After the meeting Koizumi and I stayed in the clubroom for a while after letting Asahina get back to her class. I had to leave before the last period was over, the reason being that if Haruhi comes into the clubroom and sees me sitting here, we'd be subjected to some hard interrogation. According to Koizumi, that would be far too troublesome.

"Where do you expect me to go?" I asked.

"Home." Koizumi replied. "I'll inform her that you're out with a cold. Who knows, Suzumiya may even come over to visit you."

"I see." I replied. There wasn't really much to talk about after the meeting. Koizumi just sat there drinking water. His small eyes didn't allow me to know where he was looking, from the angle of his head, probably out the window or something.

"How is everything at the host club?" I asked. "I hope Mori is doing well."

"I almost had forgotten. She had told me that there is a new comer joining us sometime this week or next. Koizumi said.

"Nice, I bet it's been boring alone without me." I said trying to be considerate for leaving him in the host club to purse a lifestyle of a shelf stacker.

"No." He bluntly said.

Tch…

"But about the new host. Do you know who he is?" I asked.

"If only I knew Kyon. Even if Mori had told me his name I wouldn't remember it given that he's probably an illusion. There is possiblity that I've heard the same news many times before but have forgotten it." Koizumi said.

"I don't remember anything like that either…" I said thinking back long and hard about my time at the bar.

"If it is something to be forgotten, I am sure I would have by now…" Koizumi sighed.

"It can't be someone new can it?" I asked.

"I'm sure it is someone from the organization. Then again, it must be someone you have met before." Koizumi said.

"I'm not from the organization, but Mori still signed me up for the job." I said.

"That may be so. Who do you think it might be?" Koizumi asked.

"Erm… I'm not sure. Hoping for Arakawa to drop in any time soon?" I joked.

"I wouldn't mind, if aged men are popular with the teens these days." Koizumi smiled expectantly.

"That went too far… Thanks for the image…"

"I fail again I see."

Nagato picked up her chair and set it down very close next to mine. The two were practically side by side and formed a single bench, if there was such a way to describe it. She sat down and propped herself on my shoulder.

"W-what is this Nagato?" I asked.

"I remember now." Koizumi said. "She's been checking in every once in a while to see if you're back or not."

"Didn't you explain?" I asked annoyed.

"She wouldn't believe me." Koizumi shrugged.

I turned to Nagato.

"I work at the supermarket now Nagato." I chuckled nervously. The magnetic force keeping Nagato's head stuck to my side felt stronger.

"Oh well…" I said. It can't be helped.

Koizumi was staring at the two of us.

"What?" I asked angrily.

"Nothing, continue please." Koizumi said.

"There's nothing to continue!" I growled, more joking eh? I can leave now if I want! Wait till the last period ends huh? I'll have no more of your nonsense.

I tried to get up and go, but I had forgotten Nagato's arms around my waist. I sat down frowning. Nagato pulled her chair back up next to mine and… continued…

"So what do you plan on doing during the search tomorrow Kyon?" Koizumi asked. "You know, deliver the code."

"The code?"

"You understand, do you not? It would be too much to call them your feelings Kyon." Koizumi said.

"That's right." I said.

"I used the term 'code' to fit the procedure." Koizumi said.

"Oh… I'm not sure. We'll split into groups as we usually do…" I said.

"Split into groups? So you haven't forgotten." Koizumi said.

"How can I…" I replied. "I rigged it last time. If I pull the strings I might be able to do it again."

Nagato shifted.

"You know why you are delivering the code at the search?"

"Why is that?" I asked.

"We entered at the search; therefore we will leave at the search." Koizumi said. "In order for us to leave, we must do so the same way we had entered. This search is the door. The chance we have been waiting for. We have all the necessary pieces exactly as before. If we imitate the door we will sure to be able to create or find one." Koizumi said. "Your feelings are the key. You have secured our leave the moment you had decided to talk to Suzumiya. The problem is, we've had to find it ourselves."

That's how it was huh? It all comes together now that he says it. This really might be the last time I'll be in the reality's SOS Brigade, no, Literacy Clubroom… I'll be saying goodbye to the people of this reality. No… I'll be seeing them back in the old world. Then again, Haruhi isn't the only person I'd like to see different.

I looked at Nagato. She was sleeping. I decided to pat her on the head. She woke up.

"Sorry, was I a bother? I asked."

She was still asleep to a certain extent. She looked out the window.

"What is it?" I asked, curious to know what woke her from such a deep nap. It wasn't like I ruffled her hair or gave her a noogie or anything like that. She looked back at me.

"Hmm?" I said pleasantly.

Without warning she leaned forward hugged me very tightly. I was surprised at first, but even more startled when I felt something wet on the side of my neck. Nagato pulled back and continued leaning on my shoulder.

"W-what was that Nagato?" I asked as calmly as I could.

Nagato said nothing but instead licked her lips and went back to sleep. Koizumi looked bewildered as well but shrugged it off.

"I am not surprised are you?" Koizumi asked obviously surprised.

