As you can probably imagine, it was rather hard to sleep last night.
I am concerned, I am irritated, I am confused, and yet I am calm… To a point that is.
If you can't really guess, there's a gigantic closed space that does not stop growing, it is growing because of Haruhi's supposed frustration. Supposedly, I am the cause of her frustration, and thus I am the cause of the closed space.
That is how I understood it from Koizumi, even if he did not say it out loud, but I think he was hinting at that. Well, nevertheless I need to figure something out. The last thing everyone wants to experience is to have that gigantic closed space take over the globe.
It is mid-day, I've already gotten up and done absolutely nothing but that's about to change soon. Allow me to elaborate.
Today is Saturday, what happens on most Saturdays? That is correct, Haruhi calls us into the café to perform yet another city search.
Most times Haruhi informs us at least a day beforehand, but there have been a couple of times when she just calls us out of the blue. Now I'm not sure if she had informed us beforehand, for I've not been listening all that much, but nevertheless she's one of those morning people who're always up bright and happy… At least I think… I mean she calls us to be present at nine AM, how can one even be up that early?
I felt my phone vibrate, and then I answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me. Let's meet at the café."
And just like that, she closed the phone, and I found myself pedaling towards the café. Once I arrived, I happened to notice that I was surprisingly the fourth to arrive, the person who was absent? Koizumi, and for the record, Ryo was not present. But he seems to be on the line of being a member and a paper member.
"Penalty!"
Haruhi exclaimed almost as instantly. Without even trying to start an argument which I knew I could not win, I decided to ask where Koizumi was as we entered the café.
"He said that he'd be running late, but he'd be arriving soon."
Haruhi replied, as she sat down and took the menu, with the rest of us mimicking her actions, and if it interests you at all. I ordered a vanilla ice cream, Haruhi ordered a "Vanilla dream", which was like vanilla ice cream, except it was accompanied by a strawberry and some whipped cream. Miss. Asahina and Nagato ordered the same.
"What about Ryo then?"
Haruhi leaned back as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Haven't heard of him, and I don't have his phone number."
I give nod, a wise bastard he is for not giving Haruhi his number. He does not need to go through any torment…. Except that he doesn't go through much anything at all. Come to think of it, he gets to be at peace, much like Nagato… Then again he hasn't been around all that much..
As I was pondering to myself, I noticed that I had been staring at the entrance for some minutes. Where Koizumi had arrived, looking what I may call absolutely horrific. His eyes were redish, he had a couple of bruises, his clothing was rugged, and his hair was in bad condition. Even his smile was more exhausted looking.
"What happened to you?"
Haruhi was the first one to speak, as Koizumi gave off a small chuckle.
"I had some work involving heavy lifting and a late night."
Liar. You had to fight the celestials in the closed space that you told me about…. Then again, I wouldn't want to take a chance telling Haruhi about that…
Koizumi sat next to me, and greeted me.
"Good morning to you as well."
I gave a small nudge with my head, as he kept smiling and ordered a latte, and I swear even in his current shape, the waitress still managed to get completely charmed by him….
Quite soon our orders arrived, and as we began to eat and drink, Haruhi told us her plans for the city search. She took out a tourist map of the city and opened it in the middle of the table.
"I thought we should look through this place."
Haruhi said while pointing at the area where the super market is located.
"It's big so it has got to have something in it."
Flawless logic, as you can see.
We finished eating, and Haruhi pulled out those sticks once more. This time, we divided into the boys and the girls. Which means that I and Koizumi formed one group, while Haruhi, Miss. Asahina and Nagato formed the second.
We set off to actually arrive to the Super Market, which we did after thirty minutes or so. There we agreed to meet in one hour at a fast food restaurant. Me and Koizumi went off to the Arcade, as Haruhi, Miss. Asahina and Nagato went to the…. Clothing store…
Yes… A clothing store, I am sure that those three will spend their hour searching for the finest, cutest mysterious phenomena they can find…
I really hope I get a chance to see Miss. Asahina in a cute outfit…
As we arrived to the Arcade, we headed to play some game which required us to shoot at everything that moves, and while we were there. I asked the question.
"I take it that your looks were not because due to a night full of tough work?"
