"Even though we don't know each other too well, I was pretty upset when I first heard that you went to Canada all of a sudden. Ask Kyon; the moment we found out, we formed a small search party on your behalf."

The listener glances at me with a teasing grin.

"Is that a fact? Since you put it that way, it was rather irresponsible of me as former Class Representative to go on an extended trip unannounced. I'm very sorry for troubling everyone."

The apologetic girl before creates a flood of random memories. Ryoko Asakura, the former Class Representative, has permanantly made her existence known in my eyes. More than just the most appealing girl in Taniguchi's rankings, she is also the one who nearly ended my life twice. One would figure that I would not want to see someone like that ever again, but it was my closest and most trustworthy friend that decided to bring her back...

"What's the matter, Kyon?" Asakura asked with a questionable look of concern. "You look like you have something you want to say."

"Yeah."

At that point, I remembered a time and place where Asakura practically replaced Haruhi in the class roster. She feigned ignorance as to what was going on until the very end. I still wonder if that Asakura was fully aware to this very day. Either way it goes, Asakura has an outstanding history of manipulating me physically and mentally..

"Welcome back, Ryoko."

Sooner or later, I'll find a way to even things out, starting with that previous line that Asakura clearly did not expect me to say.

"T-thanks..."

Haruhi GD: Friend or F.O.E?

Less than one month ago, Nagato and I went through great lengths to change the future that was set for us. This started by going through a lot of trouble just to give Nagato total control of her own self. After Operation Gamma, things returned to normal.. except the fact that Nagato and I are now a couple.. and Asakura has returned to North High complete with her own freedom.. and Haruhi is no longer in control of the world altering powers that brought the SOS Brigade together.. Okay, so maybe a lot has changed, but just like before, my daily life is that of an average high school student. It would be troublesome if even that aspect of me changed dramatically, but sometimes I can't help but want even more. Thoughts like this make me realize how easily greed can be attained.. This is an interesting train of thought. The lunch bell just sounded, so maybe I should get some juice to help keep this up.

Recently, I started dividing lunchtime between Nagato and the Asahina/Tsuruya duo throughout the week. Today, I am set on doing the latter since I still owe Tsuruya a cola. As I make my purchase and wait for my drink, I glance to the ajacent food vendor to see if anything looks appetizing. This is when I notice that the machines are slightly further apart than usual. Upon examining the area between the vendors, I discover a potential reason. The culprit looks at me attentively while hugging her knees. The small stack of papers in her hand suggest that she was in the middle of reading. Despite her unusual placement, she conveys a good mood through her expression.

"Ryoko? What are you doing here?"

"Well," Asakura replied. "I misjudged how much the student body missed me. I guess it was always like this, but it didn't bother me before. In the end, I impulsively snuck off to find somewhere less noisy. And here I am! Weird, isn't it?"

Very.

Asakura lets off a low-pitched hum before continuing. "There is something about the noise these machines make that relaxes me. You should try taking refuge here at least once."

"I'll pass. But anyways, if you really want a place nice and quiet, the Literature club room is always open during school. Half of the time, Yuki is the only one there, and you know she wouldn't make too much noise."

"Of course!" Asakura replied while pounding her right fist into her left palm. "When you put it that way, it sounds like the most logical option!"

"That's because it is. Besides, if anyone sees you here, it would probably draw more attention than if they were to see you out in the open."

"That is also true," Asakura agreed. "Luckily enough, out of eighty-seven passing students and eleven teachers, you were the only one to notice me here. You must be developing a form of ADV (Advanced Data Vision).

Instead of replying, I offered my hand to help Asakura out of her tight spot. Once she got up, she picked up the small stack of papers that she left behind. Ultimately she decided to hang out with Nagato, leaving me to continue what I was doing. Unfortunately for me, enough time has passed to where the freshest cafeteria foods would be out of stock by the time I got there. Not that I'm too concerned about that, but that does mean I'll also have less time to hang out.

Mikuru and Tsuruya spent lunchtime together ever since I've known them. These days, the relationship between those two have strengthened. This much is most evident by observing Asahina as she starts and follows up far more conversations than usual.

"Is there something on your mind, Kyon?" Asahina wondered.

"Nothing in particular. Why do you ask?"

