We arrived at the hotel sooner than expected. Time flew by and there was no time to waste before we were to spend our first night at the hotel. According to Koizumi this trip was either planned or made to be by Haruhi or Nagato. My suspicions were on Haruhi for all the obvious reasons, yet I wasn't able to be completely skeptical. This was Koizumi's instinct. Besides that there's no higher in telling what was going on this world. I wish he would be more specific with his explanations.

I'm not sure which station we got off of. I checked the train stops but only found two listed on the schedule. In short it was something similar to the first stop being 'home' and the place where we arrived being 'here'.

The evening air was fresher and cleaner compared to back home. It felt as if we were in a whole other country. We were in a town that felt and seemingly cut off the rest of the world, surrounded by mountains on all sides, having a slight rural theme to it.

Closely to the station was the town's entertainment district, having everything from movie theaters to arcades. It was like someone cut out the entire downtown of a city and pasted it right in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. I couldn't complain. The setting was near perfect.

In the distance were the many rides of the amusement park we were to go the next day. Roller coasters, free falls, and the near impossible to miss Ferris wheel. Haruhi walked in the lead and took a deep breath of the fresh air. She looked pumped and ready to take a night out on the town.

"This is great guys! Besides the amusement park, it looks like we won't be bored for the rest of our vacation." She declared a loud side of Haruhi that I'd never thought I'd see. She's a hundred years too early to make up to even half of the old Haruhi's charisma. I'd never thought I'd find myself smiling to one of Haruhi's announcements. I was truly looking forward to this time off. Koizumi's warning could've have worried me less.

"Where might our hotel be?" Haruhi asked Koizumi.

Koizumi reached into his back pocket and took out a small piece of paper.

"It's over there." He pointed to a building with a large neon sign displaying 'hotel' in a bright red light. How could we have possibly missed that?

"Then off we go!" Haruhi beckoned us to follow.

The hotel wasn't very luxurious. It was average to say the least. It was fairly large in terms of size. There were no other customers than us, which flet out of place, but what doesn't make me feel the like. It was creepy but then again what isn't?

"By the way…" I said. "How many rooms did we book?" I asked Koizumi.

"That's a very good question… I'll have to ask the clerk at the counter. I believe he'll tell us everything we need to know." He replied as if unsure.

Koizumi then walked over to the clerk and asked about the rooms and other matters of service. Nagato was looking around the lobby, picking up the magazines and trying out the little candies in the bowls on the table.

"Isn't this great Kyon?" Haruhi asked.

"Sure is, how about you?"

"Couldn't wish for anything more." She smiled with an excited tingle.

This confirms it. There can't possibly be any other person than Haruhi.

"You seemed to be having a quiet conversation with Koizumi on the train. Care to tell me what it might be about?"

Haruhi went stiff.

"That's nothing to worry about. Don't be too concerned." Haruhi said.

By the looks of it, it didn't seem like she was going to say anything more. If I continue to push on it's going to ruin the mood. I'd rather not spend my time with Haruhi this way.

"I get it, I won't ask." I replied.

Haruhi went a light shade of pink.

"Thanks for understanding." She said.

Her ability to change colors at any random given moment fascinated me. In short, I couldn't stop staring whenever she blushed. Haruhi noticed that I was spacing out while looking at her.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked fretfully taking out a mirror from her bag.

The old Haruhi never cared about what she looked like. She had no interest in makeup and hairstyles for the sake of just her appearance. Not like any version of Haruhi would need any makeup anyway. Seeing Haruhi take out a mirror was something that made her feel out of character, even for this Haruhi. Whatever the feeling was I didn't want her doing that for some reason. I grabbed her hand holding the mirror and lowered it from her face.

"What?" Haruhi asked timidly.

"You're fine. You don't need it." I told her.

She put the mirror back in the bag, turning an even deeper shade of pink. I could tell she was just dying to take a look.

Apparently Koizumi had finished and approached us while the staff took our bags up to the room.

"We have a problem." Koizumi said grimly.

We didn't have to ask. Given the situation and our expressions Koizumi had to explain. What else would he do? Leave us hanging and walk away without saying anything?

"It seems that we are only allowed one room." Koizumi said. "And it does appear to be big enough for just about four..."

"I thought we booked about two!" Haruhi said confused.

"It doesn't seem like it. There's only one available for our use." Koizumi replied.

"I guess we have no choice then?" I shrugged. "I have no problems sleeping on the floor."

"Don't worry; we have two beds, each big enough for two people to sleep in." Koizumi smiled.

"The floor!" I emphasized.

…

The room was indeed small for four people, especially when there are two males and two females fitting in. The two beds were each placed next to the opposite walls the distance separating the two just enough for a person to stand between... Besides the beds there was a small closet and the bathroom. That was pretty much the place we were going to spend our next two nights in. Not too cramped, it was wide enough for each of us to enjoy our personal space in peace. Not as near luxurious as Koizumi's island mansion, but it was good enough.

"This is comfortable to say the least. We won't have any issues with our privacy here." Koizumi smiled.

"This is great. I was worried that there wasn't going to be enough floor for me to sleep on." I sighed, stretching after the long train ride. I wanted to get to bed as soon as possible.

"You really don't have to." Koizumi said.

"Nope! I'll be fine."

Haruhi and Nagato had finished sorting out their bags.

"Can you two leave the room?" Haruhi asked.

"Why?" I asked back.

"Both of us need to take a shower. You two should wait outside until we're done. Since it's pretty late its best if we finish as soon as possible so Nagato and I will be showering together. After that you're free to use the bathroom however you like." Haruhi explained.

