The New Recruit

"Alright, so are there any questions out of you lot?" Haruhi finished up her speech at the Brigade's "Open Day", as it were. Many of the first years looked bemused as I eased my way inside.

I had spent most of the time being Haruhi's errand boy. I didn't hate it as much as before, but it certainly did put me in a slightly foul mood. I decided to show some enthusiasm because that way I'd get more out of the relationship, but she was still using me like a mule, which I guess I resented, considering what had happened last year.

Of course, a lot had changed since that incident; Haruhi now knew my full name, and used it whenever she needed a favour. She certainly changed in her behaviour towards me in private, and in front of other people – she would almost never doubt my faith and innocence anymore. That being said, she still had those quirks – searching for strange and wonderful things. Through her logic, she thought that strange and wonderful things should stick to her like a magnet. At that, I had frowned.

"But you haven't considered the implications of others that do not wish to be manipulated by a schoolgirl! What if some of those strange things are hostile?"

"Oh so what Kyon," she had retorted. "If it comes down to it I can just reduce them to a mouse, or something."

I still held my reservations about the entire thing. There was no way I could get Haruhi to stop looking; so I 'orchestrated' a few of my own. She saw right through most of them though. She seemed to appreciate the gesture, but really wanted me to stop trying so hard. "Seriously, you're stopping me form finding anything real!" She had reprimanded me.

So, of course, I stopped. That was over the winter; and the year had rolled on by. Much of Haruhi's preparations for school had dealt with the SOS Brigade or tutoring me; I was determined to match my girlfriend's insane marks, no matter the cost to my pride. So of course, she was the first port of call.

The SOS Brigade, meanwhile, had also tried to organise some things to make the holidays more interesting for Haruhi: Koizumi for example got a few of his ESPer buddies to act like poltergeists in the park at night; Asahina-san had contacted Tsuruya, and together they'd booked Haruhi and I a short cruise around Japan (in which ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF INTEREST HAPPENED) and Nagato had lent Haruhi and I a whole stack of books to read over the holidays. Nothing short of the SOS Brigade, I had thought exhaustedly, knowing that Haruhi would be in awe of the ESPers' abilities, be bored throughout the entire cruise, and finish the stack in about 3 days. And of course she expected me to keep up with her. It was of course tiring as hell, but I kind of enjoyed the exercise. It was undoubtedly fun to be with Haruhi BECAUSE of all these happenings, despite the fact that I constantly complained about them. I had once dreamed about meeting ESPers and time travellers and the like, and now I had the chance. My 6 year old self would be proud.

The one thing that remained constant throughout the holidays though had been Haruhi and I as a couple. Everywhere we went I would always get weird looks. They probably thought she was way out of my league. Haruhi didn't seem to notice the stares. Wherever we went I heard whispers of "Really? I didn't think they'd get together. It probably won't work out." I had carried on walking with a knitted brow, and Haruhi seemed to notice my annoyance, but decided to pass on it, instead nuzzling my neck, and hugging me at almost every possible time, as if to reassure me. I was glad she was still at my side. And she regarded herself as the luckiest girl in the world…heh.

And all too soon the holidays were over, and now here we were.

I shifted across the wall to an empty spot and listened in on the rest.

"No questions? Hmm, you're a quiet lot. Okay, if you wanna join this incredible Brigade, put your name, class and email on that piece of paper taped next to the door over there!" Haruhi pointed to the back of the club room.

The first years got up to go. The regular SOS Brigade were sitting up the front with Haruhi; the tables and chairs had been moved to form a panel next to the window, while the first years sat on the floor in front. It had actually been quite crowded; I don't know how there had been so many interested people. But as I say the freshman leave, I only saw a couple even hesitate at the door, before leaving.

I took the piece of paper from the door frame after everyone left. The rest of the Brigade began to pack up.

"We only got one recruit."

Haruhi looked up, horrified. "What the hell? Those boring kids! Why aren't there more! I was SURE there was going to be more!" She slammed her fist on the table. "And after all that time I spent on that speech."

"Well, the guy's name is Takahashi Tatsuya, by the looks of it." The handwriting was elegant, yet subdued; it flowed across, but seemed to be shortened.

"Oh whatever, I guess he'll have to do." Haruhi snatched the piece of paper from my hands, and I went to helping the others.

"Hmm…what the hell? This is some interesting kid alright." Haruhi tapped her chin.

"Why?" I looked over Haruhi's shoulder, and she absentmindedly started patting my hair.

"He left exactly the same markings as the ones I did three - no, four now – years ago. Look! The very same."

Sure enough, the markings which I had helped Haruhi with 4 years ago were copied at the bottom left corner of the page, almost perfectly shaped. Koizumi and Asahina-san came to look too; Nagato just seemed to pierce the piece of paper with her eyes before returning to her accustomed seat and reading.

"It seems you've got a fan, Suzumiya-san," Koizumi smiled. Haruhi made a haughty huff of derision.

"He'll have to earn his stripes though." Haruhi stood up. "Oh well, looks like one of us is going to have to tutor him in the ways of the Brigade." Everyone else looked at each other. Then we simultaneously pointed at Haruhi.

"Oh, what? Why do I get stuck with the newbie?"

"Well, in all honesty…" I scratched the back of my head. "You're really the only one who KNOWS what you know about the Brigade."

"But-"

"We would not be…qualified to…teach him in the ways of the Brigade." Koizumi said with a visibly strained smile. "I would of course like a pupil of my own, but…I really don't know what should be in the training regimen." With a bow, Koizumi and Asahina-san both scuttled out the door.

Haruhi made a sourpuss face. "Geez, fine." She walked out into the corridor I felt a slight tug on my sleeve. Nagato was standing there, looking expectantly. "Oh, um, Haruhi, wait for me at thre gates, I just need to pick up something." I called out the door.

"Alright, take your time~" I heard the reply.

I closed the door. "What's up, Yuki?"

"Mysterious."

"What, the recruit?"

"Yes."

"We haven't even met him yet!"

"Strange."

"Okay…and you're telling me this why?"

Yuki passed by me to the door, and opened it.

"Be careful."

She disappeared.