Chapter 9
To call it a strange scene would have been an understatement. Maybe two dozen or so TIF officers lay motionless on the ground, Asahina (big) among them. Fujiwara and I were both left speechless, but Asahina-san (medium) knew exactly what to say.
"Thank you, Nagato-san. Without your help, this wouldn't have been nearly so successful."
She gave a polite bow to Nagato, as if they had just finished exchanging business cards or something similarly ordinary. Nagato merely nodded and satisfied, Asahina-san turned to me.
"Before I came to free you, I knew I had to figure out some way to keep control of the situation in case we weren't able to sneak away. That's when I thought of Nagato-san. I explained the situation to her, and she agreed to help. That's why it took so long for me to come and get you."
"Establishing data jurisdiction over this area proved time consuming, given the size and the presence of numerous individuals within." Nagato elaborated. I noticed that she wasn't wearing her glasses, even though this was her from four years ago.
"At any rate," Asahina cut in, "we need to get to Nagato-san's place. We have to fix the TPDD's and return you to your own time, Kyon-kun. And of course, I'm coming with you," shed finished, much to my relief. Although it wasn't really a solution to my problems, just hearing that she'd be coming back was reassuring.
But wait, what about all of these personnel, and did you just say TPDD's, as in more than one?
"My older self's forces will have to be kept somewhere safe, for both their own safety and ours, but Nagato-san assured me that she can take care of that herself. And yes, multiple TPDD's are the problem here. You see, in cases of group transport, a massive unit driver is used, with each person in the group using a beacon unit instead of a fully fledged TPDD to cut the down the spatial interference. However I kept my TPDD just in case, and-" she opened the flap on a pocket, and tossed something at Fujiwara, which he caught "-Fujiwara's TPDD is here as well."
Fujiwara cocked an eyebrow, looking at Asahina-san with a fair degree of bewilderment. "Not that I don't appreciate the jail break and everything, but I'm not exactly going to jump on board your little bandwagon just because you saved me, even if I did enjoy what you pulled on the old hag." he said, pointing to the unconscious form of Asahina (big).
"It's true that I won't force you to help us. But it's going to be hard repairing your TPDD without any help. And besides," she continued, her tone becoming subtly playful, "I can guarantee you that if you help us, things will probably get a lot more interesting either way really soon."
Fujiwara drew back a little, genuinely startled to hear Asahina-san say such a thing, but then a half-cocked smile appeared on his lips. "You know, when you put it that way, I can't pass up a chance to grab the box and shake it hard. Count me in."
Once we got to Nagato's apartment (Asahina-san had borrowed the key) we waited for her arrival, since Asahina-san told me that Nagato would be vital in helping get the TPDDs back in working order. She mentioned that the device that Fujiwara had used had damaged the TPDDs more grievously than she had anticipated. It wasn't long before she arrived, explaining, "I have stored the time locked TIF officers in a pocket dimension to ensure that they will not be discovered or disturbed. They will be released when their threat to you returning to your proper timeframe has been neutralized."
Essentially a fancy way of saying that she'd let them go once I was gone back to my time. But couldn't they just arrive back in my time before me, and catch Asahina-san and I again?
"That's where Fujiwara comes in," Asahina-san chimed in. "I know you're not going to like this, but I need to switch TPDDs with you once they are fixed."
Fujiwara looked at Asahina-san like she'd grown a second head. "You do remember that a TPDD is keyed to its user's DNA for full functionality, right? Or have they already started frying your brain?"
While I didn't appreciate his tone, if what he said was true, then that plan was grounded before it even got off the ground.
"I didn't forget," Asahina-san replied, not even flinching at the insult tossed her way, "that's why with Nagato-san's help we're going to change the DNA codes on each of our units to correspond to each other."
Fujiwara's reaction was instantaneous. "That's insane! Even if these units weren't damaged half to crap, which they are, it'd still take months for our best experts to change the interlock sequence on just one TPDD, let alone two, and don't even start on how heavily modified mine is!"
"No offence to our best experts, but none of them can hold a candle to Nagato-san."
"I can affect repairs to a working state, as well as change the DNA key on each unit. It will take at least 96 hours though, and the repairs cannot be guaranteed to bring either unit back to full functionality."
Fujiwara still didn't seem entirely sold on the idea though, so it wasn't surprising when he asked, "What's the point with doing this anyways? I don't really see what switching TPDDs is going to do."
Once again, I found myself agreeing with one of the people who got on my nerves the most. The fact that even he didn't know why they were doing this meant it was probably far above my head. All I really knew was what it stood for - Time Plane Destroid Device assuming Asahina (big) hadn't lied about that as well - and nothing else, let alone how they worked or why doing any of this would matter, I was essentially just along for the ride at this point. That still didn't stop me from being curious about it though.
