Food for Thought

The closing of the New Year's was finally commencing as I slipped soundly into my bed. Sadly, I found myself in a rather depressed and pained mood as if I had just found out my rubber ducky was an electric one after taking a bath. Of course, I wouldn't be caught dead purchasing a rubber ducky from anyone or anything, but coming up with the perfect analogy for my mood was proving rather difficult.

I glanced at clock beside me and stared at the red glowing digits.

12:00 a.m.

So it's been two days since I've been released from the hospital. Frankly, I was able to make a quick recovery from my head injury thanks to specialized care from Koizumi's colleagues. The moment my family had arrived to pick me up, I was unfortunately smothered by my mother's questions about who and what I was just to make sure I wasn't diagnosed with amnesia. Other than that, everyone, even my little sister didn't say anything about Haruhi bringing me back home, which I was at the time, knocked out cold. I was very grateful for that. After all, I already had enough of Koizumi pestering me about that the entire time I was there.

My mother had prepared me a hot meal the moment we got home and the family had spent the rest of the day celebrating the New Year. I guess I can say that it shook off most my worries for the past few days. I really needed it.

Suddenly, my ceiling light flashed right before my eyes. The shock of it nearly blinded me.

Then like an evil munchkin, my sister came prancing into the room humming some unnamable tune.

"Hi, Kyon!" my sister said happily as she stopped in front of my desk drawer.

I sat up and glared daggers at my sister's infuriating assault.

"What are you doing in here?" my sister grinned brightly. Despite her mischievous smile, she innocently asked.

"Can I borrow some paper Kyon?"

"Why do you need paper at this time?" I irritably asked. My sister pouted her lips much like a duck.

"I can't use those scissors I borrowed when I have nothing to cut," my sister said as she smiled, "Silly Kyon."

I rolled my eyes as I granted permission for my sister to raid through my drawer. Five minutes later, she left the room without shutting off the lights.

I lifted myself out of bed and shut off the lights. As I slipped myself back into bed, I remembered what Koizumi had said to me the other day.

"You see, it's how you and Suzumiya will cope with this is what I'm wondering."

What I'm wondering is: why hasn't Haruhi wished utmost pain and misfortune unto me yet? In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if my head suddenly popped off and rolled across the floor right now.

January 2

Time: 9:00 a.m.

It seems like SOS Brigade meeting wasn't cancelled. How weird.

Being the tyrannical dictator she is, Haruhi would send each brigade member a message on the day of a meeting that was on a holiday. I guess today was no different.

Suddenly, like the comet that had wiped out the dinosaurs, logic struck me. I felt a horrid lump in my throat swell. After that episode between Haruhi and I, why should she still consider holding the brigade party without leaving me out of it?

Maybe the party was actually cancelled and this was Haruhi's plot to get me alone where she can finally finish me off. Since killing me at her house was way too suspicious, doing it in the school would be more convenient. It's just something Haruhi is most likely going to do.

Then again, I was just jumping to conclusions.

After noon I found myself hiking the steep hill towards North High. With each step I took, I was somehow forgetting how to walk straight. The high school before me felt so near yet far away. I found it hard to decide what emotion to feel right now. I mean can you blame me?

I should probably turn back now.

But it's too bad my body decided otherwise because before I knew it; I was already standing right in front of the clubroom. It was quiet inside. Too quiet. And there was no Haruhi in sight.

Perhaps this is some kind of ambush?

My sweaty palm made its way towards the doorknob. As I wrapped my grip around it, I found that my hands were shaking.

Haruhi, are you really ready to see me? I don't know even know if I'm prepared myself!

It seemed as if time had stopped. But yet I'm still moving. I checked my watched just to double-check the time, only to see that I was a minute late.

Slowly turning the doorknob, I cautiously pushed the door open. So many things ran through my mind like a horribly edited movie as I walked in.

"Kyon! You made it!"

The ever so charming Asahina had greeted me. Hearing her sweet voice had brightened my mood by more than half percent. I returned her greeting with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I did." I noticed that Asahina had just changed into her maid outfit. She began brewing up some of her special tea as I looked around the room.

