Tuesday, afterschool, I headed right towards the literacy club after cleaning duties that I was mysteriously left with for the first time since I've been in this reality. I didn't actually clean anything at all. I expect it to be something to keep me in the classroom while Haruhi heads off to the clubroom first so that I can emulate Koizumi's introduction into the 'new SOS Brigade' similar to the way the old Haruhi did in the old world. I recall that I had also made Uru's induction to the club similar to the Asahina's when she joined in the old world. Both events held and I expect will hold different outcomes due to the fact that this is an alternate universe and of course, it's happenings were also most likely to be alternate, especially something important like a new member to the literacy club.

Of course, knowing that there had to be something keeping me from going up to the clubroom on time, Koizumi, on pure whim alone, decided to drop by my classroom and found me alone lazily dragging my broom across the floor thinking the thoughts above.

Koizumi leaned against the door frame and smiled his usual smile. "You're here, as I-"

"expected?" I finished his sentence.

"Yes, if you're satisfied with your work, I think it would be best for us to head up to the literacy clubroom now. I can't possibility find my way there alone."

"Why not?" I asked indifferently.

"I might have temptations to interfere before I am permitted to. Quite unnecessary as you can see and I'm not allowed entrance until I am invited. That way it fits the logic of Suzumiya gathering us instead of us going to Suzumiya." Koizumi said.

There was no other choice than to head for the clubroom, because that seemed to be the only way to keep Koizumi off of complicated subject matters. I'm satisfied doing what I'm told, thank you. I do not concern myself with the acute details, the fine print within the fine print.

At last we were in front of the literacy clubroom door. I've had many times before opening the door previously had a very brief, but dramatic standoff in front of the clubroom entrance. Today was different however. The air was not the same.

"Is there a problem Kyon?" Koizumi asked when my hand stopped inches from the door knob.

I was actually going to let Koizumi into the literacy club. This didn't seem like a big deal at first, but for some reason I feel like I have to take more time to consider.

"I'm just wondering… letting a new member into the Literacy Club."

"Having second thoughts I see." Koizumi said casually idly looking around the halls which had distinct differences compared to the old.

"Not exactly, I was just thinking about what Haruhi must have been thinking when she came into the clubroom with you and Asahina." I said my hand no moving an inch closer or further away from the knob. "Tell me, did she hesitate before opening the door?" I asked.

"I can barely remember. Most likely she probably did not. I can't imagine her doubting her own intuition. She must have had her own reasons for choosing who she chose."

Her goal was to find aliens, time travelers, and espers to entertain herself. Did she not doubt whether or not she had gathered the right people or person? Would this new member be beneficial to that goal? Was it even a valid reason to begin with?

"It's your decision Kyon." Koizumi said sternly. "Whether or not you want my help with this step forward, it's up to you."

I have my own goals, to make the connection biggest in this reality to date, and I am constantly wondering, around this vague, idiotic, smile if I had chosen the right person for the job. I really had no choice. Koizumi was the only person within my reach. He's just there… with that stupid look on his face and until now… He hasn't failed me yet. I can only trust that he can be a big help to our goal.

I noticed that I was staring him down while thinking. He shrugged.

"Let's head on then. Do you think they heard us from the inside?" I asked.

"Impossible." Koizumi smiled.

I turned the knob and pushed through the door, pulling Koizumi by his wrist.

"We have another one!" I announced to the three members in the clubroom, Haruhi and Uru, who decided to come before I did. Nagato was in her seat reading, guess what? A book. Koizumi came into view coming through the door and taking the awkward silence to introduce himself.

"Hello, I'm Koizumi Itsuki, nice to meet you."

Everyone just stared. Haruhi's expression was impossible to read. Apparently, knowing nothing about the relations of the people in the room, being a completely new member herself, clueless about how rare it was to have two new members in a single week, Uru had walked up to Koizumi and said hello.

"Hey there Koizumi." She said briskly holding out a hand, which Itsuki quickly took.

Koizumi seems to be handling this pretty well. Nagato didn't really seem to care much. Being the president, it would be better if she showed a little concern and actually looked up to confirm if there was really a new member at all. Instead, she kept herself plastered to her book.

With his smile (which I'd doubt anybody would have the dignity to wear while trying to make a first impression joining a club) he walked over to the main table and was about to settle down into an empty seat next to Haruhi.