"They will be looking for my TPDD signal, as an indication of what I intend to do next," Asahina-san answered calmly, "but since yours has modifications that make it nearly impossible to track correctly, if we switch, then at least Kyon-kun and myself can have some time before any threat of other time travellers showing up. And if you use my TPDD, you can throw them off even further."
"Why would that even matter? They'll figure it out eventually. There can't possibly be anything that you can do in that amount of time."
"You're wrong, Fujiwara." And with that eerie resolve I was so unused to from her, Asahina-san turned to me.
"Kyon-kun. I think that it's time. Time to use your trump card."
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was almost about to ask Asahina-san if she was joking, but her face told me that she had meant it completely.
"Isn't that dangerous? I mean, telling Haruhi that I'm John Smith would solve this problem, but wouldn't this kind of be like taking parts from five perfectly good cars just to fix the engine in one?"
"Perhaps, but with events proceeding the way they have been, this might become inevitable either way, and it's better to tell Haruhi before she unknowingly escalates the situation. Perhaps we can even all be there to help her through this, but that's a decision that I'll leave for you to make, Kyon-kun." Asahina-san smiled. It was strangely soothing, despite the fact that this was coming with a proposition that might literally be of world shaping proportions.
"First things first though, these TPDDs aren't going to fix themselves. I'm afraid that there's not much that you'll be able to do in the mean time, Kyon-kun. You can't risk wandering outside and running into anyone that shouldn't see you here, so you'll have to make due."
While someone else might have been a little off put from having nothing to do, I actually looked forward to having a little chance to collect myself after everything that had happened over the past couple of days. It wasn't paradise or anything, but it was welcomed nonetheless.
Of course, the universe is never one to allow me a break, so I shouldn't have been surprised at what happened next.
It had been about a day, and while I was doing my best to just relax and try to unwind, I found myself unable to stop thinking about just what would come of all this. There was another fact nagging at me too, something that in retrospect, I might have been happier simply letting go. Still, in hindsight everything is easily addressed, so when I asked a seemingly innocent question of Nagato, I didn't know half the headache that it would cause me.
It was during a point when Nagato apparently didn't have to be there to oversee the TPDD repairs, so she was in the living room, quietly reading some sci fi novel, when I asked her:
"Nagato, when you had Asahina-san and I in that room, you made it clear that you couldn't leave us for whatever reason, which is why you couldn't come back with us to December 18th that time."
She slowly looked up from her book and, blinking once, answered, "That is correct. Temporal stasis requires a high degree of maintenance. So although some autonomy is possible, it is unwise to leave the affected area for a long span of time."
Right, that makes sense, but that's also what bugs me. "Well, you see, that was for just two people, and if it makes a difference both Asahina-san and I were also willing. I doubt that any of those people in the park were, even if they were already sedated. And there had to have been at least a dozen people; wouldn't it require even more supervision?"
"You are correct."
"Okay, but then how is it that you can be helping repair the TPDDs as well, and not be concerned?"
Nagato went silent for a moment. If I didn't know better I'd almost say she seemed to be deciding whether or not to tell me something.
"I am not the one monitoring and maintaining the temporal stasis field. My expertise means that my priorities are set here, so the task of keeping the field in working order falls to my backup."
Just then there was a knock at the door. I suppose sometimes life works in just as many convenient circumstances and events as any work of fiction.
Nagato silently got up and went to the door, opening it to let her new guest in. That's when I heard her speak.
"My my, it certainly is lively in here, isn't it, Nagato-san?"
That voice that made the blood freeze in my veins . . . I could see my hands blanching, as if someone had poured ice water all over them. The sensation was crawling up my limbs and almost threatening to paralyze my body. Only one person could evoke such a reaction in me.
As much as I didn't want to, I turned around, and my eyes confirmed the truth. I could stop myself from speaking her name out loud.
"Asakura Ryoko."
"Hello. Have we met?"
You could say that.
"I don't believe I know your name, you are?"
At this point Nagato interjected.
"You may reference him as Kyon. There is no need for you to know more about this subject at this point in time."
Asakura huffed, "Very well Nagato-san, you're the boss. Anyways, it's nice to meet you, Kyon-kun."
I really wish I could say the same thing. Why is Asakura even here anyways?
"My purpose is to maintain the barrier around the guests we have in suspended animation."
You can't be serious, you mean you're the one in charge of keeping Asahina (big) and the TIF officers in stasis?"
"Indeed, is there anything unusual about that?"
Oh nothing much, it's just like leaving your child with a babysitter, mind you, in this case the babysitter is a poisonous viper!
