Let's Rock this Rocket ship!

Chapter 9: Five More Minutes

(July 29; 9:15 am, Kyon's House, Kyon's Room. 31 days until festival performance.)

Kyon

It's said that the dreams take you experience at night are actually representations of your former life. It's also said (somehow) that reality itself is one big dream. Personally, I find both of those two theories a load of crap. Dreams are merely images that our brains create using our emotions and behaviors in life, putting them into sideshows that play in our brain. Most of them seem heavenly, but no matter how much we love staying in dreamland, we're always going to wake up eventually. That's kind of a metaphor of my current life.

A blissful, yet head-bursting dream, and now, I had five more figures to weigh on my shoulders. Yay.

I had attempted to accomplish to be new best friends with my new instrument, a "Schecter Guitar Research Stargazer-4 Electric Bass Guitar, Black Model", and I practically spent the whole night trying to get my fingers to cooperate with the bloody thing. I pretty much got the basics, but the end result was as I predicted.

I suck, period.

I applauded Mio for being such a prodigy with this sort of thing because I didn't know jack squat about musical instruments. The thought that I would be able to master this thing by the time the festival came was grief striking to me because I knew what would happen if I didn't. Even still, I pretty much gave up last night, and went to bed.

Like I said, I pretty much spent all night trying to play that thing, so I didn't sleep a lot. It seems to have become a usual thing for me, and I hated that.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP *

The sound of my annoying alarm clock rang through my ears early in the morning, making me think I should buy another one that wasn't as noisy as this one. I desperately crawled on my bed to where the clock was, and shut it off before it could bother me any further.

"Damnit...just five more minutes..."

You know when people say "Five more minutes", they almost never mean that. It's basically their way of saying "Go away! I'm trying to sleep!" That's what I was telling the clock. I was the one calling the shots on whether or not I can fall back asleep.

*DOOR OPENS*

Under my covers, the sound of the door to my room opening caught my attention for about 2 seconds, followed by the sound of tip-toeing. I dismissed it though, considering the following possibilities. It could've have been:

A.) Shamisen the cat, ready to try to steal my blanket for his own use.

B.) My little sister, ready to pull me out of bed by dragging me to the floor.

But little did I know there was a third option.

"AIRBORNE ATTACK!"

"GGAAAHHHH!"

*THUD*

C.) One of the Sakuragaoka band girls, ready to wake me up by launching themselves on to me.

Now my back was to the floor, with my face staring up to what would have been the ceiling. However, someones face blocked my view.

"Morning, Sleepy Head!"

One who could make Haruhi look like a proper adult.

"Yui, would you mind getting off me?"

"Oh! Sorry about that!"

Yui backed off to the side, allowing me to sit up and get a good view of her. She was wearing a navy blue blazer, solid white buttoned shirt (under blazer), a aqua blue ribbon, a light steel blue skirt, black stockings, and maroon shoes. I asked if what she was wearing was her school uniform.

"Yeah, it is! I picked these stocking myself, and I think this uniform really goes well with these two pins on my hair, don't you think?"

"Well, you are a girl. So I guess accessorizing with those kinds of things do make you-

Wait! I'm getting off topic! How'd you get inside my house?!"

"Oh that! Your little sister let us in! She's super adorable, by the way!"

Believe me, once you get to know her, you'll see her in a whole other light.

"Wait. 'Us'? Did you come here with someone else-?"

"Big Sis!" A voice came from downstairs. "Breakfast is ready! Hurry, and wake him up before it gets cold!"

"Okay, Ui! Kyon-kun! Let's hurry up! Ui's meals are the best!" She said to me, then ran out of my door.

"Okayyyy..."

I didn't know what was going on at first, but at least I was saved the trouble of making breakfast.

I scratched my stomach as I exited my room, and went down the stairs. As I neared the bottom, the smell of fresh rice and soy bean sauce filled my nose. It felt like I was going inside a fancy restaurant when my parents take me and my sister for the holidays. Whoever was cooking was doing a damn good job.

I made my way inside the living room, and my first glance was my little sister, sitting on the floor with her eyes on the TV, watching a local baseball game. On the table she was in front of, several plates and a bowl. I guess was that she had finished eating.

"Oh! You're awake!"

My head turned to my right, I now came across another girl who was almost in the exact same uniform as Yui. The only differences was that she was wearing not black stockings, but knee-high socks, and her ribbon was reddish, not aqua blue.

"It's very nice to meet you." The girl said, bowing in respect towards me. "My name is Ui Hirasawa. I'm Yui's younger sister. I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen."

"Ah, no! It's no trouble! I just woke up, so I don't really have the energy to lift a pot or pan."

"Ah, ha ha! Don't worry! I already have everything set up! You can eat now if you want."

She didn't even have to point out where the food was. The flavorful smell lead me to the diving table, where a delicious array of dishes presented themselves to me. Fresh Steamed Rice, Bean-paste filled Taiyaki, Miso Soap, Broiled Fish, and Tamagoyaki! All mine for the taking!

"Don't need to ask me again! *SITS DOWN AND CLAPS HANDS TOGETHER*

Itadakimasu! (頂きます = I receive this!)"

It was. Without a doubt. The best damn meal I had ever sat down to. Without question. And this was breakfast too! You couldn't fake this sort of thing. It's impossible, and to think that Yui gets to eat stuff like this every day.

("Ui's meals are the best!")

Yui was defiantly for her word.

"I hope it was to your liking." Ui said to me while she was cleaning the dishes.

