Koizumi's idea really is something I hadn't expected out of him. If he's really willing to join the literacy club, or in other words the new SOS Brigade with him on the roster, it must be for real. I was a little interested… Alright, I was interested in how everyone in the club would receive my suggestion for a mystery hunt, excluding Nagato of course. At the same time my feeling of anticipation was also mixed with the feeling of hesitation. What if I get rejected? Imagine this. We are all together in the clubroom discussing plans for the weekend meeting. Haruhi suggests going to the movies. Nagato suggests going to the library. Then Uru suggests whatever else. There can't have been a worse moment to blurt out 'we should look for mysteries' or 'we should look for aliens'. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about what kinds of looks they would be giving me. They might tell me to shut up and sit down, and I can't handle that!

With that on my mind, Uru and I decided to go our separate ways. With once again our food resources running low, it was time for her to stop by at the grocery store and get what we needed… which was written on a very long shopping list Uru had intended for her own use that she had shoved onto me. Feeling that she hadn't had enough rest over the weekend, she had ordered me to do the shopping myself while she sits around lazing back at my house. Oh well, she does cook for me and all, I can let this slide just once.

There were only two problems that had kept me from completing my quest. One was that all the things on Uru's list all comprised of extremely weighty items which I was required to carry home myself. The other problem, I had no clue where to even buy anything grocery related in this reality. The only two people that seemingly knew where to find such places were Uru herself and-

"Good evening Kyon! Taking a walk in this nice Autumn weather?" Asakura Ryoko waved from a dim sidewalk afar. Well just my luck, it looks like I'll be able to ask for directions. Blue hair blowing in the breeze, out of the hospital and looking as healthy and anyone can be.

"Hi there." I said "Yes, nice weather isn't it?" Why must everyone speak of weather the moment they meet someone?

"What's that?" Asakura pointed at my long list which very much looked like a lengthy strip of unrolled toilet paper as it fluttered in the wind.

"It's a grocery list." I replied.

"You're out shopping?" Asakura asked trying to get a peek of my list.

"Yeah, I'm out shopping, Uru put me to it." I said backing away as Asakura came closer and closer trying to read the list.

"You left her alone at home? Why not take her?" She teased.

"She's lazy and…" I can't really say good for nothing can I?

"Say no more!" She said coming to my side and hooking her arm around mine. "More for me! It also happens that I too am out to buy some necessary ingredients for the week. Why don't we go together?"

Do I have a choice? I was about to ask if she knew where the supermarket was, but it does seem stupid to be holding an extremely long list without a clue where to find anything. I would rather play it cool instead of making a fool of myself.

"Sure you can come along." I said with superiority. My act was interrupted as Asakura jerked me away in the other direction.

"Follow my lead. You're coming with me." Asakura said with sweet venom in her voice.

…

"You're kidding me…" I said under my breath as a stood in front of a perfectly visible illuminating supermarket in the middle of the street that I had never seen before.

"Is this your first time here?" Asakura asked after seeing my expression.

It was a one story building which lit up the street in front of it with the bright lighting in its interior. I wondered what other places were hidden from my knowledge in this reality. Do the illusions actually know more than I do about the place?

"I never had the chance to stop by, so yeah, this would be my first time here." I said. "Is it any good?" I asked trying to carry on the conversation.

"You'll find everything you'll need." Asakura said eyeing my list.

I bet, this was the only market in town. If Uru gave me the list, then all the items were obtainable in some way, if not from the store itself. I'm sure I'll get everything I need from here.

"Let's get in. We won't get anything done just by standing in front of the place." Asakura said briskly before entering through the automatic doors and immediately observing the produce in one of the stands. I followed her in soon enough.

With her assistance I was amazingly able to gather everything on the list with a single clock wise sweep of the store. She pointed out the little details, decoding Uru's indecipherable notes next to some of the things on the list.

"Alright, curry, check." I said throwing the box into the cart.