"I want to see them."
"Why? Do you not believe that they are being properly restrained?"
It's not so much that as that I want to know that you haven't chopped them into mincemeat for your oden.
"I give you permission to oblige his request." Nagato spoke up again. At least she was taking my side on this.
"Very well." Asakura replied nonchalantly, moving to a room in Nagato's apartment that I'd always thought was simply a closet. But rather than opening the door, she brushed her hand across the wall, and as she did, it became clear like glass.
To my relief, all of the officers were inside, looking asleep and unharmed. I could also see Asahina (big) in there as well. I breathed a sigh of relief, one that didn't go unnoticed.
"No offence Kyon-kun. But you seem not to like me very much."
Why does everyone around me have to be an unusually perceptive supernatural entity?
"Is it because I'm an alien? Or is it something else? You don't seem to mind Nagato-san so much."
I had to think of something quick.
"Well, Nagato and I have a history, and there's a trust between us that's hard to replicate."
A trust that you helped cement, in a way.
"Oh, I see. Well, I'm glad that Nagato-san has made some friends. Truth be told, I was actually quite worried about her wellbeing. She chose quite a different suite of programs than I did, and I was wondering how well she'd handle human interaction."
That point somewhat caught me off guard, knowing that Nagato could have had an easier time about all of this, but didn't. I'm sure she had her reasons though.
"So tell me, Kyon-kun. I assume that you must be from the future, judging from the fact that your temporal data is somewhat displaced, and that you claim to have known Nagato-san for some time." The first part of that sentence made it seem like she was commenting on my fly being undone or something.
"You could say that, yes." I was being deliberately vague, I didn't want to give her any unnecessary information.
"Why come back to this point in time? I'm guessing it has something to do with the same target Nagato-san and I are set to monitor: Suzumiya Haruhi." Although it wasn't hard for her to guess that I was probably related to Haruhi's endeavours somehow, it was still unnerving that she did it so quickly.
"That girl does get her hands into a little bit of everything." I replied despite myself. I had to be honest about that at least, because it was true.
"She's such an interesting girl, don't you think?"
I simply stared at Asakura, not really knowing what to say. Wanting to agree, but also wanting to say that it was none of her business.
"I think that, honestly, aside from the potential for auto-evolution she displays, that she also qualifies as one of the more endearing members of the human race."
That's awfully frank of you, Asakura. I doubt Haruhi would really care for your praise, but . . .
"What exactly makes you say that?"
Asakura looked momentarily thoughtful.
"As part of my jurisdiction, I have downloaded as much information on human personality and culture as possible. As such, I have come to a conclusion: many of you seem to live with regrets, not doing things that you would have liked to do out of fear for the consequences, even if the consequences had the opportunity to be good. Suzumiya-san lives her life without such regrets, at least to the extent that I have reviewed her life. I think that humanity could learn a lot from her and those like her."
It irked me that I found myself agreeing with her, even if that mindset is what would eventually cause her to go rogue and try to turn me into a nice cut of Kyon.
To my great relief, it seemed that at this point in time Asakura had more pressing concerns then tearing me a new one, as after a brief conversation with Nagato she soon left. Whether she knew it or not though, she had managed to rile me up in a completely new way. Why did that psycho girl have to make a good point?
That night I found myself going to the roof of the apartment complex, being unable to sleep. The encounter with my unknowing arch-enemy (if I could be said to have one) had me off balance. I kept recalling something she had said to me, not today, but in her future, and my past.
"'It is better to do it and regret than not do it at all'?"
That reasoning almost got me killed. But it was also exactly the question I was staring down the barrel of at the moment.
Asakura would have done it. Asahina-san wanted me to do it. Koizumi would no doubt be against it, and Nagato would simply say that it was her job to observe. Haruhi would no doubt spill the beans in microseconds, if she were in my position.
But this was my decision, and no one else's.
There had been times that I've been tempted to tell Haruhi the truth, to say that I'm John Smith and have it over with. But they'd always been for someone else's sake before now. The thought briefly crossed my mind when Asahina-san was kidnapped, and then I considered it even more seriously when Nagato was "sick". But ever since Haruhi broke up with me, I've been grappling with the idea of telling her, all the while saying that was more for her sake than was for mine.
But was a lie.
I wanted to tell Haruhi not only for her sake, not even mainly for her sake, but for mine. I wanted her to know that I was the person she loved completely, and that it was alright for me to be that person, regardless of what that might mean for the rest of the world, even for the rest of the universe.
Where we'll go after that, or whether we'll even go together, those were things that no one, not even god itself, would know.
But maybe that was okay. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
After all, it's an adventure, right?
