attention from some that keep out of sight of the normal human population.

I would also probably have to keep a closer eye on Mikuru or hope that she falls in with knowledgeable people. If I could avoid dragging her into any of the Agency mess, I would. There were some things about her that were abnormal, but I found them endearing. She was still a shy girl too, so if I could help her open up to other people I would also do so.

I had put those things to the back of my mind as I went to my private spot to meditate. Some time passed and I felt the vibrations of spiritual energy in the air getting thicker. The source of this energy was coming from a different direction than before though. There would be a time and place to deal with the fallout of it of course. The unseen world would want to make sure that this wouldn't upset a very delicate balance, and the Agency would have its hands full until this source of energy was brought under control or made more stable. And so, my life would be more complicated as well.

After I had completed mediating, Itsuki walked from another part of the garden. His eyes carried a burden that I hadn't seen previously. He said to me "I guess that you can feel the change."

"Yes, I can. It's powerful and very unstable. Is the source human, creature or kami?"

"I suppose one's kami can be so strong that the line between human and spirit is blurred."

"Yes, I would suppose so." I shivered a little A human being with that kind of power could be a very dangerous entity. "I take it that the Agency is making this a top priority?"

"Yes. There will be other groups that will involve themselves too. And that is going to be problematic."

"I suppose they don't have keeping humanity safe as their guiding principle."

"No, they value other things more." Itsuki said

And once again, the Tsuruya family and the Agency would fight for the best interests of humanity. We wouldn't have had it any other way. And thus, we began to see the fallout from Kyon's breakthrough with Haruhi.

Omake: A Snowy Mountain Anecdote

Haruhi could not believe what she was seeing and hearing. Yuki Nagato was in her bed in the room that she had picked as they were waiting out that sudden blizzard. Of course, she would have to not mention this to Kyon. Better off if she were to pretend it was Kyon instead. Especially since Yuki had a ballgag in her hand.

"A-Are you sure this is what you want?" Haruhi asked her.

"Haruhi. Put it in your mouth now. Don't make me break out my whip." Yuki said as deadpan as ever

She figured that Yuki would probably handcuff her soon, as she saw that she had those nearby. She also saw that Yuki had brought some interesting equipment. She had hoped that her door was locked because if Kyon or any of the others came in right now…."Y-Yes Mistress."

Then she heard a shout from Kyon and suddenly Yuki ran out. Haruhi took a moment to get composed. Yeah, I'm going to pretend this never happened was what she thought.