"Erm… No not really." I said awkwardly knowing that I was obviously surprised as well. I'm not sure if Koizumi know about that wet feeling I had on my neck. I touched to feel it, but felt nothing different from the rest of my skin. I flushed at the thought that Nagato had just kissed me on the neck. Oh well, this is a pleasant way to spend the last of my time in this clubroom. There was something about Nagato leaning on my… erm… lying down on my lap, comforting. As much as Koizumi is a bother, he was nice to have around. For a moment I truly believed that we were good friends, despite some matters that I found him to be distrustful of.

Finally leaving really lets me see from a different perspective. I'm starting to fear what it might be like to be in the old world again, how I'll have to get used to everything once more. I'll miss Uru's delicious cooking as well. That and many other things…

The bell to the last period had rung and I woke from my sleep. Koizumi had fallen asleep with me. Somehow someway Nagato had worked my head onto her lap and was propping her book on the side of my head. I got up quickly.

"I better be out of here." I said getting up to leave.

Koizumi was woken as well.

"See you tomorrow Kyon. I wish you luck." Koizumi said rubbing his eyes.

"Sure!" I said with a thumbs up.

I was about to dash when Nagato held me back by the sleeve. She handed me a manga book. It was a fairly new book, one that's been reread many times.

"It's lots of fun." Nagato whispered pushing into my hands.

Hangyaku no Le-

Wait… A book?

"Thanks Nagato… I'll keep it around." I said holding onto the book as if my life depended on it. Nagato nodded, for a moment the edge of her mouth twitched. I had never noticed it before, but she had a sparkle to her eyes that I'd never seen in the old Nagato… My grip tightened on the book.

"Goodbye Nagato."

Goodbye clubroom.

"See you tomorrow!" I smiled and left running.

I ran as fast as I could down the hallway, dodging all the illusions rushing to their after school activities. I don't know what to do when I get home. Should I watch TV? No, I've watch every show about ten times before. Should I drop by the host club? How about the supermarket? There are so many things I want to do now. I… I...

"Kyon!"

Winter

I stopped; she put her hand on my shoulder and turned me around.

"You didn't come to class so I got worried." Haruhi said.

"I was… checking up all our sites and plans for the search tomorrow." I lied.

"Our search! It's tomorrow isn't it?" Haruhi said.

"I've been trying to keep it a secret but I guess I've been caught." I laughed. "I told Koizumi to tell you I was sick."

"Thank goodness I didn't hear that. I would've been so…" Haruhi didn't finish. "You really want this search to work don't you?" She asked.

"It has to." I said.

"You weren't cutting class to be with, Uru were you?..."
"N-no way!"

Then the though came to me. That was right; this was also the last time I'll be in school. It wasn't just the clubroom. That seat that was given to me from the start of the term hasn't changed. I've left it empty this whole day. I've left it empty…

"Please… Don't cut class again…" Haruhi said.

"I won't." I said. "I won't!" I said again smiling.

Haruhi nodded. It all seemed well now. I better leave.

"I have more to plan, so I'll see you later!" I said running off to where ever. I didn't know exactly where… I would be in the clubroom right now.

"Don't be the last one there…" I muttered as I lost speed and slowed to a walk…

I came to a bench in the park a while later, mind blank. I don't know how long I've been walking around, but it was getting late. It was dark. Did I have work today? I can't remember. Does it really matter?

This place had a sort of attraction for my current mood. I remember this park. This was where I met Nagato. That was the night I learned it all. I looked at the book she gave me and ran my fingers over the mecha on the cover. Nagato reads on this bench every evening. It's close to that time now. Isn't she coming out? A few minutes passed as I was spacing out on the bench.

"I didn't think so." I sighed out loud. It was too dim to be reading books anyway. Of course the old Nagato probably could have easily.

Isn't it almost time for winter? I decided it was enough. The shock and suddenness of it all was starting to fade. I see… is this acceptance?

"It's finally… Over…" I whispered. I had forgotten how cold it was. I could see my breath drifting away in wisps.

"Over?" Laughed a voice which annoyed me to no limit.

"I want to talk." Said the sneering bastard.

"You again… what do you want. I've got no time for you." I said back.

He was dressed strangely, like he had returned from some sort of party.

"I want your cooperation." He requested.

"With what?"

"I want to end everything, and you're the one who can help me." He said.

"End? I really have no idea what you're talking about." I don't know who this guy is, or what he's here to do, but I'm guessing he already knows.

"It's already over." I said.

"Indeed it is." He said in a bored manner. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am a time traveler going by the name of Fujiwara."

"You? A time traveler?" I asked.

"I myself have been forced to take refuge in this reality. In a similar matter of your other time traveler friend that is. It has been very inconvenient, for us all. This product of Suzumiya's emotion." He said.

"What do you want from me?"

"Your friend, Itsuki was his name?" He said.

I didn't do anything but glare. Just who was this guy? Why was he talking about Koizumi. Now that I look, those clothes did seem awfully familiar.

"You were the new host…" I said. At this Fujiwara simply laughed.

"Now Kyon, I hear that you are returning to the old world tomorrow." He said.

"What about it?"

"It's really just a waste of time Kyon." He said. "Even if you do return,"

Specks of white began falling from the sky.

"What makes you think you won't return again?"

To Our Beloved Readers: Be sure to vote on the poll on my profile page!

Thanks For Reading: LordPlagus777