The next day, when Asahina-san and Fujiwara were still working on the TPDDs, that I finally got a chance to talk to Nagato. I didn't honestly know how this was going to go, but I hoped that Nagato would hear me out, and that nothing too bad would come of it. Either way, while it wasn't going to be pleasant, it was something that had to be done.
"Nagato, can I talk to you for a moment?"
She gazed up from her novel, a different one than the one she was reading this afternoon of course. And gave me a look that indicated that she was waiting for me to continue.
"I don't think it's an exaggeration for me to say that the last couple of days have been a roller coaster for me, for all of us really. I know that Asahina-san told me to use the trump card, to tell Haruhi that I'm John Smith, but to be honest, it was already something I've been considering doing, ever since I decided not to alter the past. Her encouragement, as well as that strange little conversation with Asakura pretty much just cemented my choice: I'm going to tell Haruhi that I'm John Smith. Before I do that though, I need to go forward with a clean conscience."
She simply looked at me inquisitively.
"I've debated in the past on whether to tell you, or anyone else, this, but I've never seemed to be able to get up the nerve to. But it's something that I'm quite ashamed of. Something that I feel I need to apologize to you for."
I took a breath, then continued, knowing that now I was committed, better or worse.
"When the Sky Canopy Domain attacked your bosses, and we nearly lost you, we were all there by your side. And while I pushed it out of my mind at the time, I came to realize after the fact that despite how worried I was, how mortified I was with the potential of losing one of my dearest friends . . . That a small part of me was happy. Happy that it wasn't Haruhi suffering under this calamity."
I'm rambling . . .
"I mean, don't get me wrong, I wasn't happy about what was happening to you, and I'm still kinda pissed at your boss for not giving you more support or being able to do anything, but at the same time, that was really what kicked me in the ass, and got me to admit I liked Haruhi. But it's the most horrible way ever to find out you like someone."
There was silence, and when I looked at Nagato, I couldn't really tell what she was thinking, so I chose to continue.
"I don't know if you even think it's that big of a deal. Maybe it's not. I sometimes make these things into worse situations in my mind. But either way Nagato, I needed to tell you I'm sorry for thinking that. I hope that knowing that doesn't change the way you think about me, or our friendship."
She looked at me with those obsidian eyes of hers. I wasn't sure if she was going to tell me to leave, or ask that I go forward without her help from now on. I was prepared to accept either request, I probably deserved anything that she had to say to me.
"I understand."
Wait, seriously?
"You're not even the slightest bit angry with me?"
She shook her head no.
"Such a reaction was not completely out of the question. It is a valid response to be reassured that a loved one isn't in danger. And in your case, this realization spurred you to move forward in your relationship with Suzumiya Haruhi. As such, I consider it an honour to have helped you in this regard."
Nagato, you're probably the only person in the entire universe that would consider it an honour to nearly die just so that someone like me can come to grips with the feelings he has for a strange, wonderful girl in his life. Even so.
"Nagato, thank you."
I slept more soundly that night than I had in quite a while. I was glad to know that Nagato could forgive me for thinking what I had. And with me decision to tell Haruhi the whole truth now set in stone in my mind, there was nothing to do but wait. I glanced out the window of Nagato's apartment from time to time, to see if I could recognize anyone. It also turned out that Nagato had a television - or more likely, that she produced one to help alleviate my boredom when I wanted to just let my brain shut off for a little while - and of course when Asahina-san took breaks we conversed for a little while. I think that she enjoyed the conversations to a greater extent than I did. After all, for her it had been years since she'd seen any of us, while for me it had only been a couple of days. Granted, I couldn't really tell her all that much, but still, I think that just getting to talk to me and Nagato again was something that really lifted her spirits.
Fujiwara mostly just worked, ate and slept. I guess that he just wasn't comfortable around us, or just plain didn't care. As for Nagato, she could work without sleep, but once and a while when the TPDD's were undergoing repairs that evidently didn't require her attention she joined us, although she never really said much unless Asahina-san directly spoke to her. Needless to say though, for the most part the only one with any free time on their hands was myself. I did what I could, but needless to say, whenever anyone else willing to talk was around I made a lot of conversation. Maybe that's why it eventually dawned on me.
I had come to notice that this Asahina-san was a lot more mature than the one that had left. For example, she wasn't afraid of Nagato at all. Her younger self seemed intimidated by Nagato, but now it was just like she was conversing with just about anyone else in the brigade. I didn't really know how she was going to react to Haruhi, although Haruhi had gotten less . . . affectionate with her since she started dating me. There was also the problem of how to explain her miraculous growth spurt, although if I was indeed going to throw all my cards on the table, then perhaps it wouldn't really matter that much.