"No, Kyon, that's not the kind of curry you want." She picked out another box of the hundred brands of curry. "It's this one you want." She said taking the other brand out of the cart and placing it back on the shelf once again able to pinpoint one brand out of a hundred.

With the lack of places for recreation in this reality, there are a hell lot of different types of curry to choose from. I could've sworn I've looked over an ice cream flavor a while ago. Just what was Haruhi thinking when making this universe?

"Is that everything on the list?" she asked.

I really had no idea. The cart was completely full and judging on the crossing out of everything on the list, I would say that all the contents were in the cart. I trust that I haven't left anything out cause I'm not going to bother checking…

I took out the items one by one out of the cart so the checkout girl can get them into bags and taken care of. As she swiped the first few things one by one she started, "Thank you for shopping at-"

What the name of this generic supermarket, I did not find out. In front of me packing everything into a plastic bag was Asahina Mikuru who noticed that it was I who had dropped in late in the evening to do some shopping.

"Hello there." I said awkwardly, staring at her uniform.

"I don't see you here often." She said with a nervous chuckle.

"I didn't know you worked in a super market of all places." I said, she was about half way through putting everything in bags.

Asakura was apparently finished with her own shopping as stood behind me in the aisle.

"Good evening Mikuru." She smiled.

"Good evening." Returned Asahina in a friendly matter that sounded like Asakura was the only one who shopped here.

"You two know each other?" I asked.

"You know Asahina?" Asakura asked.

"Well yeah, we just met, a few… umm… days ago." I lied. Asahina shifted nervously on the spot as she nodded.

"That's nice! It's a small world after all." Asakura said with her hands together. "It's like everyone's one big family.

"Of course we are!" Tsuruya said energetically from behind Asahina who jumped. "What's up Mr. Charming General Man!"

Asakura sniggered.

"It's Charming General Person." I corrected bleakly, never expecting that I would actually bother correct someone for saying my host name incorrectly.

"Oh my, so even Tsuruya here has been to your host bar. Naughty Kyon! You've been with half the school, you have." Asakura said playfully with a red glint in her eye.

"Wasn't me, it was Koizumi." I smiled, trying not to look disturbed by her remark.

"That Superball Boy! We had a great time!" Tsuruya said her expression was one reminiscing the very evening, enjoying her mental visions.

Apparently Asakura was crestfallen at this come back. She glared at Tsuruya, who didn't notice, for just a split moment and resumed her smile worthy of rivaling Koizumi's.

"That is certainly nice to know." She said through her teeth, smiling. "I believe it's been too long since I've dropped Koizumi a visit hasn't it?"

"I believe it had, bring Nagato along will you?" I said casually.

"Of course." Asakura said gripping her bags as an eagle did its prey and stormed off into the night.

I stood there for a few seconds imagining what was to go down in the host bar with Asakura and Koizumi.

"That's good enough for today Asahina." Tsuruya said with her cheerful expression which almost felt mechanic in a creepy way.

"Alright then, I'll go change." Asahina said, bowing to me, her customer, before leaving her post behind the register.

Tsuruya's eyes followed her all the way to the backroom and did not say another word before she was sure that Asahina had left the premise completely.

"So Kyon…" She started.

"Yes?" I asked, her expression became normal again. Traces of her cheerful smile always remained on her face, but this time it had a hint of exhaustion mixed in within.

"How would you like to… work here?" She asked, again checking to see that Asahina was inside the changing room.

These words hit me hard, each one having considerable impact on my consciousness. What was she saying? A job? Here? Can an illusion do that?

"You want me to work here?" I repeated nervously. "I don't know what to say, this is all too sudden."

And yes it was too sudden. I barely had any time to think let alone give a definite answer. I had to choose my words carefully. Tsuruya asked me for a reason and the reality is in motion. By saying no, I can bring everything to a halt and I might never get this opportunity again.

It might be the safest turn of action, but there might be more to be gained by accepting. The question was, what can I gain by working in this place? I would be in an excellent position to make connections with Asahina, and possibly Tsuruya, I believe that's about it. I have no idea how important or valuable connections with Asahina are at the time. I have to find out what kind of relations she might have with Uru as well as other things. I would be better off making connections with Haruhi and Nagato at the host bar. What might Mori and Koizumi say if I tell them that I'll be quitting the bar to work someplace else?