"Oh, trust me. It was to my liking! Where did you learn to cook like that?"

"It was mostly hands-on experience. My parents are usually out of the house with work or vacation, and Big Sis isn't one to, well...take care of herself properly."

"Whoa. You must have it tough."

"No, not really. I love caring for Big Sis! Yes, she may not act completely like she should for her age. In fact, before she entered High School, she was always desperately dependent on me."

My God. Yui's the perfect example of a juvenile.

"However, ever since she join the light music club at school, she's been becoming more determined and focused than I've ever seen. My guess is that she's doing this so that she can to prove that she can be able to accomplish things herself. That's why I'm happy to help Big Sis with whatever she needs!"

"...Wow."

Okay people! Listen up! This! This right here is the perfect example of a adept little sister! Someone who's completely obedient and respectful toward his older siblings and is always there to offer a helping hand. Compared to my younger sister...

("Come on, Kyon! Let me go with you guys! I wanna go! I WANNA!")

...maybe I should ask Yui if I can trade sisters with her. She and my younger sister would become great playmates.

"Speaking of which," I spoke up. "Why are you here anyway? I thought only one Hirasawa would come here today."

"Oh, that. Well, you see, Big Sis asked me how she would be able to arrive at the address you gave her yesterday, and I thought it would be best to come with her to make sure the address was correct."

No, that's not it. You went with her just to make sure that she didn't get lost a quarter of the way through.

"UI! UI! You have to see this!" Yui's voice roared through the hall as she came rocketing to the living room, coming to a hall right in front of Ui as she cuddled Shamisen in her arms.

"This cat is SO adorable! She's so fluffy and soft! I just have to show her to Azu-nyan!"

Well, the cat's a he, not a she.

"Big Sis! You shouldn't pry on other people's belongings! Put him down, please!"

"Ehhh...okayyyy." *RELEASES CAT ONTO FLOOR*

You know what? Yui can keep her. She'll need her more than I'd want her in a lifetime.

...Wait. 'Azu-nyan'? Is she talking about Azusa? I'm afraid that if I pry into this, I'm not going to like what I find out.

*DING DONG*

The doorbell's ring played once though the house, meaning that someone is at the door.

"Don't worry, guys." I said as I got up from the table. "I'll get it."

I made my way into the hallway, wondering who could be at the door. As I finally came to the door, I opened it, and came across a familiar, quiet face.

"..."

Silent as ever, Nagato.

"Hey there." I greeted her. "Hope there wasn't any trouble getting here."

"There was not." She said in her usual dispassionate voice. As I witness her usual attire, a.k.a her school uniform, she was holding something that caught my eye.

"Umm, Nagato. What's with the sleeping bag?"

"I was informed by Haruhi Suzumiya yesterday to make all the necessary preparations needed for the sleep-over tonight."

"S-sleepover? I wasn't told about any kind of sleepover!"

"Because the event would transpire at your home, she felt it was unnecessary to inform you."

Great. Once again, I'm the village idiot in her eyes.

"Swell. Well, come on in, Nagato." I told her, moving out of the way for her to gain entry. She nodded slightly, then walked inside.

"Hey, Nagato." I spoke up again. "Could you tell the others that I'm going upstairs to get ready?"

"...I will." She answered, looking back at me.

"Thanks."

She nodded again, then turned her head, and continued walking towards the living room. As I walked up the stairs, I pulled out my cellphone, which I had picked up when I left my room. There was someone I now needed to call.

*RING-RING*

"Hello? Itsuki Koizumi speaking."

"Hey, Koizumi. It's me. Listen, you know about the sleepover, right?"

"Ah, yes. Miss Suzumiya had sent me a text message last night, informing us that we would conduct a sleepover today, and to bring all the proper necessities, such as sleeping gear, swim suits, snacks, etc. It looks like you really didn't know about it, didn't you?"

Ah, so you knew as well, and you didn't think to tell me, you rat bastard.

"Anyway, I don't have much stuff for the sleepover, and I was wondering-"

"Don't worry about it. Miss Kotobuki and I are already on our way to the supermarket to pick up some supplies."

"Oh yeah. You went with Mugi-chan to her house for some tips on how to learn the piano, right."

"Yes, that's true, and I must say, she is one excellent teacher. A piano prodigy, if you will, but in accordance with the second part of your last statement, it's more like her estate. Her house was quite large, and very deluxe. I must admit, Miss Kotobuki's family has quite the penny to spend."

Am I suppose to be jealous, or something?

In the end, I told Koizumi all the things we needed, and hung up. I'll admit, I didn't like at first the idea that so many people would be here all at one in my house when Haruhi told us last night about our meeting place, and now, they were going to be here for a full 24 hours. Neighbors, get your earmuffs ready.

I gathered my school uniform where it was lying on floor of my room, and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. As I was in there, the door bell rang again. That meant that some else had arrived.

I fixed my tie as I walked down the stairs, but keep it as it usual was, seeing no reason to change it. I had gone for a year and three months without someone bugging me to fix my tie, and I didn't need someone telling me now.

I walked back into the living room, and saw the newest members to the current group, Miss Asahina and Miss Tsuruya, had arrived. Now we only needed six more people, but you know what they say: two's company, three's a crowd, and twelve is a wild New Years party at my uncles house.

"Oh, hello Kyon!" Miss Asahina greeted me with the smile of all smiles. "I hope that we're not intruding on anything important right now."

Oh, Miss Asahina! You're always welcome in my house! Consider it a second home for you!

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