It also occurred to me that although I wasn't of a mind to pay attention at the time, what with the shock of seeing the incapacitated people all around us, but Asahina-san didn't seem to have a problem with classified information anymore.
"That's right. Right now I don't actually have any sort of programming or restrictions placed on me. Mind you, that's because I wasn't supposed to be sent into the field for a number of years."
Ah, that's right, she did mention something about how she wasn't supposed to be here, although it was lucky for my and Fujiwara's sake that she was.
"Yes, I don't want to think of what might have been done to the both of you if you'd have been brought back to the future and found guilty of crimes against temporality. It was so strange though. Even though I knew I wasn't supposed to be going out into the field, when I saw some officers scrambling to some urgent mission, I knew I had to go with them. I'm amazed that I didn't get caught."
"Having analyzed the situation, I can dictate that with all probability, Suzumiya Haruhi was the one responsible for your involvement in this series of events."
Both Asahina-san and I were surprised, first of all that Nagato had spoken up so abruptly (well, for her anyways), but secondly, that she seemed convinced that Haruhi played a role in this. I mean, from her perspective, I'm not even gone or anything, right?
"Indeed, from the perspective of your current timeframe, you have not been gone for even a quarter of a day. Koizumi Itsuki has taken measures to assuage both your parents and the school administrators that your absence is of no significance, should the need arise. Suzumiya Haruhi suspects nothing of your departure."
Well, that was good to know, but it still didn't explain her involvement in this.
"Subconsciously, Suzumiya Haruhi is closer to you than she is with any other person. When this part of her recognized the potential danger you were in, it set measures in place to allow for your safe return to the present, including manipulating the time stream to a degree that Asahina Mikuru was able to travel to this event without her older incarnation being aware of that fact."
I guess that's another one that I owe you, Haruhi. Although you've landed me in quite a bit of trouble from time to time, I couldn't help but now wonder how many bullets I've dodged unknowingly thanks to you. But you're not the only one I need to thank.
"Asahina-san, before we go back to the present - er, my present at least - I'd just like to thank you for everything."
"There's no need to thank me, Kyon-kun. It's the least I could do for a friend." she smiled.
But I did. "You've been through a lot, some of it at the hands of your former self even, but through it all, you've found your strength. I mean, I can hardly believe you're the same girl I know in my timeline and . . . thank you. Thank you for being you and heling me through this."
She didn't really say anything after that, but I could see her slightly tearing up. While it wasn't my intention to make her cry, I hope that she really understood what I was trying to say.
I meant every word of it.
Today was the day, the day that I went back. Of course Asahina-san was coming too, but I was still thinking about what I was going to do and say to Haruhi. This might be the most important day in my entire life.
If I wasn't careful it could also potentially be the last day that the universe exists as it currently does, if it continues to exist at all.
I pondered over these thoughts while Asahina-san and Fujiwara prepared to switch the DNA keys on their TPDDs. Nagato had prepared everything for the transfer, but apparently couldn't be there, due to potential problems arising if there were any extra genetic material. That's what Nagato said at least, I don't claim to get it, all that it really meant was that she was waiting out here with me for the procedure to be finished.
I was lost so deeply in thought that I didn't realize that Nagato actually wasn't in the room with me. By the time I realized that she was gone, she wasn't anymore, now back with a teapot and single cup. I couldn't help but remember that our first meeting in this apartment went like this. Hopefully this time she won't serve me so much tea my bladder nearly bursts.
"I believe that this may aid in 'calming your nerves' as you once put it."
Thank you Nagato. Although I've always enjoyed Asahina-san's tea immensely, you're by no means a bad brewer yourself. It was reassuring to know that our relationship hadn't changed, even after I told her what I'd been guilty over a couple days ago. But now I had a more innocent question.
"Come to think of it, Nagato, I have a question that I never did get around to asking you. It slipped my mind a long time ago, but thinking about it recently made me remember."
"Why is it that you made your recovery password my real name?"
Nagato simply gazed at me for a long time. If I didn't know her better I'd almost swear that she was lost for words, but that couldn't be the case.
"While my main mission has been to observe Suzumiya Haruhi. My interactions with others, specifically the group known collectively as the 'SOS-Brigade', have also been an important factor in my development."
Well, that makes sense, but at the same time it doesn't really answer my question.
"Above all. My interactions with you are what lead to the realization of my first malfunction."
Wait, are you telling me that.
"It was through interaction with you that I gained emotional awareness."
I almost couldn't believe what I'd just been told. Knowing that I was the one that caused all of those problems that Nagato had to go through was a punch to the gut somewhat. But knowing that I was also the one that apparently fostered her emotional growth? That alone I hoped made up for it in her eyes.
