Zeta slow

The most concerning thing that the past couple of days, Nagato didn't show up after school in the clubroom. Neither did she show up for school. Her curious absence was destabilizing the Brigade. Haruhi was a little less energetic, Koizumi was more skillful at the games we played, and Asahina's tea tasted a little bit off.

These minor things only added up to the strangeness of her disappearance. No, not that kind of disappearance. She was always punctual and never even got a tardy. Why should she start playing truant now? Something must be up. I could go visit her, but it is a girl's house. I can't visit her alone, and I can only go if someone else goes with me. If only if Haruhi would say something...

"Something's wrong with Yuki, Kyon. Let's all go after school to her house to comfort and aid her in her time of need! Mikuru, bring all the tea you can carry. Kyon, buy all of the things on this list. Koizumi, you supervise Kyon to make sure that he doesn't waste any time. I'll do something special. Anyways, what are you waiting for? Get going!"

I can always rely on you to simultaneously solve and give me a problem. Wait, a lot of these things on the list are expensive. I don't think I can pay for all of this.

"Are you stingy or what? It's for a fellow brigade member, don't you realize? If you can find it in your cold, tiny, blackened heart to pay for Yuki's recovery, then do so. If you don't, then you are less of a man then I thought."

My heart is definitely not cold, tiny, or blackened! If she asked me personally I would gladly do it. But it looks like you just want to destroy what remains of my savings.

"Oh, boo-hoo. Too bad. But if I guess that if you are so poor then I can lend you money from our last fund-raiser to buy these things. But at a healthy interest, of course. I'll charge a higher rate then a loan shark!"

I think that would be someone else's money if you were honest about our last fundraiser. That auction was a sham and you know it! She dumped some bills into my hand. I looked at how much I had and the shopping list. Just enough. It looks like if I get a advance on my allowance and not eat lunch for the next month I can pay it off. It looks like a couple of hungry weeks for me...

"So, lets go! If you are late, Kyon, you are going to have to pay a penalty..."

Asahina gave me a half smile as she hurriedly picked up her supplies. As soon as she was done Haruhi yanked her out. I sat uncomfortably as Koizumi stared at me. What was he looking at me for?

"You got to be careful in the coming weeks, Kyon," His unnerving smile creeped me out. Did he learn that you are only supposed to smile when you are happy? Even blind people smile normally, but not him. Is he disabled in some way I can't see that it makes them be incapable of being sincere? "Closed spaces are increasing in frequency for the last quarter and it is expected that this trend will continue. Do you know any reason why this would be.

Of course not. Am I Haruhi's keeper all of a sudden? I know about as much as you do.

"I think you give yourself too little credit. You've proven a asset when it comes to handling Suzumiya. Do you remember last year when I visited you in that closed space, when you were alone in that new world with Haruhi."

Perhaps you should find it in yourself to make yourself interesting to her. Nothing could make me happier if she thought I was a regular person – boring.

"Hah, you think we haven't tried... I'm telling you as a friend, Kyon. Not as a vague threat from a mysterious organization, like you think, but from a friend."

How do you know that? I thought that espers couldn't read minds.

"Good guess, but we have our ways of extracting information from... reluctant persons."

I don't even want to know. Say, shouldn't we be getting the things that Haruhi wants to get?

"My organization is picking some of those items up. The thing is that only one of those things is impossible to get."

Wait. Let me see that. What? I don't think even the Emperor could possibly get that item on such a short notice. Ah, man, I only noted down the ones I saw with prices...

"Thankfully, a source of mine told me recently that that item was available, but for a short time, and only at a certain location. I'd already paid the price, so he should be arriving at the drop site in about fifteen minutes."

What? Koizumi, don't scare me like that. If there is a solution available tell me immediately – I don't want to feel a shock like that ever again.

"As you wish. But I believe that it is time to go. Shall we walk there?"

You already know the answer to that. Let me get my coat.

"I have to inform you that in order to meet Suzumiya's expectations, I still have to take away your money that she lent you."

You just had to twist the knife in further, did you?

"I try not to.

The weather was getting colder and a light flurry powdered my face. The weather was almost beautiful, in a way, like fresh snow or clear ice, but then I remembered the practical end of things. This snow was going to make walking up that damn hill hell. I remember the time when I was in middle school when I slipped down the hill when I tripped. I had to hide the bruise, too. All of the outdoor markets would be closed. The bread van wouldn't come. The trains will be slower. In general, snow isn't good for city life. But I guess that art in nature wouldn't come without a price.

"What are you going to do after high school ends, Kyon?" Koizumi had a slight pucker to his mouth.

I don't know. Why are you asking all of these questions? Do you have some sort of point to make?

"No, it was just a curious question. But if I guess that if you don't like me, then you don't have to tell me."

Stop phrasing your statements with such weird language. I really don't know.

"My organization gives me much leeway because I associate with Suzumiya. They let me on a longer leash then they usually give other espers. I guess I'm lucky that way." He held out his hands in a shrugging gesture. "Once high school ends I'm going to follow Suzumiya, wherever she goes. I suppose if you looked it one way you could see that I have selfish intentions."

For the longest time I didn't think anyone would willingly follow her but you are the great exception.

"Think about it, Kyon. Asahina is trapped here until she is recalled. Nagato could either give her function to another interface or continue observing. In whatever shape or form, as long as Suzumiya is interested in us we will stay together to observe her."

Make your point. I don't like being lead around by the nose.

"You have the freedom to do whatever you want. I think it is a strong possibility that you don't have a controlling organization behind you, so you must be here just because Suzumiya likes you. You aren't here because you were placed, and that makes you special. What are you going to do? Disappoint her? Do you have any plans?"