"It's totally the look in your eyes!" entered Tsuruya. "I mean you look bored most of the time, but today you look mega bored!"

"Is that so? Maybe I'm going crazy," I replied. Asahina's curious expression silently requested an explanation. "These past few weeks have been peaceful – almost too peaceful. Is it really going to be like this for the rest of the year?"

"Fufu.." Asahina chuckled. "I expected as much. It looks like someone has become a little restless."

"When you word it like that, you make it sound like I'm asking for trouble."

"Think of it this way," Asahina calmly continues. "Even if Miss Suzumiya does not have the powers she used to, she is still the same person. The same goes for everyone else in the SOS Brigade. I think that as long as we are together, there will always be an adventure or two waiting for us."

That's right. As long as our time traveler has things to do in this time, there's no way the abnormalities of this world will just up and vanish. I knew that somewhere in the back of my mind, but hearing those words from someone like Asahina is just what I needed.

"So this is how well you two get along huh?" said Tsuruya.

"Maybe this is the result of sleeping together for three years straight," I joked.

"Eh..? B-but.."

"Nice try, Kyon," Tsuruya smirked. "Both of you were frozen the entire time."

There goes that inside joke.. Asahina must have told Tsuruya about that somewhere along the line. And here I was hoping for Tsuruya to reach a comical misunderstanding. I'm sure that would have at least made the rest of the hour. Oh well..

...

The last hour of the school surfaces quicker than usual. Classmate Taniguchi displays a disturbingly cheesy grin while waiting for dismissal bell to sound. What is this, elementary school?

"Wouldn't you like to know what I have planned for this afternoon?" he mocks.

"Not as much as I want you to stop embarrassing yourself."

Taniguchi continued with an annoying confidence. "We'll see who's embarrassing after today. If today's date goes well, I may be hooking up with the undisputable hottest girl on campus!"

Just then, I recalled Taniguchi's unwritten rankings of the girls in this school. I immediately recalled who stood at the top of this shameless list.

"You don't say.."

"I kid you not!" yelled Taniguchi. "Not only did Asakura remember my name after all this time, but she personally invited me to accompany her after school! Talk about major good luck.. and at this rate, things are only going to get better!"

"Looks like that luck of your's is spreading fast."

I diverted my hopeless comrade's attention to the subject; she is chatting with Kunikida and Class Representative Sakanaka.

"Eh..? Oh I know. She must be asking Kunikida about what kind of things I like. How considerate!"

"Hey Kyon," called the considerate one with the aforementioned two in tow. "You should come with all of us as well. What do you say?"

"I don't know what all of this is about, but if you recall, I have extracurricular activities of my own."

"Pretty please?" she begged on. "Haruhi has cleaning duty, so she will be a bit late. And knowing Nagato, she will wait for you faithfully."

I can't say that I'm completely interested in what these guys are up to. If there is any reason that I would go with everyone, it would be to observe Taniguchi's thoroughly disappointed expression for the duration of this gathering... Why not?

"I don't even know what's going on anymore," sighed Taniguchi.

Asakura directed the lot of us to the same building I would have went to in the first place. In fact, the Literature Clubroom is right around the corner from our stopping point. Wasn't this the room to another club at some point? Which one was it again...

"Oh, I get it now," started Kunikida. "Those club-making forms you were holding earlier were not to pass on to others. You wanted them for yourself, am I right?"

"Asakura, I'm already part of a club," I reminded Asakura as she brought us inside. "How many times do I have to tell you? Also, does anyone know what kind of club you're trying to make?"

"Ah, hold that thought for a moment," Asakura interrupted. "I almost forgot something important!"

And with that, Asakura has left the room. Just what is Asakura trying to accomplish with all of this anyways? Has she really become interested in club activities all of a sudden? Furthermore, what's with this group of people? It doesn't get anymore random than the lot of us.

"You know you this is everyone's opportunity to escape. Who knows how much more difficult this will get once Asakura comes back?"

"As if!" Taniguchi responded with a cheesy grin. "Some of the best high school stories start out this way, you know! What starts out as a gathering of people with common interests could develop into something deeper once everyone gets to know each other. Can't you see? This is the perfect opportunity!"