"Overall, the positive aspects of my growth have, in my ascertaining, outweighed the temporary negative aspects. That, among other reasons, is why I have come to aid you now, and will continue to do so for as long as necessary."
Wait, are you telling me that you even knew that this would happen?
A slight nod.
Of course I should have known. Nagato could probably see hundreds, if not thousands of years into the future if she wanted to, but she didn't because of her duty to observe. Still, she even nearly broke that duty plenty of times, if only to help me.
"It is true that I had knowledge of select events, but my 'foresight' as you would call it, is not absolute. I was not aware of which decision you would make in the events that unfolded last night."
Wait, so for all you knew I could have undone practically everything, and you would have been ok with that?
Nagato once again stopped. This time I was actually sure that I was seeing an amazingly rare event: this petite girl, with knowledge that probably outweighed the entirety of the human race, was lost for words.
"While an undesirable outcome was a possibility, I personally chose not to inject. I also calculated that the choice that you would make would be to not interfere in the events as they unfolded."
Ah, so I've just got a lousy poker face and I'm easier to read than a large print novel, good to know.
"Incorrect."
Now it was my turn to be lost for words, because I honestly couldn't believe what I heard next.
"While the terms you described do correlate somewhat, the utterance is incorrect. I believe it would be more apt to say … that I had faith in you."
Nagato. If no one ever gives me a kind word again, I think that might be enough to get me through the rest of my life, even if I live to be a centenarian.
So, thank you, Nagato. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you.
The interface who perhaps knew me better than anyone else in the world, even Haruhi, simply gave another nod. But it was enough.
It wasn't long after that that the transfer process finally ended, and we were ready to go.
"Kyon-kun, I think it'd be best if we use the same coordinates to go to the future. In other words, if we stay in Nagato-san's apartment, but just move forward to the correct time."
I don't see any real problem with that.
"Well, thank whatever that I can finally get you guys out of my hair. No prizes for guessing that I'm hardly a people person." Fujiwara interjected.
Despite that, I couldn't help but wish him good luck.
"You don't need luck when you're as good as I am. And remember, you guys had better shake that box damn hard, I don't want to have given my TPDD away for nothing." he smirked.
"You should close your eyes, Kyon-kun. It's time."
And so, the world went dark, and everything went silent.
Present day, here I come.
When I opened my eyes, essentially nothing had changed, except for the fact that Koizumi was now standing in the apartment. It looked like everything worked.
"I'm afraid that's not quite the case." the esper stated.
"There has been an error in the transmission of data through the time stream." Nagato added.
Wait, was does that mean? Have I become my own grandfather or something? Asahina-san, what's going on?
Looking at the TPDD, she glanced worriedly at me.
"Kyon-kun, the date."
She showed me the time index on the device. The year and month were dead on, but the day was three days later than what it had been initially set for.
Wait, that means that I've been missing for three days?
"Indeed. And although myself and Nagato-san have been able to convince your parents and the school of your whereabouts, there is another, more urgent matter at hand."
Haruhi.
"Suzumiya Haruhi has grown increasingly despondent in your absence. She has sealed herself within the SOS-Brigade clubroom, and unbeknownst to her, has created a barrier that all attempts have failed to penetrate to this point."
Perfect, just perfect. Can't we just reset the TPDD and go back to the correct day?
"I'm afraid not. The circuitry is nearly burnt out, and even if we repair it again, I'm not sure that another trip wouldn't alert the other time travellers to our presence." Asahina-san, it's not befitting that you have to be the barer of news that horrible.
"I'm sorry that that's not the end of the bad news," Koizumi spoke up once more. How could this situation possibly get any worse?
"The Organization has caught wind of what we might be attempting to do, and I believe that short of deadly force, they are willing to go to nearly any length to stop us. Even Mori-san and Arakawa-san may be attempting to interfere in any way they can."
Koizumi, for once I wish that the look on your face was disingenuous, because this is the most worried I've ever seen you. We've effectively gone from being on the offence to getting pinned down in one second flat. Nagato, I don't suppose you can just teleport us straight to the school or something?
"I cannot. The barrier that Suzumiya Haruhi has established is interfering with nearly all types of information referral within a huge area."
Why does my luck have to ride a rollercoaster? One minute it's fantastically high, and then so low that this kind of thing happens at the worst possible time. A cheesy fiction couldn't get any worse than this.
Of course, having said that, my phone immediately rang. Apparently I was getting a text message. I almost didn't dare check it, but it couldn't possibly get any worse, right?
"I see that your phone just got back on the grid. Meet me in the apartments back lot in five mintues, bring everyone."