Koizumi merely smiled as he kept his eyes in the game and responded, also, he had fixed his hair and overall looks as best he could have.
"Now that is not true at all. I had to spend the last night in the closed space, which grew even more, most likely due to a nightmare Miss. Suzumiya was experiencing. There, I had to do quite the amount of work."
"How's the situation with the closed space anyway? Still ever growing?"
I ask, as Koizumi's smile does not fade at all, he continues.
"While one could say that it has increased its pace since yesterday, I myself would theorize that it is quite stable all things considered. Even though it does not halt its growing, the overall pace of it is acceptable enough to not cause major harm. Even if in its current pace it will take over the city in about six days. We still have plenty of time to act, considering we spend most of our days with Miss. Suzumiya. "
"Wait what. Six days and the whole city is swallowed by the closed space? What happens to us then?"
I exclaim, even if I seem calm, I am honestly scared. I remember Koizumi telling me that the end of the world will happen whenever a closed space swallows the whole world. Koizumi's smile still does not fade as he continues.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? What about that whole "World will be destroyed" thing?!"
"I told you once if I remember correctly, that when a closed space swallows the whole earth, the reality will be altered. Of course there will be a chance that the reality in the city will be altered, but I myself doubt it highly. For having the reality of one specific area be altered will cause trouble in the rest of the world."
"Wait, what happened when I and Haruhi got stuck in a closed space together? I thought you said that it was a possibility that she altered the world back then, and that closed space was only the size of our school."
"As I said back then, it is possible. But then again, it is only one theory, and as you should know by now, there will always be several theories of every tiny detail there is."
I just stared at Koizumi at this point, with an expression which many would describe as the ultimate confusion and irritation. And because of that I lost to him in the game by a couple of hundred…. Thousand points.
We went and sat down onto a bench that was nicely hidden in the corner of the arcade, in the case that Haruhi would come and check, she shouldn't be able to see us unless she really would try to pick us out from the crowd.
And we just sat there, having a complete silence between us. Neither one spoke to one another.
I really like this silence, no talk about something a normal person would deem as children's tales, and I really did not care to constantly chatter with Koizumi all of the time. I mean, the guy has a never fading smile, two out of three responses are needlessly long, and he uses metaphors way too often. And he still manages to have that charisma. That certain appeal which makes you trust a person…
That sounded wrong.
"It looks like Mr. Jyri enjoys his time within the brigade."
Koizumi said, breaking the silence. With his eyes focused to the roof and having that smile….Gah now I'm getting worried of myself!
"Yeah… Seems odd…"
I said, turning to face the opposite direction to Koizumi.
"Hmm? What seems?"
I hear him ask behind me, as I respond.
"He first did not enjoy it, then he was silent, and now he seems to be approving it and enjoying the fun. That's a bit odd if you ask me."
I turned myself to look Koizumi, who still had that smile, he shrugged.
"I guess he found himself being proven wrong, and truly started to enjoy his time."
I give off a sigh, somehow that seems plausible but on the same time it does not. Koizumi then continues.
"I believe we should head back, Ms. Suzumiya is going to wonder where we are if we loiter around much longer."
I give off a nod as we both head to the fast food restaurant. Where we noticed that the girls were waiting, and like I guessed. They all had found lots of mysteries…Two or three plastic bags filled with them… Even Nagato had some….
"You're late!"
Haruhi exclaims, as she points at her nonexistent clock on her wrist. Me and Koizumi sit down to the other side of the table, as Haruhi then asks.
"Did you guys find anything?"
"Sadly we did not."
Koizumi responds almost instantaneously. I stand up myself and go order a small meal, I can't make out of the chit-chatter coming from Haruhi and the others behind me. Soon enough I return to sit on the table, and as soon as I get comfortable, Haruhi practically leaps forward and extends her arm to point at the entrance behind me as she exclaims.
"Hey Ryo!"
And if anyone cares, yes. Her exclaim almost pierced my eardrum. But, I turn to look behind me as I notice no other than Ryo himself raising his hand up. And may I say he seems to have it rougher than Koizumi.
