The season was summer. Second window seat from the back has it's disadvantages. If the spring sunshine wasn't enough to bake me in my winter uniform the summer would soon arrive with stronger rays and evaporate the very cloth off my back. Spring was over… When do we change uniforms?

After finishing up the last of the first term exams, classes were a lot laid back since we were all relieved from the pressure of tests and study. I don't really see the point of taking a test in this artificial reality. As Koizumi said, everyone here that isn't important to Haruhi is just an illusion. Why the heck wouldn't that apply to materials as well? I already took and failed this exam, and I doubt Haruhi would have even cared to include it to a point where it directly affects my life. Why did I even take it in the first place? Well a student's life isn't complete without that do or die test you take once a few months. Haruhi's filled in the fundamentals of an artificial reality.

"Kyon! Your test scores are out! I hope you did well!" Asakura smiled as she handed me the envelope concealing my test score sheets. I lazily ripped it open.

"Well I'll be damned…"

Summer Verse 1

"How did you do on the exams Kyon?" Haruhi asked looking at her own satisfactory score sheet.

"Don't worry about me… I did just fine." I groaned, hunched over the table.

"C'mon let me see!" She started shaking me with both of her hands. This girl, it's the first test since we've met. I doubt she had anyone to compare test scores with until now. I can't let my abyssal grade keep her from the joys laughing hysterically at another's grade and rubbing theirs into the face of others like sand paper dipped in acid. I remorsefully handed her my paper. I had forgotten, this Haruhi finds test scores to be very relative…

"Let's see! First up is 'Japanese'… Wow Kyon. Good luck next time! Study harder!" Haruhi said encouragingly.

I was too ashamed to even look at her face as she read further down the lines of subjects. Japanese was my best subject which Haruhi had just breezed through. When she finally reached the bottom she knew that it was pointless to feed me empty words of encouragement.

"Wow Kyon… You really suck…" She sighed exhausted from reading all my fail scores, putting much breath into the last word.

"Don't worry about me, I still have a few more exams to go. I haven't failed completely."

"If you say so." Haruhi said taking her seat behind me.

The reason I failed so hard on my test is because I thought it wouldn't affect anything that I did afterwords. I just guessed and filled in the answer sheet without even looking at the questions. Things like this shouldn't be bothering me anymore but it's weird to know that Haruhi, Asakura, and I were the only ones in class with test score envelopes. Just what do you intend to do?

…

Lunch period, Koizumi and I stood in the long line to get our trays. This near daily event wasn't unusual, we talk about a lot of things during these periods. Not necessarily about the reality and how everything and everyone around were just illusions. I've got to say that the illusions have been keeping up. We talk about the weather (No surprise it's the only thing Koizumi seems to bring to the table, at least it's simple and nice unlike those physics spiels he gives me) , today's lunch, I talk about how hard classes while he smiles and nods, what we saw on TV (Just like how the same three episodes of 'Mysteries' seem to be running on every channel 24/7),-

"How's Uru doing, I haven't come to visit in a while. Should I come over today?"

"Well, if you'd like. I don't need anyone's permission or anything. It's not like Uru doesn't like me bringing my friends over."

"I always needed permission. I can't go anywhere unless I get approval from the Organization. Mori always nags at me for going by the convenience store or taking evening walks on the wrong days.

"Much like a mother." I chuckled.

"Much like a wife."

Tch…

We'd talk about Uru and the crazy stuff she does, and not to forget…

"Did you get your test scores Kyon?"

"A lot of customers have been coming by the host bar lately." Koizumi said picking up his tray, eating utensils, and moving forward in line.

"Really? I really don't see the difference." I replied, following Koizumi down the line. It's been the same since I joined.

"There was no one coming by before you started working. Now that you've arrived, this reality can't afford to keep you in an empty bar. I find it humorous how the reality decided to fill in those empty faces."

"Out of all the people it had to be girls from our school. I don't get any customers, I thought I was a host, not a replacement Arakawa. If I wasn't getting paid…"

"Mori likes you Kyon, and as for your hopelessly desolate corner…" He sneered.

So this is war…

"What should I do Koizumi?!" I acted out going down on all fours. "What do you have that I don't that attracts the ladies so?!"

Koizumi stood over me like a female villain character.

"Oh ho ho ho. Don't worry little one! You'll soon be as experienced as I am! Even I, the Crimson Superball lived out bitter days at a deserted corner! Don't be fooled! It was before you could see me in this pitiful state!"

Right into my trap.

"Please! Koizumi! Give me some tips!"

"Where do I even begin with you!"

"Tell me how to start out by having Haruhi as a regular." I spat out bluntly.

Koizumi bent his spoon gripped in his hand an even 90 degrees with his thumb…

…

"About the test scores." Koizumi started taking the seat at the table opposite of me.

"Yeah, did you get yours?"

"Of course I did. I hope you noticed a very few people received them as well."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I didn't expect to encounter anything academically related. Makes you wonder just what Suzumiya wanted to do with these grades. By the way, what did you get?"