Unknown Name, Unknown Caller. I was getting too many of these lately.
Of course it was obviously a trap. I asked Nagato what the odds of her being able to handle the situation if things went horribly awry were.
"I hold jurisdiction over this space. When the data indicated that the time transfer had accumulated errors, I began planning options for your arrival as best as possible under the circumstances."
Well, I suppose that if they were coming en masse that at least we could make a decent stand here. We'd better prepare for the worst.
We all got downstairs, looking anxiously out the windows into the back lot (well, except Nagato, who I'm not sure has ever been anxious about anything). We were all a little surprised when a single large vehicle screeched into the lot. I was expecting a little more of a welcoming crew than this. The behemoth of an automobile almost looked like it was about to crash through the back doors, sending us scattering, but it stopped just short. It was an imposing sight, the windows tinted black just like the rest of the car. Of course, our collective awe was cut a little short.
"Heys guys! I figured you could use a rides!"
My eyes must have been playing tricks on me, because I swore that the window just rolled down and that Tsuruya-san was in the passenger seat, beckoning us to get in. You guys are seeing this too, right?
I looked around and got the same confused look from everyone else, barring Nagato of course, who merely started to walk towards the monstrosity. I guess that if anyone knew that this wasn't a trap, that it'd be her.
Of course, before Nagato could get all the way to the vehicle, Tsuruya-san's gaze landed squarely on Asahina-san. Before nearly any of us could react - and that might have included Nagato - Tsuruya-san was out of her seat and practically tackling her friend with a hug. I couldn't help but grin despite the seriousness of the situation when Asahina-san gave a little squeak as Tsuruya-san came close to manhandling (or womanhandling?) her.
"Mikuru! I thoughts you were gone! I'm so happys to see ya again! Hey, did you get taller? I think your boobs got bigger too!"
All of us, barring Tsuruya-san and Nagato, went a little red at that comment, but when a couple of us assured Tsuruya-san that there would be time to catch up later, she finally yielded to letting go of a very embarrassed Asahina-san.
After she all got in, we realized that Arakawa-san was the one driving. I guess I should have realized what with the deft manoeuvring. But weren't you out to stop us?
"Wells, not really." Tsuruya-san took the liberty of answering for him. "I kinda figured that something was up when everyone in The Organization started going all squirrelly."
That's right, Koizumi once mentioned that your family were major backers of The Organization. Of course I had no idea that you knew so much, Tsuruya-san, although I guess the signs were there the entire time.
"Well, I still don't knows a lot about all of this, but I figured that you guys could use a hand. After all, sometimes in order for things to work out, they needs a helping hand, right Kyon-kun?"
Tsuruya-san, remind me after this is all over to add you to the ever growing list of people that I owe more than I could possibly ever repay to.
That familiar uproarious laugh filled the spacious interior of the vehicle.
"Nah, don't worry about it Kyon-kun. It's the least I can do to help yous out after all the fun I've had with all of you!" She was determined to completely wave off any debt, it seemed.
"Besides, when I saw that Mori-chan and Arakawa-kun were kinda wondering about something, I figured that I might as wells tell them to do what they thought was right. I just gaves them a helping hand! Mori-chan is trying to get everyone else to look the other way though, so she couldn't make it."
I was surprised that Mori-san and Arakawa-san were also in on this, but I was thankful nonetheless.
"I believe that in situations like this, for better or worse, a person needs to follow their heart," Arakawa-san finally spoke up from the driver's seat. Looking out the window, I could also see that we were actually at our destination: the school filled the windshield.
We came to a smart stop in the parking lot, where Arakawa-san and Tsuruya-san wished us the best of luck for, and I quote, "Whatever crazy stuff you need to do." (Tsuruya-san's words, not mine)
Surprisingly, the school was completely abandoned. Shouldn't there be classes right now, or at least some janitorial staff?
"The space that Suzumiya Haruhi has generated has begun to cut itself off from the outside world."
I guess Nagato's statement meant that we got here in barely the nick of time.
My legs were going as fast I could will them to, when we reached the stairs to go up to the second floor my only thoughts of were what I needed to finally tell Haruhi. Unfortunately, when I got to the top of the stairwell, I arrived alone.
I turned around, only to see that in the middle of the stairwell, Koizumi, Nagato, and Asahina-san seemed to be pressing against something that wasn't there.
"We're being forcibly ejected from this space," Koizumi shouted, as he took a step backwards.
"I'm sorry Kyon-kun, but it looks like it's up to you," Asahina-san yelled.
Nagato merely looked at me, although her gaze told me that she was wishing me the best in her own way. It was like a forced party separation in an RPG, I just hoped that I was at a high enough level to handle whatever came next. I won't let you guys down though, not after all of this.
