Haruhi's Birthday

Chapter 21

And then it was time for the presents. Haruhi made a big deal about only opening the nicely wrapped ones. The other gifts she made Mikuru open. Yuki, who had healed herself, took the presents away. Kyon and Itsuki were in charge bringing the presents to Haruhi.

"Hey Kyon, this one's from your sister," Itsuki said. "And this is from your sister's overdeveloped friend."

"I wonder what she got her," Kyon wondered aloud. He shook the present. "Oh well, we'll see." He tossed the present in the basket.

"Kyon! Handle these with care."

"Did Mikuru ever get a present for the bitch queen?"

"Yeah. I put it with the gifts from the rest of the SOS Brigade. Haruhi wants those separately. She'll be upset when she realizes there are four other members and only three presents."

"Let's hope she can't count then."

They carried the baskets onto the stage, and grabbed the empty baskets. "How many did she get? This is the third load…" Kyon muttered to Itsuki. Haruhi handed all the badly wrapped presents to Mikuru who fumbled around opening them. Haruhi saw Kyon's sister's present and ripped it open. It was a t-shirt that said, 'Bitch of Action'. "Thanks Kyon's sister!" She called out.

"No prob!" She replied from somewhere in the crowd.

"Hey Kyon! Itsuki! Don't bring anymore presents. I'm tired of opening them."

Kyon and Itsuki stopped midstep, carrying the final baskets of presents. Kyon let them go and sat down. Itsuki set his basket down and sat as well. Haruhi and Mikuru opened the presents and Haruhi stood up and thanked the crowd.

"That's about it from here," she said. "Anything other event that didn't happen isn't going to happen. So yeah, just enjoy the music. Dance. Go home." Haruhi left the stage. Kyon's sister started clapping. So did her friend. Then Taniguchi, Kunikida and Tsuruya. Then the crowd burst into collective applause.

"I started a slow clap!" Kyon's sister yelled.

"Good for you!" Kyon yelled back.

The applause grew louder and louder and this one guy threw his hat into the air. Others followed the lead. A lot of hats got either lost or stolen.

Haruhi seemed pretty much happy. She walked over the Itsuki. "I think I still owe you a dance."

"Sure." He and Haruhi went to the dancefloor. Kyon watched as they began to dance to Japanese pop music. He saw Haruhi stick her tongue out at him.

He stuck his tongue back. Haruhi ignored him and kept dancing.