"Hello there, nice to meet you." Said Koizumi who was probably trying to keep as much of his host side out of this as possible."

"Drop it Itsu- no, Koizumi." Haruhi said tartly, who jumped out of her seat and strode over to my side, leaving him stone cold on a steel chair that formally held her presence. Realizing that he knows most of the people here anyway, and taking an emotional blow after repelling Haruhi like a magnet, he gave up on the hellos until Uru took Haruhi's seat and decided to further the introductions. Now that I think about it, it felt really silly to be worrying about letting him into the club. At least he has someone to talk to.

I felt a tugging at my sleeve.

"What?" I asked Haruhi who pulled me away to a corner.

"Why did you bring Him?" She asked as if I had done something wrong.

"Is there are a…" I tried avoiding matching eyes with her as I said the last word. "problem?"

"No… not really…" She said looking to towards Koizumi. "It's just a little awkward…"

"Don't worry about it. It's not the bar so we're just normal people here." I started to wonder what we were supposed to be if not normal humans at the host bar. Haruhi continued to scan Koizumi and then myself, her eyes going up and down trying to detect a hint of host mannerism is either of us.

"We seem to be getting a lot of new members lately…" She said with almost a hint of lament.

"Does Koizumi still bother you? If he does I completely understand. He always-"

"It was fun with just the three of us around. I don't understand why we needed to bring in two more members…" Haruhi said looking down at the floor.

"Well, I thought…" I didn't have much of an answer. I can't say I did it to make connections can I? "It would be livelier in here." I replied. Something about telling this lie made me feel as if I had swallowed a rock on an empty stomach.

Koizumi who was enjoying some light conversation with Uru suddenly forgot everything he was doing and looked towards us. I can tell something was up, with us. It possibly was a sign to choose my words carefully. Something I'm required to do a lot of these days. Why don't you just tell me what to say everyone in a while? I have no clue how to answer anybody half the time!

"Livelier… Do you like?... Lively I mean…."

"It's not bad is it?" I asked mindfully.

She looked at me for a brief moment. To my relief I thought I saw the faintest of all smiles flash at the corner of her mouth.

"Alright then." She said promptly, spun around, and walked over to a seat at the table. "I think it's time for us to start planning our weekend trip. I think Koizumi needs to be aware of what we have in store for this Saturday."

Feeling a little sorrowful at being addressed by his last name Koizumi replied "Kyon has already filled me in."

"Is that so?" Haruhi said. "Good. Kyon?"

"What?"

"Start."

"Start what?"

"The meeting!"

"Oh, alright then, I think we should all take a seat."

I was the only one out of my seat. I settled down next to Nagato. Koizumi was on the opposite side next to Uru who eyed him occasionally. Haruhi sat at the end of the table, where she usually sat, holding the leader position of seating arrangements looking at me expectantly to start. Not knowing how anyone starts these kinds of gatherings I decided to start casual without being too official.

"Alright… So, we have to start planning for Saturday as everyone knows at this point." I paused and looked around the table.

"Any ideas?" I asked. Nobody made any effort to make a suggestion. Koizumi looked and nodded slightly in my direction, signaling me to put down the mystery search idea onto the table. It would be a little out of place if I said it out now. I'd be more strategic to lead into it.

"No one?" I said looking another lap around the table. It didn't seem like anyone had and recommendations.

"I think," Haruhi started, I gave her my full attention. "that since you're leading the meeting, you should be the one to suggest something."

Koizumi smiled and nodded once more. Was that the signal? I wanted to put it off as much as possible before saying it. It seems like I have no choice but to do so.

"It would be nice…. For us, to be… erm…" I said, face burning with deep embarrassment at what I thought would never leave my lips as long as I lived.

"Looking for mysteries…" I said with a facepalm.

I hadn't expected the reaction that has followed. Haruhi looked confused but mildly interested, Uru was utterly fascinated, Koizumi impressed that I actually said it, and Nagato, well, you know.

"Looking for mysteries?" Haruhi said with skeptically.

"Yeah" I tried defending myself now that it was out and too late to take back. "We can all get together have lunch split into groups, and go around the city, searching for mysteries of course."

Haruhi didn't seem too convinced. With Uru liking the arrangements, Haruhi was the only one to agree before we can go on. Koizumi nodded in my direction once more. I decided that I didn't want to take my effort to decipher his body language.