"I'm sorry, you have you host bar thing and all." Tsuruya continued smiling, but with a definite of disappointment. "We are a little short handed with just Mikuru and I you know…" She said, he smile faltering.

After hearing her apologize for something that was never her fault, I couldn't help feeling sorry for her. Asahina would also be going through some difficulties too working here. Since when did this reality make connections more important that working alone at night with two very beautiful upperclassmen in appealing uniforms. Asahina's clumsiness would work wonders in a supermarket setting. This matter became less and less about the reality, and more and more about my conscience and moral values, as well as personal interest.

"Don't worry about it. I'll work here!" I declared.

At this Tsuruya's expression brightened significantly. I had granted her one greatest wish. The question, why was it so?

"Thanks Kyon!" She said.

"No problem, if that's all I'll be off." I said reaching into my pocket to pay for the-

"…" crap…

"What's wrong Kyon?" Tsuruya asked.

"I don't have any money…"

"Why do you need money?"

"You know…" I said.

"No I don't." Tsuruya said looking confused now. "We're about to close now, so you should clear off as soon as you can."

"What about the… I can go?" I asked nervously.

"Of course, you can't stay here overnight you know." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'll be off then." I said taking the bags and walking slowly to the exit.

"Have a safe trip!" She waved.

I guess paying for all this is out of the question in this reality... I always wondered how Uru got everything without getting any money from me.

..

It was the usual lunch period the next day in school. Haven eaten a satisfying dinner by Uru with the ingredients that I had picked up without paying, I wondered why I was hungrier for lunch than usual. Of course, I never eat as much food as I want during lunch, the reason being that it was the time that allowed me and Koizumi to talk freely about the reality and occasionally other subjects of concern. What would be the better time to tell him about what had happened last night than right now?

"I felt something change in the reality last evening Kyon. Did you have something to do with it?" Koizumi asked.

This is not surprising. Koizumi tends to know about these things from time to time. He is an Esper after all. This makes it easier to explain.

"I agreed to work at a supermarket with Tsuruya and Asahina. I thought it would be a good chance to make more connections. I didn't do anything wrong did I?" I asked.

"On the contrary there's no harm done. If you have noticed we have come to a standstill in making connections with Suzumiya. This being the only real event left in the reality, it's only reasonable that we take it rather than risk not making any progress."

"Yeah I did good, didn't I?" I said haughtily only understanding bits and pieces what Koizumi said. Something bothered me though.

"But Haruhi, you said we'd come to a standstill. What do you mean?"

"It's not much the reality's fault rather than you hesitating to make a move." Koizumi said casually.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that unless you start making connections on a whole new level with Haruhi, I don't think we'll progress any further in returning to the old world. Assuming the unlikeliness of that possibility, besides from your new position as a bag boy it is safe to say that we have hit a dead end, so it is called."

"I'm not doing it. I'd rather work night shifts with Tsuruya and Asahina."

"My point exactly, this is a rare chance indeed. Our path is as clear as it had ever been. You will work at the super market." Koizumi said. "You do seem a little unclear of what our priorities should be."

"I kind of am…" I said only focused on being alone with Asahina to care about any mission objectives.

"Find out as much about Asahina, and if you can Tsuruya as well."

"Alright, that'll be easy."

"I will admit that it's going to be a whole lot lonelier with just me around at the host club Kyon. For the time being I believe that your new job holds many more things in store for the future."

"Just what do you mean by that?"

"It's purely my intuition." Koizumi smiled.

To Our Beloved Reader: Another unusually long chapter. I hope you've enjoyed it. I do believe that the story is moving slower than the previous arcs though. Compared with the other stories I've seen 2500 words is a considered short for a chapter. But everything is shorter when you put it into words.

Reviewers, thank you for all your support!

Thanks for Reading: LordPlagus777