After a brief moment of silence he opened his mouth. "I can't say I approve of this."
"Well," I said, "I didn't really expect you to."
"Although I already imagine that you regard this situation as insignificant compared to the fulfillment of your own misguided priorities, I will ask you this." He raised his head and met my gaze. "Do you comprehend what you are doing?"
I stood up. "Even though I was pulled into this, it definitely seems like a better use of time than looking for aliens. Think about it, Koizumi. You're in a dead-end club spending your afternoons playing board games and drinking tea. All the while, Haruhi is barking unreasonable orders from left and right. Even if your job is to keep her in check, aren't there better alternatives than putting up with her idiocy?"
"The continued existance of the world is my first priority."
"Then why can't you do anything about this?"
He sighed. "Unfortunately, this situation doesn't fall within the scope of my power."
I clenched a fist. "Then why do I have to change my life for Haruhi?"
"Must I repeat myself? You are the one chosen by Suzumiya-san. There is much that rests on your shoulders and though you were doing an adequate job of fulfilling your role up until this point, you are currently engaged in behavior that leads to either a fundamental change in the world or its untimely demise. Either outcome would be most unfortunate."
"Koizumi, I just want to live my life happily! Why does Haruhi's immaturity have to get in the way of that? The SOS Brigade has made my life miserable since it was created and now I'm finally wresting myself free of that pain."
"It is deeply regrettable that you refuse to bear the burden that you created for yourself."
I was a bit angry after that remark. What did I have to do with Haruhi's ridiculous machinations? "What? Look, I didn't start the club. I'm not the one feeding Haruhi these ideas and I am certainly not the one who complies with all of her requests with a smile plastered across my face."
His face fell and he had that dark look about him once again. "I hope you are willing to listen to what I'm saying. Even though Suzumiya Haruhi can be considered the creator of this world, she has no direct control over your actions. It's true that three years ago I was given these powers and then now suddenly I find myself here with you, Nagato-san, and Asahina-san. However, it was a decision of my own to accept Suzumiya-san's recruitment into the SOS Brigade."
I shrugged. "Good, you fit in perfectly. I, on the other hand, do not."
"Please let me finish, Kyon. Just like I continue to have free will regarding Suzumiya-san's decisions, you possess the same level of freedom. After all, it wasn't Suzumiya-san who approached you. On the contrary, it was you that decided to engage in conversation. Even with full awareness of her eccentric nature you continued on and on for how long, Kyon? One month? Two months? Then you give her the idea to start the SOS Brigade and after an even longer period of compliance we find ourselves in our present situation."
My left eye was twitching.
"So after analyzing all the evidence," he continued, "it is not unreasonable to come to the conclusion that the SOS Brigade is your creation and that your passionate desire to abandon it is, in all respects, running away from your responsibility."
I shook my head, trying to steady the rumbling of my knees and finding no success in that endeavor, sat back down.
"It is unfortunate that I have been forced to bring up such subjects in an aggressive manner. After all, although you may not consider us as such, we're friends. However, it is imperative that you understand that what you're doing is destructive behavior that puts us all in danger. As such, I think that all pleasantries must be dispersed with and that the main subject of our conversation is prioritized. Any personal feelings of my own would only cloud the clarity of my speech."
He took out his phone to check the time.
"Well, I should be heading back." He began to walk away but suddenly stopped and turned back towards me. "Let me repeat myself. What you are doing potentially leads to the destruction of the world as we know it. Please think upon this. Action does not need to be taken today but soon, for everyone's sake."
---
The rest of school was spent in a melancholy mood. I didn't go back to the clubroom, instead opting to walk straight home. Unexpectedly, Asakura was waiting for me at the gate. My mood instantly lifted and I waved to her as I approached.
"No afterschool activities?" I asked.
"Nope! What about you? You're heading home way earlier than usual."
"Well, I didn't go to the clubroom today. I'm too tired for that."
"Oh, is that so?" She took my hand and wrapped my arm over her. She was propping me up with her body as if I was wounded. "Then I'll make it a little easier for you."
"Much obliged."
We walked silently for some time. This was certainly good news. Although body contact could mean a variety of things, I tend to read my horoscopes auspiciously. If it was true, then things were moving along faster than I imagined. What was next, a first date followed by a hotel? If Taniguchi was here, I'm sure he'd be crying.
"Kyon, I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
I found myself holding my breath. Could this be some question of incredible magnitude? Of course, the odds were one in a million. This was what, our second day? Yet I already found myself lost in a fantasy land. Asakura Ryoko's power was far more impressive than anything I had seen in the SOS Brigade.
"What do you think of Suzumiya?"
The impact hit me hard in the abdominals, almost deflating me instantly but I held on and laughed it off. "Oh, you've been thinking about that? No need to worry. Although I'm caught up in her stupid club, I have no interest in her or the club at all. She's just another classmate to me."
A gust of wind blew up then, causing us to cover our faces for a time. It lasted for a full minute before finally dying down and then I noticed Ryoko's expression had dampened a little bit.
"Oh, I see."
Suddenly her face brightened. "Oh! Have you seen Kimimura Ichiro's new promotional video?"
"Blue Bird? Yeah, I saw it last night..."
---
The walk home was uneventful if you consider that I made it home in fifteen minutes and we parted with all our limbs intact. However, it was exciting all the same. This was the kind of thing you see in high school dramas. Walking home with a cute girl pressed to your side making small talk about nothing yet enjoying each other's company to the fullest.
That was what high school was about. You can't experience moments like these once you enter the real world.
I laid in bed, rolling around in these warm thoughts. The troubles and burdens laid down by Koizumi earlier had almost completely faded away by now and I laughed at how concerned I had been earlier in the day. No, who can care about the destruction of the world when you're experiencing a real-life TV moment?
Such were my thoughts as I finally faded into sleep. Forget Koizumi. Forget Haruhi. This is all I need.
Yet one thing bothered me. As we passed the park near my house, I saw a yellow ribbon tied around the swingset.