My feet carried me to the clubroom door. This was it. Whatever happened next, I knew what I needed to do.
As I opened the door, Haruhi looked up, clearly startled that someone else had managed to get here.
One thing was immediately apparent: she looked like hell.
She clearly hadn't been sleeping, and her eyes were red from crying. Still, when she saw me again, a certain fire started to burn in them again. At the same time though, something was off.
"Hmph, I'm surprised to see you again." she said almost wearily.
Believe me Haruhi, I would have been here sooner if I could have been, but I'm afraid that sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to.
"A convenient excuse. I'm amazed you even came back at all. I mean, why should anyone of you come back here? You all decided at the same time to abandon me, so why should I care what any of you do anymore?"
"Haruhi, be reasonable. No one has abandoned you. I know what it must seem like, but it was beyond our control."
"Oh, isn't that a convenient excuse. I'm sure everyone agreed to that one pretty quickly." She said, lowering her head back onto her arms; she'd been cradling her head before I entered the room. Although her tone was tired more than anything else, there was also a definite tone of anger in them as well, which worried me.
"I tried to be a better person, I honestly did. But it doesn't matter, since no one cares anyways. It's like I'm just a tertiary portion of their lives, someone they can take or leave at their own discretion. So if that's how it's going to be, then I don't care anymore."
"You can't really mean that Haruhi, not after everything that all of us have been through!"
"Like hell I can't!" she snapped, her anger with everyone, with me, obvious. She glared at me the best she could considering the state she was in, and I was kind of surprised my head didn't explode just from that.
"I've made mistakes, I know. But I tried, Kyon. I tried to be a better person. But why should I bother when no matter what I do it'll never be enough for anyone?"
"Haruhi, I know how badly what's happened in the last few days has hurt you, but you need to trust me when I say that there were events beyond the our control."
The glare intensified.
"You keep saying it's that simple, but it's not!" She looked away, and in a cold tone, added, "Actually, maybe for you it is, since Mikuru-chan, Koizumi-kun, Yuki and you are all more open with each other than you are with me."
With eyes burning, her glare shot back at me. "I was the one who made this club, but you're the one they admire, the one they trust. So why can't they trust me? Why can't you trust me?"
Even though it was an offhand statement, I could feel myself almost being pushed back, like this reality was beginning to reject me like it had rejected everyone else. I had to act now.
"Listen, Haruhi. I know that this is going to be unbelievable to you. But there's something you need to know."
She looked at me sternly, but kept silent. At least she was giving me a chance, which meant there was some hope.
"You told me days ago that you were breaking up with me to try to find someone else. A man that you consider your first love. I guess that I shouldn't be surprised, because he was one of the first people that accepted your love of the extraordinary without criticizing you. After all, he helped you make those drawings, that message, 'I am here' on that Tanabata night four years ago."
No response. It still might not be enough. I had to keep going, the whole world might be at stake!
"That man, who was carried a high school girl on his back, who was wearing a North High Uniform. He changed your life that night. And when you asked for his name, he gave you a name that was clearly a pseudonym, but it was all you knew him by. That name was John Smith. And I know all this because, well, Haruhi. I am John Smith."
I had imagined more than a few times in my mind, how this situation would play out. I had imagined her being almost too shocked to reply, or being ecstatic like her counterpart was in that alternate universe. But what happened next defied all my expectations.
Nothing, no look of shock, no epiphany playing across her face. She didn't even get up. But the shock of that was nothing compared to what she said next:
"Idiot. Why don't you tell me something I don't know already?"
Author's Notes: The penultimate chapter is here at last. Sorry it took so long to write this, but separated from its sister chapter it really took on a life of its own again. Most shockingly of course is that Haruhi knew that Kyon was John Smith! But when did she figure this out, and how, and what does this mean for Kyon, now that his trump card turned out to be a Joker? All the answers will be in the final chapter of The Severance of Haruhi Suzumiya coming soon-ish, hopefully.
At any rate, I hope that this chapter was worth the wait. Once again I'd like to thank Arty, my beta who has infinite patience and knows what scenes need that extra polish, or need to be dropped entirely. And as always, thank you to the all the people who have reviewed, put this story on alert, and added it to their favourites. It's because of your interest that I've been able to tackle this project with such gusto, and I hope that the ending I have planned will prove to be a suitable climax to a piece of fiction that I've really enjoyed writing.
On a more mundane note, you may notice rather soon that all the chapters of Severance will be reuploaded. There is no cause for alarm, it's just that my previous story breaks seem to have disappeared, so now I'll have to replace them with the horizontal ruler, which is better than nothing.
Anyways, until next time!