I think that the best way is to go with the flow and see what she comes up with. And besides, if I made a plan she would interfere with it somehow, but why bother?

"True, true. I guess that there is some merit to what you say. But I think you underestimate the personality of Suzumiya. She's got her eye on you for a year now, something that your friend Taniguchi has remarked to you, yes?" He pointed his hands forward, in a pointing gesture towards the sky.

You know too much for your own good. Haven't you heard of privacy of conversation?

"What? I couldn't hear you. Must be the wind. But anyways, Kyon, you must make a decision, and soon. Odysseus's wife waited for him for fourteen years. I doubt that Haruhi will be as patient. "

I think that Haruhi will leave me in the dust, not the other way around. Don't you think that the analogy is flawed, given the circumstances?

"Oh, you got me there." I can taste your insincerity. If you want to talk to me then take me seriously. I don't feel like being patronized today. He smiled. "Oh, there she is. Wave, Kyon."

Tsuruya was sitting in the middle of the square with a black box. As soon as she saw us she jumped off the bench and started to walk briskly toward us. "Hello, Koizumi! I got your request, and boy, was its a toughs one to do. I had to look through the entire storeroom but I found a couple."

She opened it up. Fresh persimmons! Those damn housewives have deals with the stockboys to buy the product before it even gets to the store. Students can't compete with that. They are fresh enough to have that nice smell. Now Suzumiya has to give me some credit, because I don't think that you could have such freshness in the middle of the schoolday.

She quickly closed the box. "Satisfied? Next time if you want a small favor, Koizumi, don't be afraid to asks." She gave a actual, genuine smile. Compared to her, Koizumi was a pink miniature Christmas tree. "Says, why dids you takes Kyon withs you? Is its for sometings specials?" Her pleasant expression changed to something much more horrific.

"Oh, we're just going out for a mid-day stroll. He insisted."

What are you insinuating, Koizumi? I can take this sort of insult from Haruhi, but from you? I don't have a single iota of patience to deal with your foolish language.

"Ohs? Is that trues? Whats will Haruhi thinks?" If Tsuruya was playing along, I couldn't notice it.

"Suzumiya actually ordered me to follow him. Poor Kyon sometimes gets lost in the big city." Now that was just out of line. I only got lost that one time, and you have to hold it over my head forever.

"Reallies? Well then, I hope you lots of lucks in your relationships. See ya!" She walked away from us, her scarf dancing in the wind.

We started to walk to Nagato's apartment. A uncomfortable silence was mine to savour for the few minutes. I purposely started to walk faster then Koizumi and he matched my pace. At the end of it we were practically sprinting. I was at the intercom when Koizumi finally caught up with me. I stared with my best irritated look directly at his skull. If he was a really good esper he'd detect my bad vibes and hopefully not act like a dick. There was hope.

"Any reason why you disdained our conversation during the last couple of minutes?" This time his smile was slightly less strained. I kept my back to him and I started to look for Nagato's house number. "I can assure you that Tsuruya was making a joke at your expense, and I just played along. Nothing personal, you understand." I ignored him. Why is she taking so long to answer? "I can assure you that I have no interest in you. But if you want to-"

Stop right there. Whatever conclusion you were going to make, keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it.

"As you wish." Was that a hint of resignation from unflappable Koizumi? Whatever Tsuruya made him do, it must had been bad.

"..."

Nagato, it's me, Kyon. I'm here with the item that Haruhi requested.

"...yes."

The door buzzer rang and the door unlocked. Come to think about it, where are the other items on the list? We didn't go shopping for them.

"Oh, that's simple." He closed his eyes and smiled. What was he waiting for? "I would advise you to cover your ears," he started to say when a roar of a engine suddenly made itself known over a distance. I slowly backed up as a man wearing a jetpack descended onto the pavement.

The man removed his helmet and said: "Hello, I am a man with a jetpack that is happening to pass by." Mr. Arakawa? Of all of the disguises that I've seen you in, this one is the worst. Who would believe such a bald-faced lie?

"Hello, man that I've definitely never met before. Do you have anything for me?" Koizumi said to him.

The sound of a helicopter coming closer was increasing in volume. "Yes, in fact, I do!" He handed him a brown package. "Now I must be off."

"HELLO. I AM A MAID IN A HELICOPTER THAT IS HAPPENING TO PASS BY. DO YOU NEED A LIFT, MAN WHO I DON'T KNOW BUT IS IN A JETPACK?" The maid-lady? Why is she speaking with a megaphone? Doesn't this go against all rules of tact and stealth?

"Yes, my good maid, thank you for the offer!" Mr. Arakawa engaged his rocket pack and landed in the news helicopter. The helicopter quickly disappeared into the distance. Those people are either run the most brilliant black ops operations or the most foolish. I can't tell which. Does anyone in the real world buy their horrible lies? They are plainly obvious to me. Am I the only sane man?

"Well, get in, Kyon." Koizumi had already made his way into the building. How does he do that? On second thought, no, my final thought is that I don't want to know. And I find myself not caring.

I followed him into the elevator. The entire first floor was surprisingly sterile, considering that it was a apartment building in the middle of the city. Come to think about it, I haven't seen anyone else in this building except Nagato. Do all of the humanoid interfaces live here, or does she live alone in this entire building? Are there enough interfaces to fill each and every apartment in this complex? That is a sobering though.

The lights in the elevator flickered for a moment and the elevator started to go up. It was eerily silent which made me question what exactly was driving it. Some sort of alien deportation device? You know what's happening to Yuki, Koizumi?

"I don't know personally, but I'm sure-" The elevator lights flickered again and the elevator was plunged into darkness.