I didn't feel like trying to hide it anymore. I might as well…

"Here…" I sighed tossing the scores across the table. Koizumi picked them up and stared for a moment. Then he slid it back to me across the table.

"Not your best exam score I see…" Koizumi smiled.

"Well what the heck did you get?" I asked.

"As I was saying." He cut in. "If Suzumiya made these test scores so that only the selected few receive them then what might you think would be the purpose? Has Suzumiya been up to anything having to do with it?"

"Not really, all she did was compare my answers. I don't think she's compared with anyone else besides me. I know she wouldn't compare with Asakura. I'm sure that she might do so with Nagato."

"What confuses me is that all this doesn't seem to be leading to anything big. The connections you've been making have come to a small and steady rise. I don't feel anything different after taking these exams. Suzumiya has just been Suzumiya and this whole thing hasn't been affecting her or any other people in this reality so far."

So far…

…

About a week after that. I've just been passing time as usual. Making my bit of money at the host bar. Mostly doing cleaning and restocking drinks, carrying all that heavy stuff up the stairs without having any real customers. My house has never been too low of food now and I'm just trying to think up new ways I can make some more 'connections'. It's pretty hard trying to do something when you have no idea how it's actually done. Much like breathing, not matter how many different methods you can try to think of, in the end your only breathing through either your nose or mouth, and all the other differences are minor and does nothing to change the way you live. If you don't breathe at all then… All too similar, I can't stop breathing even if I wanted to. I can't endure the urge to suck in some air. Same with connections, I can't stop making them even if I wanted to.

After the last period was over I was approached by Asakura as I was preparing to leave.

"Hey Kyon, do you have a moment?" She said.

"Yeah, what do you need?"

"It's about your test scores…"

"And…"

"Well, Okabe wants the people who didn't get as high to take extra classes."

"So it's about that… When are those classes? I can't stay after school with work and everything."

"I took that into consideration, we'll be doing them during the weekends, so that won't be conflicting our schedule."

"Our?..."

"I volunteered to teach. I'll be seeing you Saturday!" She smiled and left.

Supplementary classes like these are always given out by teachers. I doubt Haruhi saw Okabe as anything but capable of teaching. Asakura would be the best choice for the job. I went up to the clubroom as usual. After staying for about an hour, I was to leave for the host club.

"Hello everyone." I greeted.

"Hey there Kyon." Haruhi waved. Nagato waved as well.

"I saw you speaking with Asakura, I bet it's about those extra classes. You'll be needing them." She said.

Haruhi has been a lot more cheery and talkative nowadays. She even talks to other people in our class. Less than a few words, but at least she replies instead of shyly nodding.

"So when are you taking the classes?" She asked.

"During the weekends." I replied.

"I thought you're supposed to talk those after school."

"I can't do that, I have my part time job."

"That's right, I forgot."

Haruhi does not know that I work at the host bar. Who knows what kind of awkwardness might arise if I bring back the events of my first visit there. It's only a matter of time before she finds out. I'm just curious to know how long I can put it off before she does. It's not for me to decide anyway, I bet the reality has a set time for everything. Nagato stood up.

"I have somewhere I need to go today. Please lock the doors when you leave."

"Bye then." Haruhi said.

As the door shut I realized that Nagato had just been the first one to close her book and leave. Just where did she need to go today? Haruhi and I were the only ones left in the clubroom. I put my book and decided to chat with Haruhi a little before it became time for me to leave for work.

"You been more cheerful since we first met. Finally getting used to other people I guess."

"It's better then being alone." She replied.

"You'd rather be with someone than be alone?"

"Isn't that the better way to go?" She asked.

A few more moments of silence.

"Were you ever alone Kyon?"

I can't really give a sure answer. I don't think I've ever been truly alone in my life. I've had some minor friends to hang around. All this is too troublesome to recall.

"That's not important. What matters is that we all have someone to be with."

…

After work I decided to invite Itsuki over for dinner. As he brought up during lunch he thought it'd be a nice idea to drop in to visit.

"I'm home." I called out.

"Welcome back!" She said "Oh, it's you! Umm… what was your name again…"

"Itsuki." I reminded.

"Yeah! That's it. Why don't you two take a seat I'll get dinner ready." She said going into the kitchen. She served us both a cup of tea.

"Wow, she's really improved." Koizumi said taking a sip. "Did you teach her?"

"Kind of. I just said yes, or whatever to everything she asked me. I wasn't really paying attention." I said taking a drink myself. I have to admit, she's good at this now.

"Impressive. Tastes nostalgic in a way." Koizumi smiled.

To Our Beloved Reader: That was an extremely long vacation I took. With school exams and everything I can't say this was a delay, but a planned gap between the chapters. Don't be confused now, I'll get back to the events of spring. Enjoy the new arc I have going here.

I wanted to get this out as fast as possible. Please pick up some of the little mistakes for me. I did some basic spell check, but typos always have my by the neck.

Thanks for Reading: LordPlagus777