"Can't we just wait in the room?" I asked.

"No! We need to change! Just wait for a while." Haruhi said pushing us both out of the room.

Had it been Asahina asking me to do so, I wouldn't have had any argument. Something about Haruhi asking me to leave a room worries me. Koizumi had no choice but to follow as well. The door shut and the two of us were out in the hallway with nothing to do but wait.

"I have a feeling this might take a while…" I sighed crouching down next to the door.

"Why don't get a few drinks at the lobby?" Koizumi suggest. I had no problems. It's better than standing around. I haven't had anything to drink since we got on the train.

There were a few vending machines on the first floor in the hallway from the lobby. It weren't the 'drinks' I had in mind but I guess canned stuff is good too.

"How much did you pay for this room?" I asked. I'm sure he must've been strapped on money if he could only get one for the four of us.

"Actually, I didn't pay a thing." Koizumi replied.

That figures, I want to avoid an explanation about how this reality works. If you paid nothing, that's no surprise to me.

"Why did we only get one room?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I was sure I reserved two." Koizumi answered as if he was trying to remember the specifics from when he was discussing the subject of rooms over the phone with the hotel.

"There isn't anyone else. I don't see why the guy can't give us another room. Can't we ask? If there's one empty then he should have no problem giving us one if we pay for it. I can't go for a drink every time Haruhi does something that needs me to wait outside." I explained.

"I'll try." Koizumi said going down the hallway and around the corner to the lobby.

No doubt that Haruhi or Nagato were the cause for us having only one room. It's confusing trying to figure out why they would want something like that. If it's for some special 'interest' then there's no point if we were going to be with other people, especially Koizumi.

Speak of the devil, he was already back. Did he get the room? I hope he managed to get at least three. If possible I would like my own with a separate bed from his.

"The clerk doesn't seem to be here." Koizumi said darkly.

"He probably in the back, he can't stand out there at the counter all the time. There's barely any business. Did you try ringing that little bell at the counter?" I replied jokingly.

"Kyon follow me." Koizumi said.

"For what?"

"You need to see something." Koizumi ran back into the lobby.

What's the big deal? Did the clerk die? Like that time on the island? I bet it's your thing, faking mystery cases every time we go somewhere nice and I'm enjoying myself… Let me remind you that Haruhi isn't into that sort of stuff and it's probably the last thing she wants to hear when she comes out of the shower. Ah wait… I was following Koizumi the whole time while thinking this…

The scene that awaited me in the lobby was disturbing. The room… it was… it was…

Empty… nothing was there.

Damn it Koizumi… you were right. I did need to see something. I better start seeing things or there might really be a murder mystery on our hands…

"Before you distrust me I ask you to look outside." Koizumi pointed past the glass double doors. It looks like Koizumi might live past tonight to enjoy the rest of his vacation…

The night sky was torn right down the middle end to end from each side of the town going over the mountains. The tear in the sky was a straight line, with blue light pouring from its seams. This light didn't illuminate the town below. The light wasn't the only spectacle. The skies on both sides were grinding against each other, one spinning in one direction and the other in the opposite. The two halves were like rotating disks of black and gray clouds. You might be imagining lighting and loud noise, but it was in a way, peaceful but dangerous. The light was soft on the eyes, the clouds just as gentle. The wind was blowing, a warm refreshing breeze.

"What the hell is that?" I stared in wonder. The town was strangely empty, and dark. All the neon signs and lights were off, there were no people.

"This tear in the sky might explain the absence of the illusion in this part of the reality."

I looked around once more. Without the lights and people, it was like looking into the empty eyes of a skull that was once a face. Completely different, desolate, it contradicts the peacefulness of the light above. Everything was gray, like closed space.

"Reality is a hollow shape Kyon. Without a god everything is as empty as this town."

"Why?" I simply asked.

"It appears that this is a product of Suzumiya's inner emotions battling another force. As a result this tear in the sky appeared. By the looks of it, the illusions were momentarily abandoned in the process"

"Battling? I thought Haruhi was some sort of absolute force. Why does she meet resistance?"

"This world was created by Haruhi's powers, at the time, it was weak. This is merely a miniscule fraction of the god like powers she once possessed.

"Fraction? Is there something wrong with her powers?"

"Her powers are based on her mental state." Koizumi stared at me as if he was blaming me.

"What is she battling?"

"My two guesses are, one, with herself, her inner emotions." Koizumi said.

"That's way too cheesy, even for you Koizumi."

"Kyon… This may be the appropriate time to break my promise. I originally wasn't going to reveal it, but now that the circumstances are known; if you are ill informed this tear might not be the last we see of this phenomenon."

"What's your secret?"

"Suzumiya whispered things to me in the host bar and the train. Do you remember?"

"Yeah."

"She was asking me for advice on how to get closer to you for she thinks we are very close friends. She wanted to plan this trip so that she would be able to close the distance between you two."

"…"

"While the majority of me is sure that that is the reason, guess number two, there was an unexpected change in data. One that Suzumiya never intended when she decided to change the reality. From the moment she had made her final decision. Nagato Yuki had interfered and added herself in as well. Both are happening or have happened as we speak"

"So I'm guessing it's both…"

The sky silently continued to swirl.
"I believe so. I also believe you are to make the right decisions. For the sake of both worlds, the winner may not be clear. Then again, you're the one who gets to choose."

To Our Beloved Readers: The story has been dragging lately. I decided to pick it up. I hope you all enjoyed it. Was I too direct?

Thanks for Reading: LordPlagus777