There, Koizumi was sitting cross-legged at the table smiling as he always does. I averted my eyes away from such an annoying sight and looked out at the far corner of the room. As usual, Nagato stared at the novel in her lap looking neither interested nor uninterested. Sometimes I wonder how she even manages to get herself to these meetings with a face like that.

Then I noticed something really peculiar about this scene. Something I had been fearing all day.

"Where's Haruhi?" I asked.

That was when the silence in this room turned into awkward silence. Nobody said anything for a whole minute.

After a minute was up, Koizumi spoke.

"She hasn't arrived yet." he said calmly.

"Yes, it's really unusual for her to be late." Asahina said softly.

I looked over at Nagato who was still reading her book. Her eyes never left the pages as I anticipated an answer from her. However, it's pretty much hopeless getting Nagato to speak while she's reading.

For a moment, I decided on saying something that would break this uncomfortable atmosphere. Perhaps cracking a joke or maybe telling them what I did for the New Year.

"Never mind." I said and took a seat in front of Koizumi. I tapped my fingers lightly against the table as Asahina served everyone some of her tea. I noticed that she had even made one for Haruhi and left it at her desk.

The rest of the day was spent waiting for our brigade leader. Koizumi and I occupied ourselves in several rounds of chess while Nagato continued reading her books. Asahina spent the entire time making more tea for us as well.

We all waited until evening. But Haruhi still never showed up.

"I think I'll be taking a leave now." Koizumi said before getting up.

"I guess I should too..." Asahina said timidly. I looked at her for a moment and realized what she meant.

And with that, I immediately left the room along with Koizumi.

As I stood in the hallway, I decided to take a leave too. But before doing so, Koizumi leaned over to me. In fact, he leaned too close for comfort.

"I suppose you and Suzumiya haven't spoken to each other yet." Koizumi said. I just glared at him.

"What? You expected us to make amends already?" Koizumi shook his head.

"Nope, just checking."

You really piss me off, you know.

"I won't pressure you. But I wanted you to know that a vast area of closed space has appeared just recently." Koizumi continued his speech, "It's large but is expanding at a very slow rate. It isn't anything we can't handle."

"But I'm guessing you would still like me to speak to Haruhi just incase things get out of hand." I said. Koizumi nodded his head.

"Precisely."

Then aren't you still pressuring me?

"I'll be taking my leave. See you at school." And with that, I watched until Koizumi's back disappeared away from my sight.

Asahina finally emerged from the room and bid me a goodbye.

"I hope things between you and Suzumiya work out..." she said sadly. With the look on her face, I wondered if she blamed herself for not knowing that this wouldn't have happened if she could have predicted this. Even though she was a time-traveler, you couldn't blame her because her superiors kept her in the dark about this stuff.

"Don't worry about it." I said, giving her a warm smile. Asahina's eyes lit up.

"Um, just enjoy the rest of your holiday!" she exclaimed with a smile that sent waves of admiration through my body.

"You too."

As Asahina made her leave, I glanced back into club room. Nagato had finally gotten out of her seat and quietly made her way out of the room. I waited.

Nagato silently walked by me as I gazed at her. I just had to ask her one question.

"What exactly do you think about all this?"

Surprisingly, Nagato stopped. She remained still for a few seconds. And then spoke in her small voice.

"...Erratic."

Author's Notes:

I had a bit of difficulty on writing this chapter since I wasn't sure how to execute Kyon's and rest of the brigade's feelings about this dilemma. At first I was deciding on having him speak to all the brigade members on their entire perspectives of it, but decided to make it short as I possibly can. Anyways, I tried to make some develpment here but I guess it's pretty vague...

Thanks you all for the reviews! I really appreciated every one of them. I did my best putting some of the advice I was given into this.

I thought this chapter wasn't nearly as good as the first one, so I'm going to make sure to put something more interesting and humorous in the next chapter. Thanks for reading!