"I can't decide if that way of thinking is typical or creepy," commented the remaining girl in the room, Sakanaka.

"There's nothing normal about it," I assured her.

"And besides," Kunikida added. "You talk about common interests but nobody knows exactly what Asakura is up to."

"Details, details! We have plenty of time to figure out-"

The sound of the door opening cut off Taniguchi's pointless statement. Asakura returns to the vacant room with another familiar student in-hand.

"Thank you all for waiting." Asakura started. "I'm certain that everyone would like to get started as soon as possible, so I will do my best to make the initiation process as quick as possible. That includes the initial five members required to start the club while simultaneously getting approval from the Student Council. This is where you come in."

"I see," the newcomer, Emiri Kimidori, replies. "Once I receive the necessary paperwork from you, I will see what I can do as a member of the Student Council and a future member of this club."

Asakura steals a mocking glance at me after that 's the point of observing me? I don't have anything to do with this. What am I doing here anyways?

"What is this club going to be about? I'm sort of curious," Kunikida wondered aloud.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You know, the theme of the club; the reason everyone is together to begin with. Better yet, does this club have a name of sorts?"

"Aha! I knew I was forgetting something!"

Is this really what Asakura has become since she gained access to her emotion? This is a stark contrast to the cold-blooded murderer that I'm familiar with. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't complain. Either way, I spent enough time watching this develop. It's about time for me to go where I belong after school. With that in mind, I decide to take my leave.

"Ah, wait a minute," cried Asakura who hurriedly followed me outside.

"Listen Ryoko, it's nice that you want to make a club, but there's no way that I can-"

"I know that much," she intervened. "I just need help with a name."

"Wouldn't it be better to ask the people that might actually join you?"

"Maybe so, but..."

Asakura pouts in a way that comes off as deceptive (possibly based on our past history). I'm not sure if I can ever adapt to these patterns coming from someone like Asakura. It's not likely that she will assault me again thanks to the events of the dimensional shift, but still...

"I can't help you with a name if you don't have an objective for your club."

"I see," Asakura started. "According to Kimidori, the room we've secured would have been the Science Fiction Club if it had enough members. Can I use that as the theme?"

"Yeah, but if you're just going to do that, you won't need a new name at all. On another note, I'm not sure about Kunikida, but I don't know if the theme of aliens and advanced technology would sit too well with someone like Taniguchi."

"Hmm..."

A moment of silence and then...

"Friends of Extraterrestrials! F.O.E!"

"What.."

Asakura continues with enhanced confidence. "I think I just found our new name: F.O.E! A club for alien awareness: F.O.E! I would be the perfect founder of F.O.E! And now that Kimidori's part of F.O-"

"No more.. I'm begging you."

Asakura studies my facial expression which should look like I'm one step from losing my sanity thanks to that painful declaration. In response, she emits a broad smile that easily sets a new personal record for her charm. She giggles lightly before commenting.

"I can see it in your eyes. This is the perfect name after all... Now I just have to let the others know. Thanks for the help, Kyon."

And with that, Asakura left me as a mass of speechless flesh. I spent the next good minute grimacing at the fact that whatever trouble this club may cause in the future, I'm the one that helped start it. Come to think of it, I can say the same thing about the SOS Brigade when you get right down to it. Oh boy... speaking of the latter, I'm a little late.

"Welcome!" greeted Maid Asahina moments upon my entry. "I was getting worried that you wouldn't make it today."

"I wound up taking a little detour before I came. Anyways..."

I turned to the only other member in the room, who also centered her attention on me. Yuki Nagato seemed very much prepared to listen to my request.

"Yuki, please change Asakura back to normal."

"Nope."

"Aw, come on!" I whined as Asahina blinked in confusion.

Nagato smirks at my mock demand before continuing. "The Gamma Dimension is a sector of which I am free to think, decide, and act as an individual. One of these decisions was to award these same privileges to Ryoko Asakura. As a result, whether or not her sensory nerve receptors remain active has become Ryoko Asakura's decision."

When I look back at Asakura's recent actions, she did seem rather happy. If her overall existence didn't irk me so, I would most likely be happy for her too. Nevertheless, I've concluded that it's pointless to get bored of this setting now. At the rate things are going, the days ahead are likely to be exhausting.