"I think Koizumi wants to say something." I said, directing everyone's attention to Koizumi.

"Yes I was just about to suggest that Kyon by us lunch for the day." He smiled.

I aimed a good kick at him from under the table.

"That sounds good." Haruhi said unexpectedly, Koizumi shrugged. "You will won't you Kyon?" She asked.

"Sure, I'll buy everything…" I said giving Koizumi a filthy look. Given that payment is not required to purchase anything in this reality I shouldn't be worried about money. It still annoys me.

"It's settled then. We'll go looking for mysteries, and Kyon will by us lunch." Haruhi said, making clear that she was looking forward to my treat.

For the rest of the day we sat around reading books and lazing as I always did. After a serving of some miniature cakes Nagato had brought along (courtesy of Asakura of course), Uru went home early to start working on dinner. Koizumi stuck around and we played with an old Othello game we found sitting on one of the shelves. Koizumi and I were evenly matched. Haruhi took an interest to the game, and since she started playing, she won every game, and even beat Nagato.

"I can confer that the old Suzumiya had always wanted something to do with our Othello games in the old world." Koizumi said.

"Why didn't she just participate? She pretty good by the looks of it." I said. Pretty good was an understatement. It was a challenge to keep the game going until the board was completely full.

I thought the work for the day was finished but apparently not. As time passed and the sun was going down the remaining members left one by one, first Nagato, then Haruhi.

"See you tomorrow, Kyon." She said before leaving, she hesitated "you too Koizumi."

It wasn't all that much, but I swear I his smiled widened the smallest bit.

"You think we should head back too?" I asked Koizumi who was staring out the window now.

"We should wait at the school gate." Koizumi said.

"Really, how come?" I asked.

Koizumi stood up with his bag. "I have a good feeling about the school gate. It's the place to be this afternoon, you know what I mean?" He smiled.

"Alright, you're the esper, not me." I said also getting up and following Koizumi out the door. After we left the clubroom door closed and locked itself as it usually did.

…

"We're here. What do we do now?" I asked Koizumi who was leaning idly against the wall of the school gate.

He looked around for a few moments.

"About Asahina, can you tell me what you know about her?"

I remembered my promise to Asahina asking me not to say too much in front of Koizumi. I wondered if that was the right thing to do. However, a promise is a promise, I can't break it. Not now.

"Nothing other than the fact that she's an illusion and I'm working with her at the supermarket." I said.

"Is that so?... Remember Kyon, that you must find out everything you can about Asahina. I believe that if we are successful there is a chance that she might regain her memories, and possibly more than just that." Koizumi said. "Try to find out what relations she might have with Uru. There is definitely a sort of relation between the two. I'll try to do some unraveling myself."

"What's this all of a sudden?" I asked bewildered.

"There they are." He smiled.

Coming out of the front school entrance was Tsuruya and Asahina. I didn't know what they were doing so late at school. I could tell that that wasn't the matter right now. It was an unusual change of conformed schedule and mostly likely had something to do with the job I had 'applied' for at the supermarket. That is of course, my assumption.

"Good luck Kyon.'" Koizumi said slipping out of sight past the gates and disappearing around the wall.

"Wait a minute!" I called after him, but he was gone. Tsuruya and Asahina were here.

"What luck!" I heard Tsuruya say loudly behind me. "It's Kyon!"

"Good afternoon Kyon. It's kind of late for hanging around the school gate don't you think?"

"Well not particularly." I replied. Asahina was as lovely as ever, but what's this?

"You have something on your face." I pointed out. Asahina looked surprised then embarrassed and tried to wipe off a spot of white on her face.

"Let me." Tsuruya insisted brushing off the white with her finger and sucking it. "Very nice.' She said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Cream." She replied. "Oh yeah!" she said suddenly leaning in close and whispering into my ear "about the job, how would you like to start today? We have a nice uniform ready."

"Tonight?" I asked, of course this was the whole reason I had come out to the school gate today. I guess there was nothing else that I have to do…

"Sure."

"Awesome! Come now! We better get started!" Tsuruya said leading the charge.

To Our Beloved Reader: I have this week off so I decided to make this chapter a little longer. Please review if you can. Did really get to proofread this, I'm sure it's not that bad. I've done worse. When I get to it I'll repost it, fixed, and without typos. For now there might be a few, but you people still understand what the story is right?

Thanks For Reading: LordPlagus777