His right eye is bloodied, and the skin around it has a faint tone of purple. He has a bandage on his cheek, and he is having troubles walking apparently, at least that is what I notice as he makes his way to the counter and begins to order… At least he has his clothes and hair fixed.
He walks over to our table as he leans to the edge, as he speaks.
"Hi."
"What happened to you? You look like you'd been run over by a truck!"
Haruhi exclaims, as I can clearly hear Ryo give off a sigh. He then speaks.
"It's nothing that serious. I just managed to trip onto Drace's leash as it ran down a set of stairs in the park."
Koizumi looks up on Ryo as he then speaks.
"Would you like to sit down with us then? I'm sure Ms. Suzumiya would not mind."
Ryo gave a rather, distasteful look towards Koizumi as he responded.
"No thanks, I've got Drace tied onto a pole outside with Rasmus. I'd rather not leave them alone in a place like this for too long."
Koizumi's smile does not fade as he nods, and Ryo continues shortly after.
"Also, I most likely won't be attending the club at all next week, or I might just drop from it."
"What!?"
Haruhi exclaimed, as she rose and smacked her palms to the table before continuing with a rather loud and furious tone.
"With what reasons would you leave the S.O.S Brigade?! That is considered treason which leads to a death penalty!"
"Look. I'm not a student, I'm not allowed to go around the campus. Last week was different because I managed to get myself labeled as a visitor thanks to… A friend. Simple as that."
Ryo responded, as his order was brought to him in a paper bag. He grabbed it as Haruhi responded.
"What's stopping you from making another visit!? Or becoming a student!?"
You could actually feel Haruhi's fury, and to be honest I kind of enjoyed it… I mean it's a rare sight to see someone going against her will.
"Because of the rules, I'm not allowed to make more than…Two?... Visits a year, and no, I refuse to apply as a student. I couldn't even join this late in the year…"
Well he is correct on that. I doubt anyone would allow him to join in the middle of June. I mean the summer holiday is about to begin in no more than two weeks. Ryo then took and began to walk off, wobbling amusingly, and yes I know it's rude to laugh at someone who has had a small accident but that is just a classical old man walking right there.
Haruhi did not say a word, as she gave a grumble and focused onto eating. Koizumi on the other hand spoke.
"He is facing real difficulties, but looking on how he is a former student, who in theory should be finishing the courses. I cannot see the teachers forbidding his entry…"
What the hell are you talking about? Difficulties? The guy said he refuses to apply, what are you planning behind that smile of yours?...
"Let's go!"
Haruhi suddenly exclaims as she stands up and slams her palms onto the table once more.
"Where exactly?"
I asked, as she looked at me and gave that devilish grin, which always causes troubles for me.
"We're going to give Ryo the penalty, whether he likes it or not."
That said Haruhi turned to face Miss. Asahina.
"Mikuru, you've got any of the numbers of Ryo's friends?"
Miss. Asahina gave off a small squeal as Haruhi spoke, but soon enough replied.
"N-no, I don't."
Haruhi's mischievous smile did not fade as she then continued asking.
"Does Tsuruya have the number of any of Ryo's friends?"
Miss. Asahina gave a cautious shrug as she replied in that sweet, slightly frightened tone of hers.
"I-I do not know, she might."
"Then call her and tell her to gather all of Ryo's friends, and meet us in front of the school gates in thirty minutes!"
Haruhi commanded with a voice that screamed of determination, and needless to say Miss. Asahina did as she was ordered. She then turned to face me and Koizumi.
"Kyon, Koizumi, I want you two to go and find a spare uniform of North High."
Oooh boy. I can see where this is going.
"Yuki, you'll come with me and Mikuru. Now move it!"
That said, Haruhi practically dragged Nagato and Miss. Asahina with her, as I was left with the smiling Koizumi.
"Looks like Ms. Suzumiya does not approve of the idea of having a member resign."
He said, as I began to rub my forehead.
"Apparently not."
Author's note: I've gotten a question as to why our beloved Miss. Asahina has yet to share a moment with Kyon. Well, the key word is "Yet". It'll all come within time. On another answer, I've become rather tangled up with other matters, which explains the larger time of wait between chapters. The story will be completed (whether one likes it or not.) But all will happen within time.
